Dear Shadow Minister,

You Sir should be aware that on issues which require radical
solutions that are likely to harm vested economic and
political interests, censorship exists today (as it has
existed in the past). In Australia in 2006, leading
climatologists with that country's pre-eminent public
research organisation, CSIRO, were forbidden by the
organisation's management from publicly discussing the
implications of climate change. Management was acting on behalf
of the government. And Australia is one of the standout countries
in terms if human development status. It is not corrupt.
Its science is world class. None of this matters.

In 2006, the Australian Gernment's position was to cast doubt on
global warming and refuse to enter into UN agreements such
as the Kyoto Protocol.

With the release of the Stern Report on climate change, the
Australian Government's position changed. The PM remained half-
hearted about a commitment to counter global warming.

When igrnorance and vested interests are confronted by
scientific facts - it's usually the case that vested interest
will win out.

Nothing new there.

Foxy,
While politicians such as Jeremy Buckingham are renouned for making statements that later prove to be false and largely they suffer very little as a result. However, scientists live and die by their reputations. Falsifying data or information is the stuff that destroys careers. Given that the CSIRO scientists have in the past had no problem contradicting the government of the day, and the terrible consequences of lying, the best that government pressure could achieve would be silence.

Accusing research scientists of making stuff up is akin to accusing a judge of dishonesty, a doctor of deliberately harming patients, or a child carer of abuse, and Foxy, I am surprised at you.

Jeremy Buckingham, thought he had a gotcha moment, but the cost of poor research is that he finds his proverbial pants around his ankles, and his accusations against the CSIRO are disgraceful.

Foxy: It is not corrupt. Its science is world class.

My Dad, before her retired worked for the CSRIO in the Burdekin. In the 10 years he worked there he never saw one Scientist complete his Project. Apparently they all Quit (Went on to another Funded Project) just before their present Project was complete. So the Project they worked on was never written up. Five years of research went into the Bin.

Any Project not researched by CSRIO isn't considered to be proper Science & is therefore condemned by the CSRIO as Rat Bag Science & Lobbied against when it comes for the allocation of the Research Dollar as they consider themselves to be above everyone else.

So much for CSRIO Integrity.

SM: Accusing research scientists of making stuff up is akin to accusing a judge of dishonesty, a doctor of deliberately harming patients, or a child carer of abuse, and Foxy, I am surprised at you.

Hmmmmm... We've had a bit of that lately. Haven't we. Just look at Callahan for a start. Possible ring leader of all the Crime Syndicates on the Gold Coast. Just going by the lenient Sentences she hands out or doesn't. Child Carers taking children of mothers for giving a misbehaving child a smack at a Supermarket & letting children stay with Drug addicted & Drunken Parents who kill them. Then there's the Doctors. Don't get me started, We'd be here until next year.

Dear Shadow Minister,

We all should be aware of vested
political and economic interests in issues under
discussion. This is especially true on issues
which require radical solutions that are likely
to harm vested economic and political interests.

Censorship exists, whether we like to admit it
or not.

BTW: CSIRO receives funding from mining companies.
Google this for yourself. This information
is available on the web.

Cheers.

Foxy: BTW: CSIRO receives funding from mining companies. Google this for yourself. This information is available on the web.

Once again, I am with you Foxy. The Funder is always right & get what they paid for, or the funding dries up very quickly.

None of which alters the fact that Buckingham was after some cheap publicity and deliberately used misinformation to further his own ends.
Methane gas has been bubbling to the surface for thousands of years as has natural burning liquids; Moses and the Burning Bush for instance.

It is one of the first rules of gas exploration to check out areas where there are tales about methane seeps and locals having a bit of fun by lighting the water.