Well said Dr Jensen. Do you get the impression that anyone currently in cabinet has any real understanding of these matters? Do government ministers seek the advice of scientists when formulating policy?

Dennis I will pay more attention to your complaints, when I hear your equal complaint about the millions wasted on bits of fluff "research" carried out in both universities, the CSIORO, & other organisations, just for the grant money.

Stop this disgusting waste & we could do a damn sight more real research, with much less than we currently spend.

If you aren't prepared to come out against this waste, you are nothing more than another lobbyist.

That's right. Best not to have too many of these scientists. They might start looking at inconvenient stuff like climate change and we can't have that.

Its commendable that Dennis Jensen is going out on a political limb to argue the importance of having a Science Minister.

Clearly in the area of nuclear policy greater coordination of agencies (ANSTO, DSTO, the CSIRO and several universities) is necessary.

Advances in nuclear industry have relevance to:

- climate change, the environment and health safety

- nuclear energy, value added services, isotopes to fight cancer

- and implications for Australia's defence.

Its also important that politicians with vision and expertise be encouraged.

Pete

Giving strength to Science is incredibly important. But, it is a very unlikely outcome for the next couple of years. There appears to be a great intent on counting marbles; rather than, having any vision for the future. Everything suddenly appears as though it is a commodity. Even the budget has been described as a "product" earlier today by one of Dennis's LNP colleagues. It may be an apt description as there certainly isn't any recognition of societal impacts.

The education component of the budget provides no incentive for bright students to go onto tertiary studies to complete a science degree and go onto a PhD speciality with a huge debt being incurred. The nation as a whole benefits from those having the ability to become specialists in particular areas

Unfortunately Dennis, the slashing of the science budget is symptomatic of a wider malaise with this government. It shows up in education policy; it is reflected in Hockey finding $250m for school chaplains; it is particularly evident in the incredibly short-sighted policies on renewables, climate change and almost any other science based area.

The absence of a science Minister for the first time since WW2 is sending the clearest possible signal: we are a government of ideologues with scant regard for Australia's long term interests. All the huffing and puffing about "budget emergencies" cannot disguise Abbott's true colours.

Keating once observed "God help Australia" if Abbott ever became Prime Minister. Even he would be astonished about the rapidity with which that concern came true. The polls suggest that most of the rest of us realise what a dreadful mistake has occurred. Only the rusted on Liberal neanderthals who inhabit the comment section of OLO (and we all know to whom I refer) cling to their illusions.