Australia’s national scientific agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), is poised to cut up to 350 research positions starting next year. This move comes as the agency seeks to address budgetary shortfalls by finding new funding sources and making significant savings.
The announcement was made during a town hall meeting on Tuesday afternoon, where CSIRO leaders outlined the challenging times ahead. The agency plans to cut between 300 and 350 roles, in addition to previous job losses this year and those anticipated in 2024. The CSIRO also aims to secure between $80 million and $135 million annually to upgrade its ageing property portfolio, with approximately 80% of its 800 buildings nearing the end of their life cycles.
Strategic Shifts and Research Prioritization
CSIRO’s Chief Executive, Doug Hilton, stated that these changes are intended to position the organization for future success by sharpening its research focus. “This will allow us to concentrate on the profound challenges we face as a nation and deliver solutions at scale,” Hilton remarked.
Hilton informed staff that the agency would prioritize certain research areas while deprioritizing others, aligning with an updated statement of expectations from the federal science minister, Tim Ayres. The affected research areas include health and biosecurity, agriculture and food, and environment research units.
“These are some of the worst cuts the CSIRO has ever seen, and they’re coming at a time when we should be investing in and building up public science.” — Susan Tonks, CSIRO Staff Association Secretary
Reactions from Political and Scientific Communities
The decision has sparked significant concern within the scientific community and among political figures. Susan Tonks, Secretary of the CSIRO Staff Association, described it as “a very sad day for publicly funded science in this country,” criticizing the Albanese government for surpassing the cuts made under the Coalition government of Tony Abbott.
Minister Tim Ayres acknowledged the difficulty of reprioritization but emphasized its necessity to ensure the CSIRO remains fit-for-purpose. “Reform is essential to make sure the facilities, research priorities, and technologies of yesterday meet the needs of tomorrow,” Ayres stated.
ACT Senator David Pocock expressed disappointment, stressing the importance of investing in scientific personnel to tackle future challenges like climate change and advancements in AI and robotics. “Australia can’t build a prosperous future on managed decline in our scientists and researchers,” Pocock warned.
Meanwhile, the Greens’ spokesperson for science, Peter Whish-Wilson, is seeking an urgent briefing on the cuts, questioning how the CSIRO ended up in a position requiring such drastic measures. He highlighted the existing crisis in Antarctic research due to impending funding cliffs as a broader issue of concern.
Implications for the Research Community
The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) described the news as “disheartening” for both the research community and the Australian economy. Dr. Katherine Woodthorpe, ATSE President, noted the long-standing erosion of funding for government research agencies, including the CSIRO and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.
“We know that every dollar invested in CSIRO returns a three-fold benefit to the economy over time, if you give it the time to do the work that it needs to do.” — Dr. Katherine Woodthorpe, ATSE President
Ryan Winn, Chief Executive of Science and Technology Australia, called for greater investment in the CSIRO, pointing out that the agency also needs to allocate an additional $80 to $135 million annually to maintain essential research infrastructure and technology facilities.
Future Directions and Strategic Realignment
Following an 18-month review, the CSIRO has decided to renew its emphasis on inventing and deploying technological solutions across six focus areas. These areas include energy transition, climate change, advanced technologies such as AI, quantum, and robotics, farming, biosecurity, and “disruptive science and engineering to unlock the unknown.”
The move represents a significant shift in the CSIRO’s strategic direction, aiming to align its research efforts with national industrial science priorities. However, the cuts have raised questions about the future of publicly funded science in Australia and the country’s ability to meet global scientific challenges.
As the CSIRO navigates these changes, the broader scientific community and policymakers will be closely watching the implications for the future of research and innovation in Australia.
