Science Impact in Australian Politics - Report Example

Running: Science impact in Australian politics Name: Institution: Lecturer: Date: Science impact in Australian politics Public, politicians and the government worldwide pay greater attention to science. This is because, any nation’s health and prosperity is based on a foundation of scientific findings (Rest et al, 2007). Science, like any field of venture, depends on freedom of inquiry, and one of the features of that freedom is objectivity. Science can be used as well as be misused by politics and government. This paper outlines different ways in which science can be used and misused. Science can be used by politician and the government by providing better health care, in globalization, exploration of natural resources and in environmental reservation. On the other hand, science can be misused by government and politician in procurement of votes, changing the statements that do not favor the government in power and by employing unqualified individuals in the office because of their political views. Science is used as vital management tool in Australian government institutions. Australian government applies scientific researches to foster development projects. It uses science to formulate policies and make decisions pertaining development. For instance, Australian government depends on scientific results to decide on the best option and means to exploit the national resources like minerals, tourists, and investment policies (Joseph, et al, 1999). An example, the government consults the experts on best decision about mining and the repercussion it has in environmental conservation. After consultation the government will weigh the benefits on economy verses environmental repercussion. If it goes ahead with mining it will use scientific methods to mine (Mudd, 2010). On the other hand, Politicians use online social media to engage public in sharing ideologies. For instance, most Australian politicians has turned to recent technologies like twitter and face-book to broadcast their ideas rather than conversing which has benefited them a lot. It has also enabled the populace to engage the politicians on development ideas with ease through website technology (Australian, 2010). In addition, the government institutions use new technologies to deliver services across the country in order to reduce delivery expenses and avoid uncertainties. In business arena, Australia government has used technology to enhance its foreign investment policy to sustain its economic growth. Globalization has enabled the government to attract international corporate through advertising its rich heritage and natural resources. Just to mention, Australia has managed to attract both local and foreign investors as well as tourists to explore on its richness in minerals and world life as a result of globalization (Kearney, & Policy, 2006). Scientists should be involved in decision making in all government organs for policy making. With good rapport between science and politics decision making and implementation will be easier. It facilitates communication network for better service delivery across the country. Through science, the government is able to get people’s feedback on services delivered in time. With feedback the government will evaluate it in view of improve the services (Gregor, 2007). Government uses science to improve security for its people. Government trains its security personal according to the demands of the time and purchases the most recent arsenal weapons for security purposes. Due to global terrorist’s threats, Australian has used cyber strategy to safeguard its bounders and people (Byres, & Lowe, 2004). Healthy is a basic necessity to all human being and every government should provide good health care to its people. Science is use in health care laboratory in determining the kind of disease or virus patient is suffering from and which kind of treatment to undergo. However, some diseases require special attention due to their lifelong treatment like chronic heart failure. Such diseases call for special care and treatment which requires high knowledge and scientific skills (Clark, 2007). Therefore, Australian government finds science useful in providing solutions for various diseases and their treatment. For instance, the patient suffering from chronic heart failure needs day to day care, advice on diet and self management. All these calls for government scientists to provide such needed answers while trying to search for cure (Thomas, 2007). Australian government also uses science to provide energy for his people. The government entirely relies on science to generate power from hydro-energy, solar, wind, coal and other fuels. Through science government is able to look for alternative energy from coal which is environmental hazard (Castleden et al, 2011). According to Norgate, & Haque, (2010), science is very significant in environmental conservation. Australian government through science has lodged several researches in view of conserving the environment. From the research, government has resulted to stop cutting trees as well as mines closure believed to have direct effect on ecosystem. Various researches have been conducted to show how technologies on energy like coal damage environment and health. The research has helped the government to take stiff measures to minimize such effects (Castleden et al, 2011). As Hochella,(2006) explains, sscientists are usually highly regarded by the society at large. For instance, in opinions polls, those have been witnessed worldwide over the years, the public trusted scientists for being balanced even more than they do judges. Scientists are observed as well learned practitioners of incisive observation and calculation, structured without partiality. For sure the system is not perfect since there are some elements of scientific deceit, perpetrated by ill-advised scientists for personal gains, and is clearly known. In regards to this, a precarious tendency that entails, misuses of science for political as well as ideological benefit has been developing (Barber, 2003). The trend has become the target of several investigative reports in the print, radio as well as television media. The proof is clear and the ending from it indisputable. Science has been used as a tool in the political field as Dewey (2012) asserts, for the procurement of votes or the gain of the few. At times, politicians use science in motivating constituent support by euphemistically presenting scientific data, so as not to provoke an egregious answer. A developing number of politicians and