Larry Marshall
The CEO stressed that CSIRO’s customer is the federal government which is not interested in what climate scientists are selling. cpsu-csiro.org.au

A meeting between CSIRO scientists and the CEO of the agency, Larry Marshall, was recorded secretly, and details of the discussion indicate that Australia is on the way to lose its climate science capacity as the agency focuses on the commercial aspect of science.

The event happened in February, at about the same time that news of CSIRO axing hundreds of jobs came out. “Background Briefing” of ABC got a copy of the recording and posted parts of it online, reports Mashable.

Marshall told the researchers of the prime ministers focus on innovation and growth over curiosity-led research in favour of impact. It translated into funds that used to be devoted to science for the good of the public, such as tracking and measuring climate change, being directed to other projects.

In determining what public good is, CSIRO would rely on government policy. Marshall explained, “The danger of us deciding what is public good for ourselves; the risk is that we are biased. If I poll the organisation – and I did – each group fundamentally believes that what they do is public good, in the truest, purest sense of the word,” quotes ABC.

The CEO stressed that CSIRO’s customer is the federal government which is not interested in what climate scientists are selling. In response to a question if the science is done on climate change, Marshall replied that climate change has been proven that it’s real and it has happened.

The scientists groan and protest at Marshall’s statement. Half of them walked out before the meeting ended, including the head of CSIRO’s Land and Water Division. Because of the different outlook of the federal government toward climate change, the CEO said he hopes universities will continue the work that CSIRO scientists would stop doing, although he eventually compromised by establishing a new Climate Research Centre in Hobart where around 40 scientists will continue the work.