Export controls, sanctions and sensitive research
All academic staff, including fixed-term, continuing and paid conjoints, are required to identify and disclose any activities relating to export controls, sanctions and sensitive research.
1. Overview
Where sensitive research is being undertaken, it is important to ensure that academic and research staff are aware of their obligations with regard to export controls and sanctions legislation.
Research may be considered ‘sensitive’ when it involves goods, software or technology that is regulated when exported, supplied, brokered or published as indicated by the Defence and Strategic Goods List (DSGL) and identified by the Australian Government Department of Defence.
This is underpinned by key legislation including the Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011. Unless there is an exemption, researchers will require a permit when exporting, supplying, brokering or publishing items from the DSGL.
To enable UQ to have visibility of research activities that may fall under the export control and sanctions legislation, all research conducted in areas covered by the DSGL and the sensitive technologies list is required to be registered (see section: Identifying sensitive research), following UQ’s Export Controls and Sanctions Regimes Procedure.
In November 2021, the University Foreign Interference Taskforce (UFIT) Guidelines to Counter Foreign Interference in the Australian University Sector were released, placing an obligation on universities to require declaration of interest disclosures from staff who are at risk of foreign interference, including identification of foreign affiliations, relationships and financial interests. As such, enhancements to UQ’s Sensitive Research Register and Foreign Influence and Interference Disclosure tools have been made to collect additional information.
The Sensitive Research Register now asks staff members for the following additional disclosures:
- I have conducted research activity with a foreign military, policing, or intelligence organisation within at least the last 5 years (include nature of the research, including relevant dates and any person(s) involved in this research; institution; country)
- I currently receive funding for this research that has not been the subject of a funding application through the university, or has not been received by the University as a collaborative payment.
Need advice?
If you need advice about the disclosure of export controls, sanctions or sensitive research activities, you can consult:
- your supervisor or manager.
For advice regarding export controls, sanctions and sensitive research:
For conflicts of interest (COI):
For queries about conflict of interest related to research:
For information about research practice, including principles, advice, concerns, and training:
For policy queries:
- Export Controls and Sanctions Regimes Procedure
- Managing Complaints about the Conduct of Research Procedure
- Conflict of Interest Policy.
For general queries regarding the disclosure and management of interests, contact:
Disclosure and management of interests - who needs to register?
UQ has created an integrated framework regarding the disclosure and management of interests, which simplifies and clarifies policies and procedures to ensure ethical and legal compliance.
All fixed-term and continuing staff members are required to complete the Conflict of Interest Register. Casual, unpaid and honorary staff who have a conflict of interest to declare are required to complete the Conflict of Interest form (PDF, 1.42 MB) and submit to your supervisor in your organisational unit. Note that this form is different to the Conflict of Interest Register.
All professional staff (HEW 8 level and above) are required to complete the Secondary Employment Register.
All academic staff (continuing and fixed-term contracts of 12 months or longer; conjoint appointments where UQ is the lead employer) are required to complete the:
These registers must be completed annually, even if there is no item to disclose, and when circumstances change.