Editing CSIRO (section)

==Controversies==
===Total Wellbeing Diet===
In 2005 the CSIRO gained worldwide attention, including some criticism, for promoting a high-[[protein]], low-[[carbohydrate]] diet of their own creation called ''[[Total Wellbeing Diet]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csiro.au/Outcomes/Health-and-Wellbeing/Prevention/Total-Wellbeing-Diet-online.aspx |title=The CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet |website=Csiro.au |date=12 May 2016 |access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref> The CSIRO published the diet in a book which sold over half a million copies in Australia and over 100,000 overseas.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/stories/2006.asp |date=6 December 2005 |access-date=24 April 2006 |title=The town taking the CSIRO challenge |work=[[A Current Affair (Australian TV program)|A Current Affair]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051213020826/http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/stories/2006.asp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 13 December 2005}}</ref> The diet was criticised in an editorial by ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'' for giving scientific credence to a "fashionable" diet sponsored by meat and dairy industries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/peers-turn-up-heat-on-csiro-diet/2005/12/27/1135445573297.html |title=Peers turn up heat on CSIRO diet |publisher=The Age |date=28 December 2005 |access-date=21 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://classicbackissues.australasianscience.com.au/bi2006/272CSIROdiet.pdf |title=Nature Gags on CSIRO Diet |publisher=Australasian Science |date=1 March 2006 |access-date=21 June 2016}}</ref>

===802.11 patent===
In the early 1990s, CSIRO radio astronomy scientists John O'Sullivan, Graham Daniels, Terence Percival, Diethelm Ostry and John Deane undertook research directed to finding a way to make wireless networks work as fast as wired networks within confined spaces such as office buildings. The technique they developed, involving a particular combination of [[forward error correction]], frequency-domain interleaving, and [[multi-carrier modulation]], became the subject of {{US Patent|5487069}}, which was granted on 23 January 1996.

In 1997 [[Macquarie University]] professor David Skellern and his colleague Neil Weste established the company Radiata, Inc., which took a nonexclusive licence to the CSIRO patent for the purpose of developing commercially viable integrated circuit devices implementing the patented technology.<ref name=Radiata>{{cite web |last=Matthews |first=Mark |title=Creating and Exploiting Intangible Networks: How Radiata was able to improve its odds of success in the risky process of innovating |url=http://www.dest.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/3C2255E6-B6E5-49EB-BB96-1FBA94EB0EA4/1372/radiata.pdf |publisher=Australian Government, Department of Education, Science and Training |access-date=13 May 2012 |author2=Bob Frater |pages=8–9 & 16 |date=November 2003}}</ref>

During this period, the [[IEEE 802.11]] Working Group was developing the 802.11a wireless LAN standard. CSIRO did not participate directly in the standards process, however David Skellern was an active participant as secretary of the Working Group, and representative of Radiata.<ref>{{cite web |last=Skellern |first=David |title=Tentative Minutes of the IEEE P802.11 Full Working Group |url=https://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/11/Minutes/Cons_Minutes_99July.pdf |publisher=Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers |access-date=13 May 2012 |date=5–9 July 1999}}</ref> In 1998 it became apparent that the CSIRO patent would be pertinent to the standard. In response to a request from Victor Hayes of Lucent Technologies, who was chair of the 802.11 Working Group, CSIRO confirmed its commitment to make non-exclusive licenses available to implementers of the standard on reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cooper |first=Dennis |title=Letter to Mr V Hayes, Chair, IEEE P802.11 |url=https://standards.ieee.org/wp-content/uploads/import/governance/patcom/loa-802_11a-csiro-04Dec1998.pdf |access-date=13 May 2012 |date=4 December 1998}}</ref>

In 1999, [[Cisco Systems]], Inc. and [[Broadcom]] Corporation each invested A$4&nbsp;million in Radiata, representing an 11% stake for each investor and valuing the company at around A$36&nbsp;million.<ref name=Radiata/> In September 2000, Radiata demonstrated a chip set complying with the recently finalised IEEE 802.11a Wi-Fi standard, and capable of handling transmission rates of up to 54&nbsp;Mbit/s, at a major international exhibition.<ref name=Radiata/>

