The government agency has unveiled new measures, announcing plans to invest up to $135 million annually over the next decade to ensure its future sustainability.
In an official statement, the CSIRO highlighted its struggle with “long-term financial sustainability challenges,” noting that funding has not kept up with the increasing costs of operating a modern scientific institution.
“After years of stretching resources to maintain the breadth of our programs and the size of our workforce, CSIRO has now reached a critical inflection point,” the statement read.
To achieve a more focused research agenda, the agency revealed that it will be reducing its workforce. This move is intended to concentrate efforts on core areas such as energy, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics.
This strategic shift follows an 18-month review, with CSIRO’s CEO, Dr. Doug Hilton, emphasizing the necessity of the decision. He acknowledged the difficulty of the move but stressed its importance for the organization’s continued service to the nation.
“These challenging but essential changes are crucial to safeguarding our national science agency, enabling us to continue addressing the issues that matter to Australia and its citizens,” Hilton stated.
“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.”
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.
