Abstract

The Australian HREC system is now highly centralised and subject to national guidelines in an attempt to assure consistency of decision-making and of ethical standards. The penalty has been greatly increased paperwork and reporting requirements which many committees feel burdensome. In addition, many Committees may be under-resourced. However, I argue that though it is timely to reassess the current directions it is an exaggeration to claim that the system is in danger of collapse.