In November 2000, Cisco acquired Radiata in exchange for US$295&nbsp;million in Cisco common stock with the intention of incorporating the Radiata Baseband Processor and Radio chips into its Aironet family of wireless LAN products.<ref>{{cite web |title=Press Release: Cisco Systems to Acquire Radiata, Inc. |url=http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/fspnisapi08cd.html |publisher=Cisco Systems, Inc. |access-date=13 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011124055012/http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/fspnisapi08cd.html |archive-date=24 November 2001  }}</ref> Cisco subsequently took a large write-down on the Radiata acquisition, following the 2001 [[telecoms crash]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Heskett |first=Ben |title=Cisco still confident after networking shock |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/cisco-still-confident-after-networking-shock/ |access-date=13 May 2012 |newspaper=ZDNet |date=9 May 2001}}</ref> and in 2004 it shut down its internal development of wireless chipsets based on the Radiata technology in order to focus on software development and emerging new technologies.<ref>{{cite news |last=Reardon |first=Marguerite |title=Cisco retires wireless chipsets |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1033_3-5151131.html |access-date=13 May 2012 |newspaper=CNET News |date=30 January 2004}}</ref>

Controversy over the CSIRO patent arose in 2006 after the organisation won an injunction against [[Buffalo Technology]] in an infringement suit filed in Federal Court in the Eastern District of Texas.<ref>{{cite news |last=Moses |first=Asher |title=CSIRO wins landmark legal battle |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/wireless--broadband/csiro-wins-landmark-legal-battle/2006/11/15/1163266614119.html |access-date=13 May 2012 |newspaper=The Age |date=15 November 2006}}</ref> The injunction was subsequently suspended on appeal, with the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit finding that the judge in Texas should have allowed a trial to proceed on Buffalo's challenge to the validity of the CSIRO patent.<ref>{{cite news |last=Venkatesan |first=Arun |title=Buffalo Allowed to sell wireless products again (for now) |url=https://techcrunch.com/2008/12/03/buffalo-allowed-to-sell-wireless-products-again-for-now/ |access-date=13 May 2012 |newspaper=TechCrunch |date=3 December 2008}}</ref> In 2007, CSIRO declined to provide an assurance to the IEEE that it would not sue companies which refused to take a license for use in 802.11n-compliant devices, while at the same time continuing to defend legal challenges to the validity of the patent brought by [[Intel]], [[Dell]], [[Microsoft]], [[Hewlett-Packard]] and [[Netgear]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Winterford |first=Brett |title=No backdown from CSIRO over Wi-Fi patents |url=http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/systems-management/2007/10/02/no-backdown-from-csiro-over-wi-fi-patents-39289756/ |access-date=13 May 2012 |newspaper=ZDNet |date=2 October 2007}}</ref>

In April 2009, Hewlett-Packard broke ranks with the rest of the industry becoming the first to reach a settlement of its dispute with CSIRO.<ref>{{cite news |last=Moses |first=Asher |title=CSIRO cashes in on patent claim |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/biztech/csiro-cashes-in-on-patent-claim/2009/04/01/1238261630683.html |access-date=13 May 2012 |date=1 April 2009}}</ref> This agreement was followed quickly by settlements with Microsoft, [[Fujitsu]] and [[Asus]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Duckett |first=Chris |title=Microsoft, Fujitsu, Asus settle with CSIRO |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-fujitsu-asus-settle-with-csiro/ |access-date=13 May 2012 |newspaper=ZDNet |date=15 April 2009}}</ref> and then Dell, Intel, [[Nintendo]], [[Toshiba]], Netgear, Buffalo, [[D-Link]], [[Belkin]], [[SMC Networks|SMC]], [[Accton]], and [[3Com]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Stevens |first=Tim |title=CSIRO's patent lawsuits conclude with the final 13 companies set |url=https://www.engadget.com/2009/04/22/csiros-patent-lawsuits-conclude-with-the-final-13-companies-set/ |access-date=13 May 2012 |newspaper=Engadget |date=22 April 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Flynn |first=David |title=CSIRO could scoop billions from Wi-Fi patent |url=http://apcmag.com/csiro-could-scoop-billions-from-wi-fi-patent.htm |access-date=13 May 2012 |newspaper=APC Magazine |date=23 April 2009}}</ref>