especially in USA and Australia exercising great power and influence are rejecting, deforming or in other way misusing scientific discoveries as well as reports that they find not convenient or opposing towards their planned political ideological agenda. With the overall as well as overwhelming trust of science and scientists, it was not simple to at first to perceive this cloud as it was gathering. Government misuses sciences as well, for instance, a climate report that was written by Environmental Protection Agency was changed in 2003 (Boykoff, 2007). The government ordered the removal of any reference to a review confirming that human actions played part to global warming (Rosado et al, 2008). By doing this, the government unprofessionally distorted scientific findings. If this is revealed that the altered statement was originally correct, the public might start doubting as well as hold the scientific community responsible for cant, despite the fact that the government is the responsible party. In addition, there appears to be ethical violations in the highest offices, which people should stand up to save the reliability of science (Faigman, 2000). For instance, it is unethical or not morally right to offer a position to somebody based on their political views without considering the experience. The people appointed in different offices of the government should help the country to improve, since the decision of the government should be based on the future of the people. According to (Griffiths, 2013), the Australian government planned to abolish the climate commission, that was pushing ahead with its plan to scrap government bodies connected with labor’s carbon pricing scheme as well as climate change policy. The former Australian of the year Professor Flannery, defended the commission’s role. Flannery told the minister for environment that it is time to stay out of politics and get fixed to the facts. Flannery says that Australians have right to know, right to convincing, independent as well as correct data on climate change. This was after the bushfire started being witnessed in sydney which started abit earlier following the hottest twelve months on record. On the other hand, Australian Bureau Meteorology was accused of giving advice as well as information on weather events, without covering the economics or international action occurring around the climate change. The commission was being abolished due to the difference it was attempting to make in informing Australians on the climate changes as well as the causes. Despite the progress that the commission had made in informing the public on the climate change action and what it means to them, the government went ahead in making steps of unwinding years of progression(Griffiths, 2013). In addition, the government also planned to dump the Climate Change Authority which used to provide advice to the government on the carbon price as well as emissions minimizations targets. Science defines politic and without science government cannot formulate or implement any development policy. Furthermore, science and politics are intertwined for better governance and resource management. Australia government cannot make sound decisions on policy management devoid of technology. Technology also facilitates service delivery to people in all areas and situation. Nevertheless, good thing can turn to bad when misused and science has not escaped that. Politicians have used science to commit crimes like abolishing climate change report because it did not favor them. In other cases, they appoint political sycophants in government institution without proper channel. In conclusion therefore, it is importance for Australian government to balance science and politics to be able to attain sustainable development in all sectors. Reference Joseph, M., McClure, C., Joseph, B., (1999), "Service quality in the banking sector: the impact of technology on service delivery", International Journal of Bank Marketing, Vol. 17 Iss: 4, pp.182 – 193. Australian Journal of Political Science, Volume 45, Issue 4, 2010 Barber, R., (2003), Strong democracy: Participatory politics for a new age, University of California Pr. Boykoff, T., (2007), Flogging a dead norm? Newspaper coverage of anthropogenic climate change in the United States and United Kingdom from 2003 to 2006, Area, Vol 39, Iss 4, p. 470-481. Byres, E., & Lowe, J., (2004), the myths and facts behind cyber security risks for industrial control systems, In Proceedings of the VDE Kongress, Vol 116. Castleden, M., Shearman, D., Crisp, G., & Finch, P., (2011), the mining and burning of coal: effects on health and the environment, The Medical Journal of Australia, Vol 195, Iss 6, p. 333-335. Clark, A., Inglis, C., McAlister, A., Cleland, G., & Stewart, S., (2007), Telemonitoring or structured telephone support programmes for patients with chronic heart failure: systematic review and meta-analysis, Bmj, Vol 334, Iss 7600, p. 942. Dewey, J., (2012), the public and its problems: An essay in political inquiry, Penn State Press. Faigman, L., (2000), Legal alchemy: The use and misuse of science in the law, Macmillan. Gregor, S., Hart, D., & Martin, N., (2007), Enterprise architectures: enablers of business strategy and IS/IT alignment in government, Information Technology & People, Vol 20, Iss 2, p. 96-120. Griffiths, E. (2013, November Friday). Retrieved from ABC.NEWS: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-19/federal-government-scraps-climate-commission/4968816 Hochella, M. F. (2006, November Friday). Retrieved from The political misuse of science: http://www.elementsmagazine.org/archives/e2_1/e2_1_dep_editorial.pdf Kearney, T., & Policy, F., (2006), Globalization Index, Foreign Policy, 6, 74-81. Mudd, M., (2010), The environmental sustainability of mining in Australia: key mega-trends and looming constraints, Resources Policy, Vol 35, Iss 2, p. 98-115. Norgate, T., & Haque, N., (2010), Energy and greenhouse gas impacts of mining and mineral processing operations, Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol 18, Iss 3, p. 266-274. Rest, M, K., Halpen, M, K. (2007). Politics and the Erosion of Federal Scientific Capacity: Restoring Scientific Integrity to Public Health Science. American Journal of Public Health, 1939-1944. Rosado, D., Castro, N., Diaz, L., Guardado, T. (2008). The Use and Abuse of Science. Texas: University of Texas Press. Thomas, T., (2007), potential for patients and community level medical practitioners to influence high technology healthcare: evidence from Perth, Western Australia (Doctoral dissertation, Murdoch University). Read More

