Science minister warns CSIRO against ‘renting out’ its brand to giant gas companies

The science minister, Ed Husic, has questioned the priorities of Australia's premier science body, warning it against "renting out" its brand to huge gas companies that could easily fund their own decarbonisation efforts.

Husic told the Spark festival on Monday that a "very major gas company" had approached CSIRO to support its claims of working towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions. While emphasising CSIRO's independence, Husic said it should focus efforts elsewhere. "Gas firms at the moment are making enough money to ensure that the mint could blush," Husic said.

"I do wonder why we need to have gas firms renting out the brand - [for] CSIRO to do decarbonisation work - that I'm sure they could get a lot of others to do.

"I would rather the CSIRO work with a lot more particularly smaller or extensively Australian firms on that [decarbonising] effort."

It is understood the company seeking to partner with CSIRO is gas giant Santos, with the work involving carbon capture and storage. Guardian Australia approached Husic's office and Santos for comment.

Husic made the comments after being questioned about Guardian Australia's report on Sunday that CSIRO had ceased funding for its decadal forecasting program five years into its $37m funded plan. The project's inability to attract additional external funding was one reason for CSIRO abandoning the work, insiders say.

One senior researcher on Monday said CSIRO had made it clear it did not want scientists to enter into ventures on projects valued at less than $500,000. The Climate Science Centre, for instance, could have helped close a funding hole of more than $4m if such projects had been permitted.