The controversy grew after CSIRO sued US carriers [[AT&T Inc.|AT&T]], [[Verizon]] and [[T-Mobile International AG|T-Mobile]] in 2010, with the organisation being accused of being "Australia's biggest patent troll", a wrathful "patent bully", and of imposing a "WiFi tax" on American innovation.<ref>{{cite news |last=Popper |first=Ben |title=Australia's Biggest Patent Troll Goes After AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505124_162-43340647/australias-biggest-patent-troll-goes-after-at038t-verizon-and-t-mobile/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506135649/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505124_162-43340647/australias-biggest-patent-troll-goes-after-at038t-verizon-and-t-mobile/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 May 2013 |access-date=13 May 2012 |newspaper=CBS News |date=3 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Stevens |first=Tim |title=CSIRO's patent fight targets more victims: AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010/05/21/csiros-patent-fight-targets-more-victims-atandt-verizon-wireles/ |access-date=13 May 2012 |newspaper=Engadget |date=21 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Masnick |first=Mike |title=CSIRO Wants To Expand Its WiFi Tax: Sues Mobile Operators |url=http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100601/1913309652.shtml |access-date=13 May 2012 |newspaper=TechDirt |date=2 June 2010}}</ref>

Further fuel was added to the controversy after a settlement with the carriers, worth around $229&nbsp;million, was announced in March 2012.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chirgwin |first=Richard |title=Champagne at CSIRO after WiFi patent settlement |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/04/01/csiro_settles_with_carriers/ |access-date=13 May 2012 |newspaper=The Register |date=1 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Brodkin |first=Jon |title=WiFi patent case results in $229 million payment to Australian government |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/04/wifi-patent-case-results-in-229m-payment-to-australian-government/ |access-date=13 May 2012 |newspaper=Ars Technica |date=3 April 2012}}</ref> Encouraged in part by an announcement by the Australian Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills Science and Research, Senator Chris Evans,<ref>{{cite web |title=Media Release: Aussie scientists bring home millions in wifi windfall |url=http://minister.innovation.gov.au/chrisevans/MediaReleases/Pages/millionsinwifiwindfall.aspx |publisher=Australian Government |access-date=13 May 2012 |date=1 April 2012}}</ref> an article in [[Ars Technica]] portrayed CSIRO as a shadowy organisation responsible for US consumers being compelled to make "a multimillion dollar donation" on the basis of a questionable patent claiming "decades old" technology.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mullin |first=Joe |title=How the Aussie government "invented WiFi" and sued its way to $430 million |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/04/how-the-aussie-government-invented-wifi-and-sued-its-way-to-430-million/ |access-date=13 May 2012 |newspaper=Ars Technica |date=5 April 2012}}</ref> The resulting debate became so heated that the author was compelled to follow up with a defence of the original article.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mullin |first=Joe |title=Responses and clarifications on the CSIRO patent lawsuits |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/04/op-ed/ |access-date=13 May 2012 |newspaper=Ars Technica |date=6 April 2012}}</ref> An alternative view was also published on [[The Register]], challenging a number of the assertions made in the Ars Technica piece.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chirgwin |first=Richard |title=CSIRO patent-trolls ALL OF AMERICA! |date=10 April 2012|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/04/10/csiro_patent_trolls_wifi/ |access-date=13 May 2012 |newspaper=The Register }}</ref>

Total income to CSIRO from the patent is currently estimated at nearly $430&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |title=CSIRO wins legal battle over wi-fi patent |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-01/csiro-receives-payment-for-wifi-technology/3925814 |access-date=13 May 2012 |newspaper=ABC News |date=1 April 2012}}</ref> On 14 June 2012, the CSIRO inventors received the [[European Patent Office]] (EPO) [[European Inventor Award]] (EIA), in the category of "Non-European Countries".<ref>{{cite web |title=EPO's European Inventor Award 2012 goes to outstanding inventors from Germany, France, Denmark and Australia 
|url=http://www.epo.org/news-issues/news/2012/20120614.html |publisher=European Patent Office |access-date=18 June 2012 |date=14 June 2012}}</ref>

