24 February 2011 | Luca Del Buono
Climate Change, Australia

 

Tension between the Australian government and its chief scientist was exposed on Wednesday (23 February) with revelations she was not asked for advice before a world climate change conference.

Scientist Penny Sackett, whose shock resignation halfway through a five-year term was announced last week, told a Senate hearing that she had never met Prime Minister Julia Gillard; neither had she been invited to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in 2009 to assist with negotiations or advise on the science.

Sackett said she is confident that all her advice ''has been considered”; however she was not called on in the lead-up to the climate change conference to give advice on emissions targets. She told the hearing that she briefed former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd only once during his tenure.

The scientific advisor said the function of chief scientist is unclear. ''A decision has to be made by the government to set the boundaries for what it would like to be achieved in the role,'' she said.

''Scientists must communicate but be clear when they are talking about science and when they are talking about policy,'' she told the senate economics legislation committee. Boundaries between science and policy are being blurred, she said.

While science is ''not the complete answer'' it provides evidence to help in making decisions, she added.

Science Minister Kim Carr said he met Professor Sackett about once a month. ''Through those and other meetings she has provided advice to government on a wide range of issues,'' he said.

However, opposition science spokeswoman Sophie Mirabella said the relationship is flawed: "If the Prime Minister doesn't even meet with you and you're supposed to be her chief adviser on science – that shows a pretty rude disregard.

"What is surprising is the Government set this office up; it employs 16 people and costs $2.3 million a year. Why wouldn't you use those resources?"

Sackett told the committee: ''It is my firm view that all countries should immediately seek ways to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the effects of climate change that are already under way and those that we expect from emissions already in the atmosphere,'' adding that Australia will be at an economic disadvantage if action is delayed.

Image: Πρωθυπουργός της Ελλάδας | Flickr

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