Australian Antarctic Division accused of hampering Senate investigation into research cuts

Two climate scientists who recently left division tell inquiry former colleagues have been ‘directed to remain quiet’

Two long-term climate scientists have alleged staff at the Australian Antarctic Division have been told not to pass information to a Senate investigation into climate research cuts, drawing a warning from senators.

Dr Simon Wright and Dr Andrew Davidson, who both spent decades studying the impacts of climate change with the division, have told the inquiry that budget pressures are “devastating” and will have a long-term impact on research.

“Australia’s Antarctic science program is already seriously threatened,” the scientists said in a joint submission. “It has been desperately under-resourced for many years, with progressive loss of staff, capability, and levels of morale that is extremely low and worsening.”

Wright and Davidson recently left the division and contacted AAD scientists to make sure their submission was up to date. They said staff felt they couldn’t speak freely.

“Our colleagues made it clear that they could not give us direct information for this submission and we carefully avoided compromising them,” Wright and Davidson’s submission said. “Clearly, they have been directed to remain quiet.”

The pair suggested an independent agency should be tasked with running a confidential survey of Antarctic scientists to ensure their information could be “delivered straight to the inquiry without being filtered by AAD management”.

An AAD spokesperson said “no instruction was issued to staff regarding making a submission”. But some staff told Guardian Australia advice had been issued to certain employees.

Wright and Davidson’s allegation has been taken seriously by the Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson and Liberal senator Jonathan Duniam, who are leading the inquiry. Both are concerned scientists may not feel they can speak freely without fear of losing their funding.

“That is very concerning if that’s the case,” Whish-Wilson said. “The Senate takes any intimidation of witnesses prior to an inquiry or following evidence very seriously.

Duniam said the allegation was “outrageous” and scientists “deserve to have their views heard, especially if they prefer to do so on a confidential basis”.

Whish-Wilson said public servants could also give evidence at hearings in early October without cameras and with their names withheld.

“It’s very common for us to do this because we understand the pressure that staff and public sector agencies are under. This is us doing our job,” he said.

Dr Stuart Corney, a senior lecturer at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, has told the inquiry that cutting Southern Ocean research would “diminish our international reputation for excellence in science”.

He said there was an urgent need for research given record low levels of sea ice.

“We could and should have had a science voyage in the Southern Ocean right now studying why this unprecedented event, which was entirely unpredicted, has happened,” Corney said.

“Instead we are left to speculate with limited observations from satellites and relying on data collected by other nations, which rarely go to the regions of Australia’s geopolitical interest.

“It is the equivalent of removing the canary from the coalmine as it starts to choke due to a lack of breathable air.”

The government has rejected claims it cut the division’s budget, instead suggesting it overspent on contractors and failed to plan for the end of a temporary budget supplement provided while the RSV Nuyina icebreaker was being delivered.

Last month, an AAD spokesperson said it “continues to prioritise critical science that supports understanding of climate, ecosystems and environmental stewardship”.

“Australia’s climate science is globally important and the Australian Antarctic Program will continue to deliver our priority science initiatives, such as the million year ice core and the Denman terrestrial campaign.”

 Photograph: Pete Harmse/Australian Antarctic Program - Australia's Antarctic icebreaker RSV Nuyina on its way to Davis research station in 2022. An inquiry is under way into climate research cuts.