===Genetically modified wheat trials===
On 14 July 2011, [[Greenpeace]] activists vandalised a crop of GM wheat, circumventing the scientific trials being undertaken. Greenpeace was forced to pay reparations to CSIRO of $280,000 for the criminal damage, and were accused by the sentencing judge, Justice [[Hilary Penfold]], of cynically using junior members of the organisation with good standing to avoid custodial sentences, while the offenders were given 9-month suspended sentences.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.smh.com.au/environment/greenpeace-activists-in-costly-gm-protest-20120802-23i0t.html| title=Greenpeace activists in costly GM protest| work=Sydney Morning Herald| date=2 August 2012| access-date=8 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/gm-crop-destroyers-given-suspended-sentences-20121119-29l66.html| title=GM crop destroyers given suspended sentences| work=Canberra Times| date=19 November 2012| access-date=8 November 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205181420/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/gm-crop-destroyers-given-suspended-sentences-20121119-29l66.html| archive-date=5 February 2018| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Following the attack Greenpeace criticised CSIRO for a close relationship with industry that had led to an increase in [[genetically modified crops]], even though a core aim of CSIRO is Cooperative Research "working hand in hand with industry [to] build partnerships and engage with industry to generate impact".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.csiro.au/en/Portals/Partner/Industry.aspx | title = Working hand in hand with industry | access-date = 8 November 2013 | date = 22 April 2013 | work = CSIRO website | publisher = Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation | archive-date = 16 December 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131216091336/http://www.csiro.au/en/Portals/Partner/Industry.aspx | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name=Flynn>{{cite web |url= http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/en/mediacentre/media-releases/food/Greenpeace-calls-on-CSIRO-to-come-clean-on-commercial-relationships/ |title= Greenpeace calls on CSIRO to come clean on commercial relationships |date= 15 July 2011 |publisher= greenpeace.org }}</ref>

===Climate change censorship: Clive Spash ===
On 25 November 2009, a debate was held in the Australian Senate concerning the alleged involvement of the CSIRO and the Labor government in censorship. The debate was called for by opposition parties after evidence came to light that a paper critical of carbon emissions trading was being suppressed.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.clivespash.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/09-11-2-The-Australian-FRONT-PAGE.pdf |author= Berkovic, N. |date= 2 November 2009 |title= CSIRO bid to gag emissions trading scheme policy attack |work= The Australian |publisher= News Limited }}</ref> At the time, the Labor government was trying to get such a scheme through the Senate. After the debate, the Science Minister, Kim Carr, was forced to release the paper, but when doing so in the Senate he also delivered a letter from the CEO of the CSIRO, [[Megan Clark]], which attacked the report's author and threatened him with unspecified punishment.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.clivespash.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/9_News_26_Nov_2009.pdf |author= Crystal, J. |date= 26 November 2009 |title= CSIRO scientist faces punishment |publisher= 9 News |location= Australia }}</ref> The author of the paper, Clive Spash, was cited in the press as having been bullied and harassed,<ref>{{cite news |title= Climate expert Clive Spash 'heavied' by CSIRO management |url= https://www.clivespash.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/09-11-3-The_Australian-Climate_expert_Clive_Spash_heavied_by_CSIRO_management.pdf |author= Berkovic, N. |date= 3 November 2009 |work= The Australian }}</ref> and later gave a radio interview about this.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.clivespash.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/MW-CSIRO-121212.mp3 |author= Walsh, M. |year= 2012 |title= The toxic workplace and bullying culture at CSIRO |publisher= 2cc.net.au }}</ref> In the midst of the affair, CSIRO management had considered releasing the paper with edits that Nature reported would be "tiny".<ref>{{cite journal |url= http://www.nature.com/news/2009/091113/full/news.2009.1083.html |author= Pincock, S. |date=13 November 2009 |title= Australian agency moves to calm climate row. Researcher will be allowed to publish his paper after making 'tiny' changes. |journal= Nature |doi=10.1038/news.2009.1083|url-access= subscription }}</ref> Spash claimed the changes actually demanded amounted to censorship and resigned. He later posted on his website a document detailing the text that CSIRO management demanded be deleted;<ref>{{cite web |title= An Orwellian guide to carbon emissions trading |author= Spash, C. |year= 2010 |url= https://www.clivespash.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/OrwellianGuidetoCarbonETS.pdf |publisher= clivespash.org }}</ref> by itself, this document forms a coherent set of statements criticising emissions trading without any additional wording needed. In subsequent Senate Estimates hearings during 2010, Senator Carr and Clark went on record claiming the paper was originally stopped from publication solely due to its low quality not meeting CSIRO standards.<ref>Australian Senate 2010. Senate Economics Legislation Committee Estimates. Canberra: Official Hansard (Wednesday, 10 February 2010)</ref> At the time of its attempted suppression, the paper had been accepted for publication in an academic journal, [[New Political Economy (journal)|New Political Economy]], which in 2010 had been ranked by the Australian Research Council as an 'A class' publication.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arc.gov.au/xls/era2010_journal_title_list.xls |title=Archived copy |access-date=11 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119133137/http://www.arc.gov.au/xls/ERA2010_journal_title_list.xls |archive-date=19 November 2011  }}</ref> In an ABC radio interview, Spash called for a Senate enquiry into the affair and the role played by senior management and the Science Minister.<ref>{{cite news |title= Dumped Professor calls for Senate inquiry |url= http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2010/s2829301.htm |author= Colvin, M. |year= 2010 |publisher= Australian Broadcasting Corporation }}</ref> After these events, the ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]''  reported that "Questions are being raised about the closeness of BHP Billiton and the CSIRO under its chief executive, Megan Clark".<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.smh.com.au/business/csiro-in-bed-with-big-coal-20100702-zu2i.html |author= Manning, P. |year= 2010 |title= CSIRO in bed with big coal |work= The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> After his resignation, an unedited version of the paper was released by Spash as a discussion paper,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/19114/ |author= Spash, C. L. |year= 2009 |title= The Brave New World of Carbon Trading |work= Munich Personal Research Papers in Economics Archive (MPRA) |publisher= Munich University }}</ref> and later published as an academic journal article.<ref>{{cite journal |author= Spash, C. L. |date= 16 July 2010 |title= The brave new world of carbon trading |journal= New Political Economy |volume= 15 |number= 2 |pages= 169–195 |doi= 10.1080/13563460903556049 |s2cid= 44071002 |url= https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/19114/1/MPRA_paper_19114.pdf }} Copy also available at {{cite journal |url=https://www.clivespash.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/2010_Spash_Brave_New_World_NPE.pdf |title=The brave new world of carbon trading |journal= New Political Economy |volume= 15 |number= 2 |pages=169–195 |doi=10.1080/13563460903556049 |year=2010 |last1=Spash |first1=Clive L. |s2cid=44071002 }}</ref>

