Submission—Statutory Review of the Data Availability and Transparency Act 2022

On 13 June 2025, the Academy made a submission on the Statutory Review of the Data Availability and Transparency Act 2022.

Download submission (PDF, 350KB)

 The Academy makes the following recommendations:

• Public sector data custodians should be appropriately resourced to respond to the increasing demand for data for research and be required to publish metadata to make data discoverable.
• Mandate participation in the DAT Scheme for major Commonwealth data-holding agencies to ensure comprehensive access to high-value datasets, and encourage the development of mechanisms to support harmonisation with state and territory data access frameworks to enable cross-jurisdictional research.
• Modify the DATA Scheme accreditation model to enable collaborations involving multiple institutions.
• Amend Section 16A (2) and the Data Availability and Transparency (National Security Measures) Code 2022 to include a risk-based approach and avoid discouraging researchers from using the DATA Scheme.
• The Statutory Review consider the increasing use of AI in research and the DAT Act’s interaction with developments in Australian Government policies on Artificial Intelligence since its commencement.
• A greater whole of government, consistent commitment to open data through implementing measures to meet the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science.