Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Senator Sinodinos. Australia has been globally condemned, including recently by the editorial of The New York Times, for our CSIRO cuts to Oceans and Atmosphere and our contribution to global climate science. It has also been revealed in recent Senate hearings that senior CSIRO executives have been deliberately using private email, rather than official CSIRO email addresses, to plan for and implement these cuts to climate science. Does the minister condone the use of private email, even though it is possibly in breach of the Archives Act and the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act? Does the minister accept that this is a really bad look for an organisation expected to uphold the highest levels of public scrutiny?

Arthur Sinodinos (NSW, Liberal Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I say first and foremost that there will be no net job cuts as a result of what the CSIRO is doing in this area. The idea that we should interfere with decisions by the board and the management of the CSIRO about what is the best disposition of resources is laughable in the extreme when the organisation has made it clear that it will continue to promote climate science and adaptation and mitigation measures through its research. So I reject entirely the premise of the question.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Have you concluded your answer, Cabinet Secretary?

Arthur Sinodinos (NSW, Liberal Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Whish-Wilson, supplementary question?

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I was on my feet to take a point of order. The question was actually whether the minister was aware that private email was used by CSIRO executives and that that was a potential contravention of those acts. He did not answer it.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

He has now concluded his answer, Senator Whish-Wilson, so do you have a supplementary question?

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Senator Sinodinos, will you be investigating the use of private email by CSIRO executives and whether there is a potential contravention of the Archives Act and the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act?

Arthur Sinodinos (NSW, Liberal Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Because I am a relatively happy-go-lucky bloke in this place I am always happy to take on any concerns that senators, including Senator Whish-Wilson, have and respond accordingly, but I reject the premise of the question, which is interference by government in the resource allocation decisions of the CSIRO.

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Was the minister aware of allegations that CSIRO senior management conducted a process using private emails, potentially in contravention of the Archives Act?

Arthur Sinodinos (NSW, Liberal Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will check with the minister responsible about this particular matter. I have heard reports, but I will get back to you in due course.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the public record?

Arthur Sinodinos (NSW, Liberal Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the public record.