===CSIRO–Novartis–DataTrace scandal===
On 11 April 2013, the ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]'' ran a story on how CSIRO had "duped" the Swiss-based pharmaceutical giant [[Novartis]] into purchasing an anti-counterfeit technology for its vials of injectable [[Voltaren]]. The invention was marketed by a small Australian company called DataTrace DNA as a method of identifying fake vials, on the basis that a unique tracer code developed by CSIRO was embedded in the product. However, the code sold to Novartis for more than A$2M was apparently not unique, and was based on a "cheap tracer ... bought in bulk from a Chinese distributor". Novartis was contractually bound not to reverse-engineer the tracer to verify its uniqueness. The ''Sydney Morning Herald'' report alleges that this was done with the knowledge of key CSIRO personnel.<ref>{{cite news |title=How the CSIRO cheated a global drugs giant |url=http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/how-the-csiro-cheated-a-global-drugs-giant-20130410-2hluf.html |access-date=12 April 2012 |newspaper= The Sydney Morning Herald |date=11 April 2012}}</ref>

CSIRO has since conducted a full review of the allegations and found no evidence to support them.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.csiro.au/en/Portals/Media/CSIRO-review-of-issues-raised-about-CSIROs-interactions-with-DataTrace.aspx |title=CSIRO review of issues raised about CSIRO's interactions with DataTrace |publisher=Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation |date=11 August 2013 |access-date=7 September 2013}}</ref>

