CSIRO $120 million ship: up the creek without a paddle?

Yesterday the chardonnay socialist rag, ‘the Guardian’ attempted to use the CSIRO to embarrass the Federal Government, something that the paper is completely unaccustomed of doing. The Guardian stated:

“Australia’s new state-of-the-art marine research vessel [which is in the possession of the CSIRO] is being wasted because it is only funded for half of the year, scientists claim, as the government looks to private sources of finance to get the ship to sea.”

For the rest of the year, the $120 million dollar Investigator is relegated to stay on its lonesome, moored in dock at Hobart.

Now, the CSIRO has not made any recent media releases about their $120 million ship, so I am not sure the extent of their involvement in the Guardian’s concoction.

Nevertheless, I wish to say a few words about this $120 million ship the CSIRO has in its possession. Has the CSIRO not heard of partnerships with other organisations? I know that have because they’ve done them before.

It may be a revolutionary idea for those at the Guardian, but the Australian tax payer is not the only source of funding. The CSIRO is sitting on a cash cow that no doubt, any number of international agencies would be happy to pay top dollar to ‘borrow’ and lease for a few months.

Doing scientific research and making money at the same time, what a novel idea!

Now unfortunately for the CSIRO, the Guardian’s article which cries poor and goes on about waste and ‘false economy’ has the potential to backfire. Why isn’t the CSIRO looking at ways to ensure this valuable asset is being appropriately, and fully utilised. If it is half the ship the Guardian purports it to be, they will have no trouble.

What’s more, it is in the CSIRO’s interest to ensure that this asset is being used and not squandered, especially if they want further funding from the Australian government, and want to be seen as good stewards of this valuable resource which it currently possesses. After all, the Australian tax payer paid for it!