CSIRO Executive have confirmed any further changes to research jobs and funding will be deferred until the end of June 2025, in a tacit admission of the significant impact of this year’s cuts, defined in large part by the ongoing Enterprise Services restructure.
The situation has caught the attention of federal politicians, with the crossbench members of the Australian Parliament putting the spotlight on CSIRO jobs cuts and pulling the state of Federal Government science funding into sharp focus.
Meanwhile, the pace of cuts to Enterprise Services roles has quickened, with CSIRO on track to shed up to five hundred positions over coming months, not to mention the loss of perhaps another two hundred non-ongoing support roles as term appointments expire.
In an email to staff, CSIRO Chief Executive Doug Hilton signalled a pause on further cuts to research positions, following job losses earlier this year in Health and Biosecurity, Agriculture and Food and Manufacturing.
Describing the ongoing Programs on a Page (POP) process – a key CSIRO strategic priority aimed at clarifying the organisation’s research priorities – Dr Hilton called time on additional cuts to science positions, for now.
“It’s important that we complete (POPs) to inform any decisions we take about shifts in our research portfolio. This is why we have decided we will not be making any major changes to our research staffing levels this financial year.”
“This also recognises what our people are telling us – the organisation is already going through a significant period of change, with the ES Reform process as well as the work on our three strategic priorities.
“We will continue our work in finalising the POPs with a focus on supporting the wellbeing of our people and managing psychosocial risk through a period of change,” Dr Hilton said, echoing concerns raised by the Staff Association on the impact of ES cuts on workloads.
There has been persistent speculation that research job cuts were due to emerge next at Environment and Data61.
The situation at Data61 – where staff have been briefed by executives on a $1.61 million funding shortfall, an expected operating reduction of up to 20 per cent and significant job cuts – has been taken up in senate estimates by Greens Senator for Victoria Steph Hodgins-May.
“Can you confirm if any jobs are being cut from Data61, and if so, how many you’re expecting?”
Dr Hilton responded by ruling out additional research cuts until the end of June 2025.
“We don’t plan to make any further major changes to research… in this financial year – but we always look to strategically reshape our research portfolio to ensure that we have the capability that we need to address the questions the community expect us to answer. And that does require some changes over time”.
“I expect the research unit leaders in my teams to be looking at their budget projections and to understand their external revenue and to be considering plans for ensuring that they balance their budgets,” Dr Hilton said.
Independent Senator for the ACT, David Pocock, turned the attention to the issue of funding and the role of the Federal Government.
“It really strikes me, listening to Dr Hilton talking about the changes he’s having to make, and the cuts, that, at the same time, we’re talking about a future made in Australia and the value of research. You clearly share my love and respect of the CSIRO. We’re giving them less money.”
“What’s the government’s thinking there, making the CSIRO, at this point in time, given the huge challenges we face, make cuts to their research?”
Assistant Minister Tim Ayres responded by defending the government’s position but admitted that a funding shortfall was to blame.
“You have a minister who supports science and public science and research and development, and a government that is absolutely behind the CSIRO and our other research institutions more broadly.”
“There has to be a budget allocation… there was a terminating measure, which was to provide additional (Covid) funding, which I think everybody in the parliament would have supported – additional funds during that period.”
“That has come to an end, so that is the first set of issues, as I understand it. The second set of issues, of course, is that the CSIRO’s research priorities will shift over time,” Senator Ayres said.
“My expectation and the government’s expectation is that the CSIRO, Dr Hilton and his team will work with the staff and the trade unions that represent them at the CSIRO in an open and careful way… that’s our expectation – that the CSIRO manages that process well.”
Elsewhere in Parliament, the criticism was more pointed. Speaking in the House of Representatives, Independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie took aim at Labor.
“Why do we find ourselves, again, in the unfortunate position of the CSIRO looking down the barrel of yet another round of job cuts, this time in the vicinity of five hundred research support roles likely including CSIRO staff in Tasmania.
“These cuts are on track to being the worst in the last decade. So, it’s simply baffling that Australia can position itself as a global leader in scientific research, whilst simultaneously gutting the capacity of the CSIRO in a trend of scarcity which began over a decade ago under the Abbott Government and continues full steam ahead today.”
“Yes, CSIRO staff have pleaded with Minister Husic to intervene. But sadly, it appears he’s washed his hands of the process, deferring instead to the CSIRO Board and Chief Executive,” Mr Wilkie said.
“The Albanese Government either has a pro-science agenda or it doesn’t, and my interpretation of these latest round of cuts is that priorities lie elsewhere. With climate change outpacing our capacity to adapt, the Australian community, both today and especially in the future, deserves much better.”
Meanwhile, the Enterprise Services restructure rolls on, with CSIRO on track to cut the full time equivalent of up to five hundred support positions, on top of an estimated two hundred term jobs that have been left to expire.
Wave Three of the restructure has revealed updated estimates of staff reductions in Information Management and Technology (more than 165), Commercial and Business Infrastructure (up to 90), Finance (around 25), Strategy (up to forty) and Partnership and Business Development (just below 60).
Legal, Integrity and Communication are the next to come, with Government Engagement, Digital Office, Indigenous Science and Engagement as well as People expected early in the new year.
