Government Agrees to Increase CSIRO Funding as Agency Prepares for Another 350 Job Cuts

Science Minister Tim Ayres said the agency continued to receive around $1 billion annually.

CSIRO headquarters, Limestone Avenue, Canberra. CSIRO

The federal government has confirmed it is considering extra funding for the CSIRO as Australia’s national science agency prepares to cut up to 350 jobs, warning it can no longer absorb rising costs without new support.

During Question Time, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland, representing the science minister, told Parliament of the funding decision.

“There has been a decision taken by the government to provide additional funding for the CSIRO, the details of which will be communicated to the public at the appropriate time,” she said on Nov. 26.

Rowland said there have been no cuts to CSIRO’s base fund, but also added that staffing decisions are a matter for the agency, not ministers.

The issue was raised by Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie, who pressed the government to immediately invest $75 million to prevent the job losses.

No Cuts to Funding

Science Minister Tim Ayres said earlier this week there had been no funding cuts to the CSIRO and that the agency continued to receive around $1 billion annually.

“That’s the most important point,” he said. “It’s a really important commitment to our premier national science institution.”

Ayres said the CSIRO was undergoing its first full review of research programs in 15 years to ensure they align with national science priorities.

“What’s going on in the CSIRO is … programs of research match very closely the federal government’s national science priorities,” he said.

“We have funded the CSIRO fully. We continue to do that. There are no funding cuts, and none anticipated.”

He said the organisation had been consulting internally for months to ensure “every science dollar is spent firmly in the national interest.”

Financial Difficulties

It comes after CSIRO announced on Nov. 18 that 300 to 350 research and science roles could be cut nationwide, saying it had reached a “critical inflection point” after years of rising operating costs.

Chief Executive Doug Hilton told staff the agency was being forced into a large restructuring of programs.

“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.

More than 800 staff roles have already been cut and hundreds of fixed-term contracts have been allowed to lapse.

The CSIRO Staff Association said the news had stunned employees.

“With more than 800 research and science support roles already lost, these cuts now surpass those delivered by the Abbott government,” the union said, calling it a “very sad day” for publicly funded science.

It said the agency needs $80–$135 million in extra funding every year for the next decade to maintain buildings, modernise equipment, strengthen cyber security, and keep sites safe for staff.