Australia's scientists allowed to speak freely (maybe)

The Scientist reports:

Australia's top government science organization has completely rewritten its policy on public comments by staff this week, after admitting that the existing policy had discouraged staff from speaking about their research in public.

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Crucially, the new rules don't require staff to seek permission from management before speaking publicly. "We have taken out the word 'permission'," Garrett said. "Scientists are CSIRO's frontline communicators, and we trust them to discuss their science, even in potentially controversial areas."

But others were concerned that the policy tells CSIRO staff not to advocate, defend or canvass the merits of government or opposition policies.

Ian Lowe, president of the Australian Conservation Foundation, warned that ministers in the past have seen any comment on the need to reduce greenhouse emissions as a challenge to policy. "I would like to be reassured that scientists will be free to tell the public what the science says, even if that makes politicians …uncomfortable," he said in a statement.