Extract from ABC News
The CSIRO will cut 300 to 350 research jobs across the country in a bid to secure the agency's long-term sustainability. (ABC News: Callum Flinn)
In short:
The CSIRO will slash up to 350 full-time equivalent jobs to address rising costs.
It comes on top of more than 800 positions being slashed in the past 18 months.
What's next?
The job losses will come from across the country, with no details about what positions are at risk.
The CSIRO has announced it will slash up to 350 jobs as the national science agency grapples with long-term financial challenges.
The organisation said it had reached a "critical inflection point", with funding failing to keep pace with the rising costs of running a modern science agency.
Chief executive Doug Hilton said the organisation would axe between 300 and 350 full-time equivalent roles across its research units, with conversations with staff to begin on Wednesday.
"These are difficult but necessary changes to safeguard our national science agency so we can continue solving the challenges that matter to Australia and Australians,"Dr Hilton said.
CSIRO CEO Doug Hilton says the cuts are necessary for the agency to keep running. (Supplied: WEHI)
The CSIRO said an 18-month review of its research portfolio found it needed a sharper focus on areas like climate resilience, clean energy and advanced technologies.
In a statement, a spokesperson said other research activities would "need to be de-prioritised", including in areas where the CSIRO lacked the scale to make a significant impact.
The organisation said the job losses would come from across the country but did not detail what positions were at risk.
It is the latest in the string of cuts at the CSIRO, with more than 800 positions slashed in the past 18 months.
'Very sad day'
The CSIRO Staff Association (CSIROSA) has slammed the decision, describing it as a "very sad day" for publicly funded science in Australia.
In a statement, the association called for urgent federal funding to stop the cuts.
CSIRO Staff Association secretary Susan Tonk says the cuts are some of the worst the agency has ever experienced. (Supplied: Instagram)
"With more than 800 research and science support roles already lost, these cuts now surpass those delivered by the Abbott Government," the statement said.
CSIROSA secretary Susan Tonks said the cuts came at a time when there should be more investment in public science.
"These are some of the worst cuts the CSIRO has ever seen," she said.
"The Albanese Labor government needs to fix this mess by committing to urgent funding that halts the cuts and secures the future of CSIRO's world-leading science and research."
The organisation employs more than 5,800 people.
'Reform is essential'
Federal Science Minister Tim Ayres said the cuts were aimed at refocusing the efforts of the CSIRO towards research priorities, such as critical minerals, iron and steel production in Australia.
"Reform is essential to make sure the facilities, research priorities and technologies of yesterday meet the needs of tomorrow,"Mr Ayres said.
"It is obviously a difficult time for the organisation, but with prioritisation from a government that believes in the national science institution and its capacity to serve the national interest, that is a necessary process."
Tim Ayres says reforms at the agency are essential. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
He said the cuts were an important part in making the CSIRO "fit for purpose", with a "modern forward-looking science agenda".
When pressed on which areas would be cut, Senator Ayres said health disease research would continue while areas including nutrition would no longer be a priority.
"This review — the first of its kind in over 15 years — will mean that CSIRO exits or scales back research in areas where that work is being undertaken by other parts of the R&D system and builds the foundation for strengthening and focusing effort in areas of national industrial science priority," he said.
Calls for job security
ACT senator David Pocock said he was incredibly disappointed the government had not provided the funding the national science agency needed.
"More than 1,000 Canberrans work at CSIRO, and they deserve better than ongoing job cuts and uncertainty," Senator Pocock said.
"If we are serious about meeting the huge challenges ahead, from climate change to AI and robotics, the government must invest in the people doing the science.
"Australia can't build a prosperous future on managed decline in our scientists and researchers."
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