Originally published February 26 2006
Scientists accuse Australian government of suppressing its findings on climate change
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Three Australian scientists who worked for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) claim that the government silenced them for breaking with its climate change policy.
Three scientists who worked at the Australian science agency say they were pressured to keep their views on climate change to themselves to avoid clashing with government policy.
The government has denied muzzling the scientists, whose claims follow those of a top NASA scientist who last month accused the administration of US President George W. Bush of trying to silence him.
The three, who worked for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), said their views were censored because they could reflect badly on government policy.
Former CSIRO climate director Graeme Pearman told ABC television in a programme to be aired Monday that he was censored "at least half a dozen times" during his final year at the agency -- but never directly by the government.
"I asked him not to talk about the targets and the timeframe in which greenhouse gas reductions should be made," Morton said.
Barney Foran, who recently retired from CSIRO, said he had been asked by Prime Minister John Howard's department to not discuss ethanol as part of his work on biofuels.
While Barrie Pittock said he was asked to remove sensitive information about the impact of climate change from a government publication.
"I was asked to talk about the science of climate change, the impacts and the possible adaptions but I was expressly told not to talk about ...
how you might reduce greenhouse gases," he said.
Environment Minister Ian Campbell said the government had not instigated censorship at CSIRO, which is an independent body.
But opposition politicians have called for an inquiry.
"We want to make sure that our scientists can speak freely," Labor Party MP Jenny Macklin said.
"We cannot afford to have these scientists gagged."
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