Coresearch (1994)
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357##1994 No. CSI RO AUST RALIA STOP PRESS MARCH 25 iean fungus brought in Keating raises to fight American weeds A fungus from Mexico has been released in the wct summer months,' said Dr Northern Territory to help control a weed that Forno. 'We hope it will do the Science to Cabinet scientists from CSIRO's Division of Entomology call same here.' Initially the fungus is being 'one of the most alarming threats to conservation in Just as this issue was going to press the news came released on the Adclaide River northern Australia' - Mimosa pigra. Iloodplains near Durwin. It has over the air that Science had a new Minister, Senator Mimosa pigra is a pricldy dense stands uninhabitable. been extensively tested over Peter Cook, and that, under him, Science was again shrub from tropical America Fire, herbicides and machines rive years to ensure that it is to be a Cabinet portfolio for the first time since which the Division says has have been tried against safe to release. The tests show Clyde Cameron was made Minister for Science and invaded Australian wetlands at mimosa. but lacking expensive that it attacks only Mimosa a terrifying rate, gaining a follow-up, this has only made pigra. Consumer Affairs in J975, under the Whitlam stranglehold over 800 square matters worse by clearing the Six biological control agents administration. kilometres of the 'Top End' way for new growth. have already been released and posing a serious threat to Mimosa pigra is the subject of two seed-feeding beetles, a In the list released by the Prime Minister today (Friday March 25), Kakadu National Park. a biological control program in stem-feeding beetle, two stern Science ranks seventh out of the 18 Senior Ministries, just below CSTRO's CLIMEX pcst- northern Australia involving boring moths and a nowcr Finance, and just above Immigration and Ethnic Affairs. mapping computer package CSJRO and the Northern feeding weevil. Although some The new Ministry is called Industry, Science and Technology predicts a potential distribu- Territory Department of of these insects have had an (formerly Industry, Technology and Regional Development, or tion of Mimosa pigra covering Primary Industry and Fisheries. impact on the pest, herbicides DITARD), and retains Senator Chris Schacht as its Junior most of the coastal areas of the Dr Wendy Forno, the Division are still having to be applied Ministcr. Northern Territory, of Entomology scientist in regularly to slow the rate of Senator Schacht is now Minister for Small Business, Customs Queensland and northern charge of the program, says the spread. and Construction (formerly Science and Small Business). NSW. As yet, it is limited to newly released fungus attacks CSrRO ecologist Dr Mark Though he has lost Science, and therefore CSIRO, to the Senior the Northern Territory. the leaves of the plant, Lonsdale says the need [or Minister, Senator Schacht has acquired responsibility for the Co The weed out-competes other sometimes with dramatic effective control is urgent. He operative Research Centres. So there will be a continuing relation plants and restricts access to results. says scientists and conserva ship between CSIRO and its fonner Minister. floodplains for native animals. 'In the Gulf Coast of Mexico tionists are conce1l1ed because The Organisation's Chief Executive, Dr John Stocker, said Waterbirds have suffered the this fungus devastates Mimosa infestations can double in area 'CSIRO welcomes and applauds the elvation of Science to Cabinet most as they find the,weed's pigra, particularly ,during the in a single year..:. level. We are looking forward to working effectively with SenatOt Cook.' 'J aln delighted,' he said, 'to see Industry now officially and directly linked with Science and Technology. It is the pedect Kids>collectfruitfl ies for science partnership for Australian prosperity. 'Minister Cook,' Dr Stocker added, 'has already stressed to me his concern that Australia maintain strength in basic and strategic research,' The Ministerial changes come amid intense media speculation about CSIRO's Budget, decisions on which have been delayed, partly because of controversy over structural changes to the Organisation proposed by Senator Schacht, and inquiries into those proposals. CSIRO has been arguing that as a minimum we should maintain our Budget allocation over the next triennium in real terms at the level of that of the previous triennium. CSIRO's expressed concern is that government forward estimates have the Organisation about $50 million worse off each year over the next triennium. The shortfall, CSIRO financial gurus say, comes from several factors: the ending of funds allocated in the May 1989 Science Statement; the continuing need for catch-up capital infrastructure funding provided in the last triennium; and the cumulative effects of the Efficiency Dividend. However, the government