Breaches

Consequences of Breaching Researcher Responsibilities

The consequences of breaching your responsibilities as a researcher will depend on the nature of the breach, the applicable law and your contractual obligations. Action may be taken in respect of one or all of the following: your research conduct; ethical conduct; and legal responsibilities. The types of action which may be taken include:

Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research

• Disciplinary issues are matters for the institution and the Guide to Managing and Investigating Potential Breaches of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018) provides a framework to assist institutions to manage, investigate and resolve complaints. 

National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research

• Suspension or removal of ethical approval for research project (this may lead to loss of research funding).

Legislation

• Depends on the applicable law but in some cases this can result in criminal conviction, jail time or substantial fines.

Other contractual arrangements

• Depends on the specific contractual arrangements but there can be financial penalties and/or loss of access to data in the future for the individual and/or their institution.