MEDIA RELEASE
Health and biosecurity scientists at Australia’s national science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) have been shaken by the release of shock plans to cut dozens of jobs, close laboratories and drastically reduce research into human health.
The news comes following a recent warning from CSIRO Chief Executive Doug Hilton that support services costs were ‘unsustainable’ and needed to fall by 25 per cent, and reports that another 30 jobs will be scrapped from the organisation’s Agriculture and Food Business unit.
CSIRO Staff Association Secretary Susan Tonks has called for CSIRO to maintain funding, protect jobs and reverse the planned cuts.
The plot to cut more than forty CSIRO jobs was revealed in an email to staff from Health and Biosecurity Business Unit Director Professor Brett Sutton, former Chief Health Officer of Victoria during the COVID-19 pandemic, who described the move as “a difficult decision.”
“CSIRO staff are shocked and dismayed by this plan to cut jobs and research into human health. Our members are feeling angry, hurt and betrayed,” said CSIRO Staff Association Secretary Susan Tonks.
“We’re now seeing multiple restructures across CSIRO which have the potential to result in significant losses to employment and research capability. That’s incredibly concerning, Ms Tonks said.
“The Prime Minister knows that science, research and CSIRO are critical to his plans to Build a Better Australia. For a smart country, these are dumb cuts.”
“The Staff Association is calling on CSIRO to maintain funding, protect jobs and reverse these planned cuts,” Ms Tonks said.
The main details of the proposed cuts to CSIRO’s human health research include:
As part of the human health science program cuts, CSIRO Executive plan to abandon clinical trial services and permanently end the organisation’s presence at Westmead in Sydney and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI).
While the exact location of the job cuts is still to be confirmed, insiders reckon that the proposed research reductions will put Adelaide-based CSIRO Health and Biosecurity staff in the firing line.
“If implemented, this proposal would result not only in the loss of critical science capability into human health but also an exodus of research talent from CSIRO,” Ms Tonks warned.
“The impact on Adelaide-based researchers could be particularly pronounced, and that will concern the scientific community throughout South Australia.”
Ms Tonks said that the union was only advised of the proposed cuts just prior to the news being broken to staff, prompting members to raise concerns that CSIRO Executive are not following new pre-decision consultation rules enacted last month.
“It’s a confusing situation. CSIRO are claiming that consultation is ongoing and no final decision has been made, yet at the same time holding meetings with individual staff where people are getting a clear message that their positions will no longer be required.
“Staff are telling us that they’re worried that the consultation process is not being used in the manner or intent of genuine consultation, Ms Tonks said.
Email anthony.keenan@cpsu.org.au or call 0410 330 764
