Australia’s national science agency, the The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), has announced it will be axing up to 350 jobs in its research units as funding pressures bite the organisation.
The government agency announced the measures today, saying it needs to invest up to $135 million per year in the next 10 years to continue to be sustainable.
In a statement, the CSIRO said it is facing “long-term financial sustainability challenges, with funding not keeping pace with the rising costs of running a modern science agency”.
Australia’s national science agency claimed the job cut were necessary to remain sustainable.
“After decades of stretching resources to maintain the breadth of its programs and size of its workforce, CSIRO has reached a critical inflection point.”
The agency said it reached the decision to slash the jobs in order to receive a “sharpened research focus”, where the CSIRO claims to focus on core areas including energy, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics.
CSIRO’s strategic direction change comes after an 18-month preview, and chief executive Dr Doug Hilton said the decision, whilst a difficult one, was necessary for the agency to continue to serve Australia.
“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,” Hilton said.
“We must set up CSIRO for the decades ahead with a sharpened research focus that capitalises on our unique strengths, allows us to concentrate on the profound challenges we face as a nation and deliver solutions at scale.”
Minister for Science Tim Ayres said the focused research direction would help the agency become more efficient and effective and achieving its goals.
“Reform is essential to make sure the facilities, research priorities, and technologies of yesterday meet the needs of tomorrow,” he said.
“This, however, does not mean the decision of the independent CSIRO Board and management to reduce staff roles is easy, and I know this news will be difficult for CSIRO staff.”
Minister for Industry and Innovation, Minister for Science Tim Ayres said the job cuts had to be taken in order for the CSIRO to continue serving Australians. (Getty)
The job cuts have been slammed by staff some staff at the agency.
“This is a very sad day for publicly funded science in this country, and the Albanese Government is just sitting back and watching it happen,” CSIRO Staff Association Section Secretary Susan Tonks said.
“These are some 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.
The Greens have also called on the Albanese government to commit funding to the CSIRO to avoid the job cuts.
“At a time when it has never been more important for governments to invest in science and research, it is shameful that our nation’s premier science and research organisation is cutting hundreds of jobs to make ends meet,” Greens Senator and spokesperson for Science Peter Whish-Wilson said.