===Alleged bullying, harassment and victimisation===
Around 2008–2012, CSIRO fell under the spotlight for allegedly exhibiting a culture of workplace bullying and harassment.<ref>[[Linton Besser]] and Nicky Phillips (12 April 2013) [http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/science-second-in-toxic-csiro-work-culture-20130412-2hqv0.html "Science second in toxic CSIRO work culture"], ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]''.</ref> Former CSIRO employees started to surface with experiences of workplace bullying and other unreasonable behaviour by current and former CSIRO staff members.<ref>[[Linton Besser]] (5 February 2013) [http://www.smh.com.au/national/probe-into-csiro-bullying-20130205-2dwva.html "Probe into CSIRO bullying"], ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]''.</ref><ref>[[Linton Besser]] (18 September 2012) [http://www.smh.com.au/national/whistleblowers-at-csiro-forced-out-and-bullying-rife-20120917-262hk.html "Whistleblowers at CSIRO forced out and bullying rife"], ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]''.</ref> CSIRO took the allegations seriously and responded to the articles on a number of occasions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Megan |date=14 April 2013 |title=More than 85 years of growth, change and impact |url=https://www.csiro.au/Portals/Media/More-than-85-years-growth-change-impact.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023033545/https://www.csiro.au/Portals/Media/More-than-85-years-growth-change-impact.aspx |archive-date=2014-10-23 |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=CSIRO}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Megan |date=2 May 2013 |title=Chief Executive Megan Clark's update to staff re Fairfax articles |url=http://www.csiro.au/Portals/Media/Chief-Executive-Megan-Clarks-update-to-staff-re-Fairfax-articles.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023235332/http://www.csiro.au/Portals/Media/Chief-Executive-Megan-Clarks-update-to-staff-re-Fairfax-articles.aspx |archive-date=2013-10-23 |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=CSIRO}}</ref>

The shadow minister for innovation, industry, science and research, [[Sophie Mirabella]], wrote to the government requesting it establish an inquiry. Mirabella said she is aware of as many as 100 cases of alleged workplace harassment. On 20 July 2012 [[Comcare]] issued CSIRO with an Improvement Notice with regard to handling and management of workplace misconduct/code of conduct type investigations and allegations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.comcare.gov.au/about_us/access_to_information/disclosure_log/foi_requested_documents/improvement_notice_relating_to_eve207221 |title=Improvement notice relating to EVE207221 page |website=www.comcare.gov.au |access-date=27 January 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130727093429/http://www.comcare.gov.au/about_us/access_to_information/disclosure_log/foi_requested_documents/improvement_notice_relating_to_eve207221 |archive-date=27 July 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 24 June 2013 Mirabella advised the [[Australian House of Representatives]] that in relation to the worker's compensation claim for psychological injuries of ex-CSIRO employee, Martin Williams, which was vigorously defended by [[Comcare]] on the advice of the CSIRO, that CSIRO officers had provided false testimony on no less than 128 occasions under oath when the matter went before the [[Administrative Appeals Tribunal]].<ref>''"I am also reminded of the government's stubborn unwillingness to bring the CSIRO to account for a series of inaccurate and misleading statements that have been made to the Senate estimates committees, including the recent incomprehensible answer to question AL156 which says that no CSIRO employee provided false evidence under oath during cross-examination in the AAT case involving Martin Williams, when an analysis of the transcript of that case suggests that there are at least 100, and more precisely around 128, separate instances of CSIRO officers providing false evidence in the case."''
Sophie Mirabella MP (shadow minister for innovation, industry, science research and tertiary education). Australian House of Representatives – House Debate Monday 24 June 2013 at 6:33pm. [http://www.openaustralia.org/debate/?id=2013-06-24.99.2 "Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill 2013; Second Reading"]</ref> Mirabella stated, "even in establishing the framework for this inquiry it is obvious there's an inappropriate 'hands on' approach by CSIRO."

