CSIRO JOB CUTS THREATEN AUSTRALIA’S SOVEREIGN CAPABILITY

The Hon Alex Hawke MP
Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation
Manager of Opposition Business in the House

MEDIA RELEASE

CSIRO JOB CUTS THREATEN AUSTRALIA’S SOVEREIGN CAPABILITY

Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres must explain what impact the axing of up to 350 CSIRO jobs will have on nationally-important research programs.

Announced today, the CSIRO has confirmed between 300 to 350 full-time equivalent staff roles in its Research Units will be cut in what the premier research body has called a “critical inflection point.”

Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation, Alex Hawke, said Australia’s competitive advantages were being put at risk by the scale and timing of the CSIRO job cuts.

“The CSIRO is Australia’s premier research body, but after more than three years of Labor, its nationally important work is under siege by Labor’s mismanagement,” Mr Hawke said.

“For decades, the output of the CSIRO has helped give Australia important sovereign capabilities that are the envy of the world - this is now at risk.

“Minister Tim Ayres needs to explain whether there will be any further job or funding cuts at the CSIRO and exactly how research being delivered by the CSIRO will be impacted by Labor’s cuts.

“The Minister must also explain how Australia’s biosecurity, crop protection and industrial research capabilities will be protected as a result of these cruel cuts.

“It’s becoming increasingly clear that Tim Ayres’ ‘mission-led’ science agenda is just code for cuts.

“In government, the Coalition established the CSIRO Innovation Fund and invested over $3.8 billion in the 2020-21 Budget to support the CSIRO align with the Modern Manufacturing Strategy.

“The Opposition will be closely examining this issue in December’s Senate Estimates.”

In comments to the media today, CSIRO Staff Association secretary Susan Tonks said, “These are some of the worst cuts the CSIRO has ever seen … ”.

ENDS