has said frequently that triennium fundino for CSIRO was not vet finalised, and that it would be review~,g the future of the M~y Statement funds and the Capital Program. Remlts are flooding (or is that swarming?) il/ from the Double Helix Science Club~~ natiollal fruit.fly The present fiscal climate in Canberra is a tough one. Ironically, experiment, launched 011 FebrtlwJ' 10 this yew: Two thousand members ofthe club, school childreu .fhJ111 this is because of the economic recovery. The government is under all around Australia, have beel/ out trapping the .flies in.fly traps made from recycled plastic bottles, al/d it pressure to end the budget deficit to prevent the economy ii'om could elld up saving the taxpayer a small fortune. Acconling to experimellt orgalliser Linda Meisel of overheating and going hack into a boom-bust cycle. It has two CSlRO's Educatiol/ Programs, COl/trolling the Queenslal/d Fruit Fly costs Australia more than $18 million main tools for doing this - lowering government expenditure and a year. 'Scientists at CSIRO and the Unil'ersity ofSydl/ey need to compile a genetic .family tree oIIi'uitflies raising interest rates. il/ Australia. The first step is to collect flies fivm all Over the COUl/try,' said Ms Meisel, 'and 2,000 young It is very shy of interest rate hikes because of the experience of membel~' ofthe Double Helix Science Club volunteered to help.' As of noll' (the end of March) 1,247 the late '80s and '90s. membel:~ ofthe 2,000 hape retumed their remIts, and accordillg to scientist Dr Mmlmllle Fl'Ommel; those CSIRO has been arguing strongly that it delivers an excellent resnlts are 'velY good'. She is SllllJrised and delighted at the standard ofcare and accuracy the young people return to the nation on its funding outlay, as documented in many hm'e shown, which she says willlllake the data much more use.fitl than might have been expected. Dr cost-benetit sludies, and is therefore not one of the logical choices Frommer is so keen to keep up with what the flies are doing in some ofthe remote areas, results from which for expenditure cuts. are extremely interesting, that she has written to the members in those areas to ask ifthey would like to cOlltinlle trappillg for t/ little 101/gel: Queensland members, as expected, are retllming the mostflies. (7Ite photograph shows DOllble Helix melllber Katlllyl/ Barker ext/lllinillg afrt/itfly.) the task of identifying issues increasing now of demands that that they saw as crucial to the so often, in the perception of future of CSIRO. They the group, demanded busy work gathered the evening beJ'ore the rather tlulIl useful work towards Workshops meeting to prepare some topics, specific objectives. I agreed Letters which they tested against each that this definitely is a danger, other the next day. I joined and in my observation even a to the them through the morning, trend, in the Organisation, and afternoon and evening of the that we will have to be vigilant second day to discuss the issues about resisting it. No doubt some of it is internal, but much Editor they wanted to raise, and then we had a plcasant group dinner of it is the consequence of the where wc doused, in good new growth industry of Victorian red wine, those reviewmunia. Perking up our differences that were still I pointed out to the group that thrashing about. we are now involved in, or have managers? The biggest issue for this recently emerged gasping from, Dear Editor, group was how to make sure 67 different government Times are tough for scientific that we have enough flexibility imposed reviews of bits of, or research funding in CSIRO! in both our management aspects of, or all of, CSIRO's 'We must use our existing structures and our attitudes to structure or function. And that resources efficiently and be able to make a real contribu diverts the course of our effort effectively.' tion to improving delivery of and energy massively from the What beller way to do this our results. Tiley were particu purpose for which we exist. than to train project leaders at larly concerned about the The preparation of submissions the R&D Project Leaders Organisation's reward system, for these endless reviews, and Course! For a mere $1,000 per with some in the group feeling sometimcs the Iack of any participant the Executive and that the terms and conditions of discernible outcomes from their Research Management employment for CSIRO reports and recommendations, Development- Human personnel were too rigid to must make one question their Resources Branch (that can't be encourage the kind of career benetit for cost. It all points up their real name) will put on a step that CSIRO might increas our need to have a set of four-day course in each state. I ingly represent in the future indicators against which we think I'll start at the Hyatt a future in which more people measure and report our Regency (Sanctuary Cove, might move in and out of the effectiveness.