Fed: Directive not muzzling scientists, says dept secretary

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2007
Fed: Directive not muzzling scientists, says dept secretary

A senior public servant says the government isn't going to censor scientific comment
.. despite an order for research agencies to submit their media statements for screening
before they're released.

MARK PATERSON .. the secretary of the Department of Innovation .. Industry .. Science
and Research issued the directive to the CSIRO .. Australian Research Council and cooperative
research centres.

But he says it was the agencies themselves that asked for guidance on how to deal with
media releases .. and there's no suggestion any scientific research will be vetted.

Mr PATERSON says the directive is not about censoring independent academic observation
or comment .. simply ensuring a degree of consistency on key messages.

And he says it's no different from what happened in the early days of the Howard government.

AAP RTV dep/rl/bart/jec/

KEYWORD: RESEARCH (CANBERRA)

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