Antinuclear

“Almost everyone with knowledge would say Mr Newman’s comments are at odds with what they know, but people with no scientific knowledge persist in the view that they can find three or four papers from the hundreds and hundreds of papers on the subject and then dismiss the overwhelming bulk of evidence … it is a silly response to a very important issue.”

Chubb’s response is not the first time the prime minister’s scientific adviser has taken issue with his business adviser’s views.

In February, Chubb said the scientific evidence for human-induced global warming was so overwhelming that those who reject it are usually forced to “impugn the messenger” with “stupid expressions like ‘groupthink’” or “silly” arguments that global warming is a “delusion”.

Newman was among those who had used the phrase “groupthink” in relation to the debate about climate science.

Tim Flannery, head of the climate council, said last week he was keen to meet Newman to discuss his understanding of climate science because the businessman appeared to have “little regard for science and facts”……

As the Abbott government comes under fire for big cuts to science and research funding, and for not appointing a science minister, Chubb said he was establishing a new “science council” of business people, researchers and scientists to reset the way the government was advised on science policy.

It would replace the prime minister’s science, engineering and innovation council, which has not met since the Abbott government was elected almost a year ago, but met regularly under former governments.

“We are trying to say what is done is done and now we are trying to be strategic,” Chubb said………

The claims made by Newman in his article have been fact checked by Guardian blogger Graham Readfern. http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/aug/17/australias-chief-scientist-tells-pms-business-adviser-to-stick-to-economics