The expertise of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering extends to diplomacy.

Yesterday ATSE reported its review of two scientific reports on the Menindee Lakes fish kills this summer. Agriculture Minister David Littleproud commissioned one from river scientists and the Labor Opposition the other, from members of the Australian Academy of Science.

The ATSE says they “have a very high level of agreement, demonstrating the quality of the science underpinning both.”

This is in-line, with what the Academy of Science experts think, “there is good agreement across the two reports.”

But not Mr Littleproud, who originally suggested the Academy of Science, “seems to have done the Labor Party’s bidding.” (CMM February 29). You don’t need a learned academy to get how dumb that was, especially in contrast to the scientists’ good manners.