In response to the allegations Clark commissioned Dennis Pearce,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hwlebsworth.com.au/expertise/intellectual-property-and-trade-marks/features/our-team/item/479-emeritus-professor-dennis-pearce-ao.html |title=Emeritus Prof. Dennis Pearce AO FAAL |website=Hwlebsworth.com.au |access-date=4 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510115720/http://www.hwlebsworth.com.au/expertise/intellectual-property-and-trade-marks/features/our-team/item/479-emeritus-professor-dennis-pearce-ao.html |archive-date=10 May 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> who is assisted by an investigation team from HWL Ebsworth Lawyers,<ref>{{cite web|title=HWL Ebsworth appointed to CSIRO bullying enquiry|url=http://asia.legalbusinessonline.com/news/hwl-ebsworth-appointed-to-csiro-bullying-enquiry/110241|work=Asian Legal Business|publisher=Thomson Reuters|access-date=27 July 2013}}</ref> to conduct an independent investigation into allegations of workplace bullying and other unreasonable behaviour.<ref>[http://www.hwlebsworth.com.au/csiro-investigation.html Independent Investigator for Allegations of Workplace Bullying and Other Unreasonable Behaviour] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409032401/http://hwlebsworth.com.au/csiro-investigation.html |date=9 April 2013 }}, hwlebsworth.com.au<br />
"Emeritus Professor Dennis Pearce AO has been appointed as the independent investigator for allegations of workplace bullying and other unreasonable behaviour by current and former CSIRO staff members and CSIRO affiliates."</ref> Mirabella continued to question the independence of the investigation.<ref>[[Sophie Mirabella]] MP, (26 February 2013), [http://www.sophiemirabella.com.au/Media/PortfolioMedia/MediaReleases/tabid/78/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/708/CSIRO-BULLYING-TERMS-OF-REFERENCE-LEAVES-QUESTIONS-UNANSWERED.aspx "CSIRO bullying terms of reference leaves questions unanswered"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105083222/http://www.sophiemirabella.com.au/Media/PortfolioMedia/MediaReleases/tabid/78/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/708/CSIRO-BULLYING-TERMS-OF-REFERENCE-LEAVES-QUESTIONS-UNANSWERED.aspx |date=5 January 2017 }}, Portfolio News</ref> The first stage of the investigation published its findings at the end of July 2013, and the final stage was scheduled to be complete by February 2014.<ref>''"The investigator will provide his Phase 1 reports by 31 July 2013. It is likely that people will be told the outcome of the investigator's consideration of their submission at about this time. It is intended that Phase 2 will be completed by February 2014."''
[http://www.hwlebsworth.com.au/csiro-investigation.html Independent Investigator for Allegations of Workplace Bullying and Other Unreasonable Behaviour] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409032401/http://hwlebsworth.com.au/csiro-investigation.html |date=9 April 2013 }}{{primary source inline|date=July 2013}}</ref> Post the Pearce Report, CSIRO overhauled its relevant policies and put in place training and whistleblower procedures to address the situation.

===CSIRO and climate change===
In 2013, the Abbott government cuts $25,000,000 from CSIRO's annual budget, and in 2014 CEO [[Megan Clark|Megan Clarke]] makes "''almost a quarter of CSIRO's scientists redundant''"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Noel Towell, Mark Kenny, Bridie |date=2013-11-07 |title=Razor taken to CSIRO |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/razor-taken-to-csiro-20131107-2x4fu.html |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref>

In 2014, Minister [[Greg Hunt]] created NESP, diverting $21,000,000 per year of CSIRO climate funding to competitive Universities<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2016-06-06 |title=A hidden agenda? Larry Marshall and the CSIRO's climate scientists |url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/backgroundbriefing/a-hidden-agenda-larry-marshall-and-the-csiro-climate-scientists/7480370 |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=ABC listen |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=National Environmental Science Programme |url=https://www.cawcr.gov.au/projects/Climatechange/about/national-environmental-science-programme/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Australian Climate Change Science Programme |language=en-AU}}</ref>

In 2015, [[Larry R. Marshall|Dr Larry Marshall]] becomes CEO<ref>{{cite web |date=16 July 2015 |title=Executive Team – CSIRO |url=http://www.csiro.au/en/About/Leadership-governance/Chief-Executive-and-Executive-Team/Team |access-date=4 January 2017 |website=Csiro.au}}</ref> and shifts CSIRO's purpose to solving national challenges with science, launches “''Innovation Catalyst Strategy”''

In August 2015, the CSIRO discontinued its annual July and August survey, conducted over the previous five years, polling to create a long-term view of how Australians viewed global warming and their support for action. In the previous 2013 poll, 86 per cent agreed with the statement that climate change was occurring and only 7.6 per cent disagreed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/climate-change-csiro-axes-annual-attitudes-survey-delays-2014-results-20150810-giw6i1.html |title=Climate change: CSIRO axes annual attitudes survey, delays 2014 results |website=Smh.com.au |date=11 August 2015 |access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref>

