The Guardian 22 February, 2006
Polluting corporations
dictate greenhouse policy
While Australia continues to stand condemned in the international arena for its refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change, it has now been revealed that some Howard Government environmental policies have been written by the very companies who are major contributors to greenhouse warming and rising sea levels.
In a recent ABC Four Corners program, Dr Guy Pearse, a former speechwriter for the Liberal Party, revealed that representatives of major energy-using corporations have had access to confidential government documents, and have written publicity material and even cabinet submissions on greenhouse policy for the Howard Government.
The corporations’ Canberra lobbyists, who proudly describe themselves as "the Greenhouse Mafia", include former high-ranking public servants who maintain excellent contacts with key government departments.
The corporations involved are in the production of coal, electricity, aluminium, petroleum, minerals and cement. Particularly influential are the coal companies — Australia is the world’s biggest exporter of coal, and coal is the world’s biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
Professor John Hannah from the Australian and New Zealand School of Government commented: "… they’re buying influence, they’re buying connections. They’re buying an ability to get to the key decision makers and, in some cases, they’re buying a mentality, a way of going about things, that knows what’s possible inside government."
The Minister for the Environment, Senator Ian Campbell, denied that industry representatives had seen government papers or been involved in writing government material.
However, if Pearse’s statements were ever confirmed by an official enquiry, the public servants in Campbell’s Department would be expected to take the blame, as in the "children overboard" and AWB scandals. They could even be prosecuted under the Crimes Act.
Muzzled
CSIRO reports which contradict government policies have been suppressed. CSIRO scientist Barney Foran was told not to criticise ethanol as an alternative fuel. Dr Barrie Pittock was told to remove statements about rising sea levels from a paper he was preparing.
Former CSIRO Climate Director Dr Graeme Pearman, winner of the UN 1989 Environmental Program Global Award, the Order of Australia and a Federation Medal, was asked to accept redundancy. He had opposed CSIRO becoming dedicated to private profits rather than public benefit, and had joined the Australian Climate Change Group, which recommended a 60 percent cut in emissions by 2050.
Under CSIRO management practice, which doubtless reflects Government’s policy, scientists are required to monitor global warming, but are forbidden from stating when critical events are likely to take place, or what should be done to counteract the problem!
As one CSIRO manager stated: "When it comes to being specific about which proportion or reduction by which date, that is clearly a policy prescription and that clearly intrudes upon the role of government."
As a result of the government’s interference, CSIRO is now demoralised and "brain-drained". Since 2002 there have been four senior management changes, and some of their best scientists have left the organisation.
As Four Corners demonstrated, the Government’s greenhouse policy is not based on science, but on serving the interests of the corporations which produce or use major amounts of energy, and with which the government has such a close and intimate relationship.