I’ve noticed that CSIRO often puts out so many press releases announcing each of its new environment-related projects and expected findings, that by the time the results are in, it’s old news. This perhaps reflects the type of research increasingly undertaken by CSIRO – research designed to confirm the popular consensus on environmental issues and model the distant future – and also the extent of the organisation’s investment in public relations. Now the new Australia Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, is likely to find out just how many press releases CSIRO puts out, with a new directive asking that CSIRO media releases be cleared by his office.
The new Secretary of the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Mark Paterson, has said the new directive is not about censorship or controlling the message, but rather “consistency in message”. More likely the government appreciates the power of the organisation and the extent to which CSIRO often uses the media and the intrigue of science to push its own political message.
Read more here: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/21/2124888.htm
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD is a critical thinker with expertise in the scientific method.
An open approach might be for Mr Rudd to issue a media release every time he censors something from CSIRO, saying what it was that he censored, and why. Should be simple enough.
In this fresh leap on way forward; what’s a bit of a tweak here n there in CSIRO media output given the go slow we had under Libs?
Reading between the lines is still a crafty biz hey
I would agree with an open approach. I do not like this at all. I think that we have just exchanged lizards after all.
“This perhaps reflects the type of research increasingly undertaken by CSIRO – research designed to confirm the popular consensus on environmental issues and model the distant future”
Do you have any evidence of this claim, or is it just unsubstantiated opinion?
Queensland Inc becomes Australia Inc. Beattie had over 200 journos employed in his department to manage the spin. To think Krudd didn’t learn from this is naieve. But as for CSIRO media statements, they were full of spin anyway so this is just a transfer of control over the bull$hit.
Ian Mott:-
“KRudd” if you please:-)
Anyone else remember ‘The Goodies’ episode when the scientists took over the British government 😉
Recently a CSIRO employee complained publicly that John Howard had ‘censored’ his AGW preaching in spite of the fact that the CSIRO had previously published his AGW book.
He argued that as a scientist, and therefore infallible, the government was bound to implement his personal AGW policy immediately, regardless of the implications for the economy, without all that tedious messing about with getting elected to office.
Labor have just reminded uppity CSIRO scientists who’s implementing the advice around here.
Like the ABC, the CSIRO is another textbook example of producer capture and should be sold off ASAP. Why should the poor be taxed to provide corporate welfare?
Anyone for tobacco???
Forester
successive Environment Ministers in the Howard Government urged action on the issue of global warming. They were overruled by the Howard faction.
SJT, that is because “successive Environment Ministers in the Howard Government” ended up as the victims of selective information supply and being the pawns of their own department.
Howard missed a really good opportunity when he failed to appoint Wilson Tuckey to the position of Environment Minister. All we got, instead, were second rate suburban gardeners getting their recognition buttons stroked.
” the new directive is not about censorship or controlling the message, but rather “consistency in message”.
Can you imagine for a second the howls of outrage from the ” our dissent is being suppressed ” crowd if Howard had tried anything similar?
Still , maybe David Marr , Clive Hamilton and John Hartigan are just having a Christmas break?
Just re-read the comments ; good on you Ender.
I’ll savour the moment as it’s unlikely we’ll be on the same side again anytime soon!
I wasn’t doing to make comment, but I would also say thank you for your honesty Ender.
And I don’t really support Jim’s last comment – let’s face it, we’re really all on the same side. Ultimately we just want to know the truth in order to take the most appropriate action that benefits ourselves and our families, Australia, and indeed the entire global environment.
On this note I want to wish all the contributors and lurkers the best of seasons greetings and for all to have a safe and prosperous new year.
Special thanks to Jen, Paul and Neil for the effort in maintaining this forum, and for sourcing all the interesting news items that keep us all entertained (and awake into riddiculous wee hours of the AM).
Marry Christmas
For the CSIRO to get this one wrong means that it ought to be dissolved. We can do a better job just taking private science institutes out of the tax system. The CSIRO are incompetent and have taken on an anti-science attitude. We ought not waste one more weeks salary on these digraceful clowns.
CSIRO refuses to abide by the directive:
http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/news/local/environment/csiro-rejects-censor-demand/1152071.html
Well done CSIRO.
So here we have a ‘potted’ sample of the serial Labor incompetence we will all too soon come to regret.
For how long will Mr Rudd be able to ‘paper over the cracks’ of expanding state incompetence now infecting the federal government.
So there will be a bribe to the CSIRO staffers, more frightening of our school kids, more corporate welfare and we’re all paying for it.
“The Diplomat for Jan-Feb 2008 (vol. 6, no. 5)
“… This is a special issue on climate, and it contains some excellent and at the same time terrifying articles as to the state of play of the commercial and financial sectors as they anticipate the implementation of a carbon credits trading system by the Rudd Government. One article points out (on p. 24) that Rudd is likely to copy parts of his policy from the UK, where a 2007 Climate Change Bill implemented sweeping new climate policies, mandatory emission cut targets and an Orwellian Committee on Climate Change.
“Then follows a two paragraph description of how 10 Downing Street is setting an example to everyone (including use of a wormery to compost café waste) that reads as satire until one reflects on the happenstance that it is (presumably) true! It would have required the combined talents of Orwell and H.G. Wells to have written this in advance of its occurrence.
“Many other tidbits will catch your eye in this and the other articles. Including that CSIRO is a joint venture partner with investment bank Investec in a scheme to build ten new wind farms – this being the classic and irreconcilable conflict of interest situation that is created once you start encouraging scientists and science agencies to do “useful” as opposed to excellent science – a malignancy that has now perverted all Australian scientific research.