Hundreds more jobs could be axed at Australia\u2019s national science agency, sparking concerns the country is gutting its research capability just as the Trump administration makes deep cuts into the sector in the US.<\/p>\n
The latest potential research job losses at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) follow 440 positions being cut last financial year<\/a> and earlier deep reductions under the Coalition government, including 300 in 2016.<\/p>\n They coincide with the Trump administration slashing science agencies in the US, with warnings the loss of expertise could have global ramifications in health, climate science and weather forecasting.<\/p>\n The Community and Public Sector Union said the Australian cuts were at odds with the Albanese government\u2019s promise to prioritise economic productivity and urged the government to instead increase investment in the CSIRO<\/a>.<\/p>\n Susan Tonks, the union\u2019s CSIRO spokesperson, said: \u201cThere\u2019s a clear disconnect between the government\u2019s talk about boosting productivity and their failure to support the very institution that helps deliver it.\u201d<\/p>\n Sign up: AU Breaking News email<\/a><\/p>\n A CSIRO spokesperson confirmed the agency was \u201creshaping its research portfolio\u201d with a goal of making it more financially sustainable, but did not indicate how many jobs might be lost. They said the changes were in part due to the end of Covid-19 \u201csafety net\u201d funding<\/a> and other government savings measures, and would \u201censure we are focused on delivering the science Australia needs now and into the future\u201d.<\/p>\n David Karoly, a University of Melbourne emeritus professor who previously worked at CSIRO, said the cuts were not being offset elsewhere. He said Australia had lower levels of industry funding in research than comparable countries.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a dilemma as to whether Australia wants to support the research infrastructure that\u2019s needed to support ongoing research activities in science,\u201d he said. \u201cThe simple answer is Australia doesn\u2019t appear to want to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n The latest cuts were understood to primarily affect the CSIRO\u2019s agriculture and food research unit, with reductions in health and safety, IT and business development. Research unit staff were expected to be informed about funding and staffing changes by October.<\/p>\n The May federal budget papers showed an expected 450-person reduction<\/a> in CSIRO staff, from 5,945 in 2024-25 to 5,495 this financial year.<\/p>\n The union said the cuts were the worst since 2014, when the Abbott government oversaw an estimated 20% reduction in staff.<\/p>\n skip past newsletter promotion<\/a><\/p>\n Sign up to Breaking News Australia<\/p>\n Get the most important news as it breaks<\/p>\n Privacy Notice: <\/strong>Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/a>. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy<\/a> and Terms of Service<\/a> apply.<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n Tonks said the agency\u2019s staff were experiencing \u201cdeep anxiety\u201d over the CSIRO\u2019s strategic direction and the cuts were \u201cdirectly undermining Australia\u2019s ability to innovate, compete and grow\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThis will continue to be the case as long as this government sits on its hands while hundreds of staff at the CSIRO are shown the door with little to no explanation,\u201d she said. \u201cIf this government is serious about productivity, it must step in, stop the cuts, and back our country\u2019s peak science institution.\u201d<\/p>\n