Bring on the debate

Charters of integrity and independence will be developed for Australia's public research institutes, promising protection from political interference in public debate.

The new minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, said the charters will be based upon the principles of encouraging debate on scientific and research issues; support for the independence and integrity of public research institutes; support for the open communication and dissemination of information; and recognition that researchers should be engaged in such debate.

Interestingly, he said publicly funded researchers not only had a right but a responsibility to participate in public debate.

"The value of scientific endeavour and importance of vigorous and transparent public debate, unfettered by political interference but subject to peer review, is something I have advocated for my entire public life," Carr said in a statement.

"Governments are responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs that best address our future challenges. This means choosing between many policy options. Having access to frank and fearless research is crucial in making the most informed choice."

In a swipe at the previous government, Carr said the capacity of public researchers to contribute to public debate in their areas of expertise has not been accepted by everyone.

"The Howard Government was subject to repeated accusations of political interference with scientific research, especially on controversial issues," he said.

"It is often in matters of contention and sharp debate that the knowledge and expertise of the scientific community is most valuable. This is why it is so important to protect the right of scientists to speak out about their research and discoveries."

Welcoming the announcement, science communication specialist Adjunct Professor Julian Cribb said Carr's statement was tremendously statement for Australia.

"We do an enormous amount of very good science in Australia but the public, which pays for it, does not often get to hear about it," Cribb said.

"It is very important that they do so, so that we, Australians, get to be the first people to benefit from that science."

Professor Ken Baldwin, president of the Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS), said that while governments must have final responsibility for policy on issues such as climate change, it was dangerous for democracy if researchers and institutions like universities, CSIRO and the Australian Research Council (ARC) were constrained by overt or implied political threats to the effective communication of the science.

"A critical element of Senator Carr's proposal is the idea that scientists and researchers not only have rights but also obligations to participate in policy debate," Baldwin said.

"This expectation that science and research operate more effectively in the public domain comes at a time when there are growing expectations around the world that the results of publicly funded science and research should be freely available."