The Staff Association has welcomed reports the federal budget will include a $387.4 million funding boost for CSIRO, saying it would be a significant step towards securing the future of publicly funded science in Australia.
This investment over four years is reported to future proof the critical work CSIRO Staff Association members do to ensure Australia is at the forefront of groundbreaking research in science and technology.
The union however remains cautious as the recent job cuts to the CSIRO saw the Federal Government undermine the capacity and capability of Australia’s leading research agency.
The CSIRO has suffered from 1150 jobs lost since February 2024 – 800 jobs lost since February 2024, and current round of research job cuts is 350.
When the Federal Government announced another $233 million for CSIRO as part of December’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO), the CSIRO CEO Doug Hilton revealed that this funding would not save even one job.
The CSIRO Staff Association, which is a section of the CPSU, says the CSIRO delivers world-leading science and innovation that underpins Australia’s prosperity, security, sovereign capability and wellbeing.
The CPSU remains hopeful the Government will see how this investment benefits the nation, and for it then to deliver further investments into the capacity and capability of the public sector at Tuesday’s budget.
“CSIRO workers have been incredibly brave in speaking out about what underfunding means – not just for their jobs and their research, but for the future of Australia’s national science agency and publicly funded science more broadly.
“Since February 2024, 1150 jobs have been cut from CSIRO. While this funding boost will not change the reality for those scientists who have lost their jobs or facing immediate job cuts – it will be crucial in stemming further job losses.
“The work CSIRO ensures Australia remains at a critical voice in science and technology – it must be valued and secured.
“Reports of the additional funding boost over four years is very welcomed.”