Science Minister Ed Husic has opened Science Week with the release of updated National Science Priorities – all the while singing the praises of Australian researchers – amid a worsening crisis at CSIRO as the country’s premier science agency braces for hundreds of job cuts.
Minister Husic and Australian Chief Scientist Cathy Foley released a new National Science Statement and updated National Science and Research Priorities, aimed at ‘placing science at the forefront of our industrial transformation’ by supporting the Government’s Future Made in Australia policy suite.
“The great ideas of our scientists and researchers lead to great products and great jobs,” Minister Husic said.
“We want science to drive industry growth, creating stronger businesses and more secure, well-paid jobs for Australians.”
“It’s been nearly ten years since the Abbott Government handed down the last National Science Priorities which were no longer fit for purpose,” Minister Husic said.
However, the reference to science and research policy under the former Coalition Government may prove double-edged.
Multiple job cuts across CSIRO are stacking up. These include researchers in Health and Biosecurity (43), Agriculture and Food (30), Manufacturing (5), Data61 (up to 120) as well as several hundred enterprise service support roles (estimated 400 plus) with rumours that scores more in Environment (65) could be next.
This would set the organisation on a trajectory resulting in Husic and Labor delivering the largest CSIRO cuts since 2014, second only to the carnage following the Abbott Government’s Commission of Audit and subsequent austerity budget.
While CSIRO Staff have yet to receive a formal response to their recent letter to the Minister pleading for help to stave off job cuts, a spokesperson for Husic sought to deflect responsibility. “Decisions on staffing and prioritisation of resources are matters for CSIRO management, as is appropriate for any independent agency.”
According to the documentation, the ‘revitalised National Science and Research Priorities emphasise the science and research collaborations Australia will need to solve our greatest challenges.’
The priorities are:
Read the National Science and Research Priorities here.
Supporting the new priorities is a refreshed National Science Statement, the first update to the statement since 2017.
‘The National Science Statement places science at the forefront of Australia’s industrial transformation and the government’s efforts towards a Future Made in Australia. To this end, it outlines five imperatives which will shape the national science system and national science policy, and their influence on Australia’s transformation, over the next ten years.’
The imperatives are:
Read the National Science Statement here.
“Science is at the heart of almost every aspect of our lives, and is especially important as we tackle today’s challenges,” Dr Foley said.
“These priorities are a great starting point, and I hope we can come together as a science and research community with industry and government to bring them to life.”
Dr Foley became Australian Chief Scientist in 2021 after a storied career at CSIRO, culminating in her appointment as the agency’s Chief Scientist in 2018.
“The priorities set out a smart roadmap for Australian science and research – laying out a pathway to the innovative, prosperous country we want and need to be,” Science and Technology Australia Chief Executive Ryan Winn said.
“When supported with investment the National Science and Research Priorities can drive scientific and technological progress at the scale, we need to meet our national and global challenges,” Australian Academy of Science President Chennupati Jagadish said.
“If the government is serious about implementing its core industrial policy – A Future Made in Australia – it will be serious about implementing the National Science and Research Priorities,” Dr Jagadish said.