In business arena, Australia government has used technology to enhance its foreign investment policy to sustain its economic growth. Globalization has enabled the government to attract international corporate through advertising its rich heritage and natural resources. Just to mention, Australia has managed to attract both local and foreign investors as well as tourists to explore on its richness in minerals and world life as a result of globalization (Kearney, & Policy, 2006). Scientists should be involved in decision making in all government organs for policy making.

With good rapport between science and politics decision making and implementation will be easier. It facilitates communication network for better service delivery across the country. Through science, the government is able to get people’s feedback on services delivered in time. With feedback the government will evaluate it in view of improve the services (Gregor, 2007). Government uses science to improve security for its people. Government trains its security personal according to the demands of the time and purchases the most recent arsenal weapons for security purposes.

Due to global terrorist’s threats, Australian has used cyber strategy to safeguard its bounders and people (Byres, & Lowe, 2004). Healthy is a basic necessity to all human being and every government should provide good health care to its people. Science is use in health care laboratory in determining the kind of disease or virus patient is suffering from and which kind of treatment to undergo. However, some diseases require special attention due to their lifelong treatment like chronic heart failure.

Such diseases call for special care and treatment which requires high knowledge and scientific skills (Clark, 2007). Therefore, Australian government finds science useful in providing solutions for various diseases and their treatment. For instance, the patient suffering from chronic heart failure needs day to day care, advice on diet and self management. All these calls for government scientists to provide such needed answers while trying to search for cure (Thomas, 2007). Australian government also uses science to provide energy for his people.

The government entirely relies on science to generate power from hydro-energy, solar, wind, coal and other fuels. Through science government is able to look for alternative energy from coal which is environmental hazard (Castleden et al, 2011). According to Norgate, & Haque, (2010), science is very significant in environmental conservation. Australian government through science has lodged several researches in view of conserving the environment. From the research, government has resulted to stop cutting trees as well as mines closure believed to have direct effect on ecosystem.

Various researches have been conducted to show how technologies on energy like coal damage environment and health. The research has helped the government to take stiff measures to minimize such effects (Castleden et al, 2011). As Hochella,(2006) explains, sscientists are usually highly regarded by the society at large. For instance, in opinions polls, those have been witnessed worldwide over the years, the public trusted scientists for being balanced even more than they do judges. Scientists are observed as well learned practitioners of incisive observation and calculation, structured without partiality.

For sure the system is not perfect since there are some elements of scientific deceit, perpetrated by ill-advised scientists for personal gains, and is clearly known. In regards to this, a precarious tendency that entails, misuses of science for political as well as ideological benefit has been developing (Barber, 2003). The trend has become the target of several investigative reports in the print, radio as well as television media. The proof is clear and the ending from it indisputable. Science has been used as a tool in the political field as Dewey (2012) asserts, for the procurement of votes or the gain of the few.

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