Date

September 17, 2013 – 12:31PM

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A vocal climate sceptic who wanted to be science minister has hit out at Tony Abbott’s decision not to appoint a dedicated minister to the area.

Western Australian Liberal Dennis Jensen’s criticism came as the country’s peak science bodies expressed concern over Mr Abbott’s new ministry, which has omitted a dedicated science minister for the first time in more than 50 years.

Dr Jensen, who had publicly put himself forward as a potential science minister, said on Tuesday the omission of a specific portfolio was incoherent.

“I’m somewhat confused about what happened to the science portfolio,” he told ABC News 24.

The backbencher, who has a master’s degree in physics and a PhD in material science and is outspoken in his doubts about mainstream science on climate change, said splitting responsibility for science between the industry and education ministries would “make it a somewhat schizophrenic policy area”.

“We’ve got a minister for sport, for God’s sake, but we don’t have a minister for science,” he said.

“I guess this is a problem with not having people of scientific bent in decision-making processes.”

Dr Jensen cited problems with the Australian Research Council’s process of awarding grants and a lack of quality students entering the field at university.

“Science is in crisis, quite frankly,” he said.

Dr Jensen made the comments in an interview in which he repeated criticisms that Mr Abbott’s paid parental leave scheme was too expensive and had not been properly thought through.

He said the scheme should be referred to the Productivity Commission for examination.

Asked whether he could see himself voting for the scheme, Dr Jensen said he would ‘‘have to wait and see where the policy goes’’ but he currently had problems with it.

The country’s peak science bodies have expressed concern over Tony Abbott’s new ministry, which has omitted a dedicated science minister for the first time in more than 50 years.

Not since 1931 has an Australian government been without a science minister.

Universities Australia said it would work with the Abbott government to ensure it did not neglect “the critical areas of science, research and innovation”.

Under the incoming Abbott government, the minister for industry, Ian MacFarlane, will be responsible for some areas of science, including The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

Mr Abbott said on Monday science would “largely be in the industry portfolio”.

“I am trying to avoid a situation where unless something is specifically mentioned in someone’s title it is unimportant,” Mr Abbott said.

“Everything that is significant is obviously of concern to an Australian government but it is possible to take things very, very seriously indeed without feeling they need to be included in people’s titles because we are just getting to a situation of title inflation and frankly I want to avoid title inflation.

“Thankfully I think we’ve got some title deflation as a result of this ministry.”

The Australian Academy of Science said it was disappointed.

”A scientifically literate society is a society which is equipped to hold informed debate and make intelligent decisions about big issues that affect us all,” the Academy’s secretary for science policy, Les Field, said.

The head of Science and Technology Australia, Catriona Jackson, said the nation’s scientists were confused by the absence of a science minister.

”Science and technology are central to virtually everything government does, from industry to universities, to agriculture to health, to creating the kind of jobs that will ensure a prosperous future,” she said.

But leading scientists including Nobel prize-winning physicist Brian Schmidt, and immunologist Sir Gustav Nossal, were reluctant to judge the new ministry until further details were released.

Professor Schmidt said as long as the minister in charge of science had passion and influence.

Sir Gustav said he was not too concerned, but would like the new government to continue to support the major science organisations, including the CSIRO, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation.

with Nicky Phillips, Bridie Smith

 

 

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