In 2016, Funding cuts of 2014 force 70 redundancies in climate science,<ref name=":1" /> Marshall says the argument about climate change is settled so its time to find a solution, compares emotion of debate to religion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://reneweconomy.com.au/2016/climate-politics-more-like-religion-says-csiro-boss-90059 |title=Climate politics 'more like religion', says CSIRO boss |publisher=reneweconomy.com.au |date=11 February 2016 |access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref>

In "''an open letter to the Australian Government and CSIRO''", 2,800 of the leading climate scientists from 60 countries say the announcement of cuts to the CSIRO's Oceans and Atmosphere research program has alarmed the global climate research community. They say the decision shows a lack of insight and a misunderstanding of the importance of the depth and significance of Australian contributions to global and regional climate research.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-worlds-top-scientists-beg-malcolm-turnbull-to-allow-csiro-to-continue-its-climate-research-2016-2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213093520/http://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-worlds-top-scientists-beg-malcolm-turnbull-to-allow-csiro-to-continue-its-climate-research-2016-2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 February 2016 |title=The world's top scientists beg Malcolm Turnbull to allow CSIRO to continue its climate research |website=Businessinsider.com.au |access-date=4 January 2017}}</ref>

Climate lobby, Greens & Labor launch intense political campaign against Marshall – terminating the “''failed Marshall plan''” and “''reversing the cuts'' ''and "sacking Marshall''" become a focus of Labor's 2016 election campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hutchens |first=Gareth |date=2016-06-12 |title=Labor promises CSIRO $250m to reverse Coalition's funding cuts |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jun/12/labor-promises-csiro-250m-to-reverse-coalitions-funding-cuts |access-date=2025-02-10 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> 

Labor loses election, value of CSIRO doubles, Marshall becomes longest serving CEO in CSIRO's history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Riley |first=James |date=2023-06-16 |title=The exit interview: Larry Marshall has no regrets |url=https://www.innovationaus.com/the-exit-interview-larry-marshall-has-no-regrets/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=InnovationAus.com |language=en-AU}}</ref>

In 2018, CSIRO creates 1<sup>st</sup> Net Zero plan for Australia, and demonstrates it by taking all 55 sites across Australia 80% of way to net zero, and doubling value of CSIRO at same time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-19 |title=Why Larry Marshall turned down a job extension at CSIRO |url=https://www.afr.com/technology/why-larry-marshall-turned-down-a-job-extension-at-csiro-20230613-p5dgaj |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Making net zero a reality |url=https://www.ceda.com.au/newsandresources/opinion/energy/making-net-zero-a-reality |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=CEDA}}</ref>

The CSIRO has been the target of successive funding cuts under the [[Morrison government]], starting with cuts targeting climate science research initiated by [[Tony Abbott]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/26/csiro-funding-cuts-driven-by-pure-ignorance-says-staff-association|title=CSIRO funding cuts driven by 'pure ignorance', says staff association &#124; Science &#124; The Guardian|website=amp.theguardian.com|access-date=4 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://reneweconomy.com.au/jaw-dropping-csiro-job-cuts-to-gut-climate-science-unit-38881/|title='Jaw-dropping' CSIRO job cuts to 'gut' climate science unit|first=Sophie|last=Vorrath|date=4 February 2016|website=reneweconomy.com.au|access-date=4 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/climate-will-be-all-gone-as-csiro-swings-jobs-axe-scientists-say-20160204-gml7jy.html|title=Climate science to be gutted as CSIRO swings jobs axe|website=amp.smh.com.au|date=4 February 2016 |access-date=4 May 2022}}</ref>

===Trademark dispute with Cisco===

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In 2015, [[Cisco Systems]] filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against CSIRO, claiming that the colours and style of CSIRO's logo were too similar to Cisco's. An Australian court ruled in CSIRO's favor and ordered Cisco to pay CSIRO's court costs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://theregister.com/2015/04/10/cisco_loses_logo_lawsuit_against_wifi_inventor_boffinhaus|title=Cisco loses logo lawsuit against WiFi inventor boffinhaus|last=Sharwood|first=Simon|date=2015-04-10|work=The Register|access-date=7 July 2022}}</ref>