Letter to Senator Minchin

AGC President's letter to the Federal Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, Senator the Hon Nick Minchin

The following is the text of a letter from the President of the Australian Geoscience Council to the Federal Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, Senator the Hon Nick Minchin, concerning a decision to split the land and water geoscience functions from the Australian Geological Survey Organisation. A similar letter was sent to the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Mark Vaile MP.

1 December 1998

Senator the Hon Nick Minchin
Minister for Industry, Science and Resources
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600

Dear Minister

RE: AGSO LAND AND WATER GEOSCIENCE FUNCTIONS

I am writing to express the concerns of the Australian Geoscience Council (AGC) over the recent transfer of the Land and Water geoscience functions of Australian Geological Survey Organisation (AGSO) to Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests, Australia (AFFA).

The AGC is the peak body for professional geoscientists in Australia, and its mission is to provide a forum in which representatives of professional geoscientific bodies can cooperate to encourage the development of the earth sciences on behalf of the Australian community. The AGC comprises eight member societies and 18 associate member and observer organisations and represents over 7000 professional geoscientists.

At its General Meeting today, representatives of the AGC's member societies registered unanimously their strong concerns over the Government's decision to shift the Land and Water research function out of AGSO, Australia's national geoscience research institution. Major concerns are set out below.

Integrated geoscience functions to ensure delivery of quality outputs

AGSO Land and Water functions are built on a geological discipline base and are therefore critically dependent on the geological infrastructure and discipline synergies available at AGSO. To remove this capability from its geoscientific base would inevitably lead to its demise as a national resource and stifle the innovative cooperation that presently exists in the application of geophysical technologies, basin analysis research, geochemical and analytical technologies. In addition this capability would no longer be available to address water issues associated with the minerals and petroleum industries.

AGSO's current Land and Water program is based upon a recent strategic planning process involving all clients and stakeholders. The Council believes that the decision to move the Land and Water geoscience group to AFFA is a short sighted one that is likely to diminish the ability of the program to deliver effectively quality outputs to key client groups. In the absence of access to major research facilities, infrastructure and operational support that have previously been available to the Land and Water geoscience group within AGSO, the quality of research outputs currently provided by the group can be expected to be significantly affected. However, as part of AGSO, there is no reason to suppose that the quality of outputs to AFFA would be compromised: indeed, for the reasons argued here, they would be strengthened.

Deskilling as a result of decoupling Land and Water functions from geoscience

Another major concern with the Government's decision expressed by the AGC is the prospect of de-skilling in the area of hydrogeology. The flow of quality graduates in this area has already been under significant pressure from recent funding changes to the tertiary sector, including the introduction of course fees. The AGC believes that this situation will be exacerbated by the decision to remove hydrogeological expertise from AGSO, as the national geoscientific agency. This can only serve to reduce opportunities for research in hydrogeology over the next decade and can be expected to result in a serious short fall in skilled hydrogeologists over the coming decade.

The AGC recommends for your consideration the application of a purchaser provider model. Under this scenario, AGSO Land and Water could provide AFFA with required services, and at the same time retain Land and Water in a synergistic discipline base.

The AGC therefore urges you to restore the Land and Water geoscience function to AGSO. I have written in similar terms to your colleague, the Hon Mark Vaile MP, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests. I am available to discuss this matter with you further, should you think it necessary.

Yours sincerely

DR R W DAY
PRESIDENT