The head of Australia's national science agency has thrown his support behind its energy cost modelling following a stinging attack from the opposition leader.
CSIRO chief executive officer Douglas Hilton has released a rare public statement defending the integrity of its scientists and stressing the importance of public trust in science.
"Maintaining trust requires scientists to act with integrity," the open letter from Dr Hilton read.
"Maintaining trust also requires our political leaders to resist the temptation to disparage science."
Opposition leader Peter Dutton fired shots at the credibility of the institution and its energy cost modelling earlier this week in the context of its nuclear energy push.
The coalition has been working on a new energy strategy that is expected to include a proposal to overturn the moratorium on nuclear technology and list six potential sites for reactors in former coal station locations.
Yet the cost of the technology remains a sticking point, with CSIRO's December GenCost report identifying nuclear small modular reactors as the highest-cost technology explored in the analysis and solar and wind the cheapest.
Speaking to reporters in western Sydney on Tuesday, Mr Dutton said the report had been "discredited" and was "not a genuine piece of work".
Asked if the scientific agency could be relied upon, he said "I think that's been well documented".
Following the CSIRO chief executive's public rebuttal on Friday, Mr Dutton softened his stance.
"Well, there's nothing disparaging about the comments that I made or that we've made," Dr Dutton told Nine's Today Show.
The opposition leader said the point he was trying to make was the "need to compare apples with apples".
"At the moment, that report that was released, it doesn't take into consideration all of the costs around renewables."
In the open letter, Dr Hilton said the GenCost report was "updated each year and provides the very best estimates for the cost of future new-build electricity generation in Australia".
"The report is carefully produced, its methodology is clearly articulated, our scientists are open and responsive to feedback, and as is the case for all creditable science, the report is updated regularly as new data comes to hand," the letter read.
Minister for Government Services Bill Shorten said the opposition leader was trying to take on the best scientists in the country.
"Chucking on a white lab coat doesn't make you a scientist, Peter," he told Nine's Today Show.
The high price tag and long process to bring projects online have been the federal government's key criticisms of the opposition's nuclear power agenda.
