14 February 2006The Age
Australia's coal industry has resolutely denied obtaining undue access to federal government workings on the issue of climate change.
The Australian Coal Association (ACA) also attacked the ABC's Four Corners television program for alleging lobbyists had written cabinet briefing papers on climate policy, accusing the award-winning program of shoddy and biased journalism.
The program included a claim by former Liberal staffer and industry lobbyist Dr Guy Pearse that he had conducted extensive interviews with coal industry lobbyists, some of whom called themselves the greenhouse mafia.
He said several lobbyists had admitted writing cabinet briefings, which are usually sourced in government departments.
The program also aired allegations by three former senior CSIRO scientists they had been silenced on climate change issues that conflicted with government policy.
"The ABC Four Corners program aired last night (is) a new low-water mark in shoddy, biased journalism," ACA executive director Mark O'Neill said.
"The program aired unsubstantiated allegations made by a self-styled whistleblower with declared political ambitions, Dr Guy Pearse."
He denied any untoward privileges were granted to coal lobbyists.
But the denials did not stop opposition parties attacking the government over the claims.
"A dangerous climate of fear clouds Howard government climate policy," opposition environment spokesman Anthony Albanese told parliament.
"The victims of that climate of fear have been some of Australia's top scientists in the CSIRO.
"Just like the wheat-for-weapons scandal, this is a government which governs in its own political interests, not in the national interest.
"Last night's Four Corners program raised serious allegations that senior CSIRO scientists are being gagged on climate change issues when it does not suit the Howard government's political message."
Australian Greens senator Christine Milne said the program's allegations backed up her own observations of coal lobbyists working closely with government delegations at international climate meetings.
"Every time I ask scientists, particularly people involved in CSIRO, or in the research centres around the country ... it's clear they're afraid to speak out publicly because of the ramifications of government policy in terms of whether their research will continue to be funded or whether their work will be published," she said.
Senator Milne said the allegations deserved investigation in a broad inquiry.
