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Australia’s CSIRO Cuts 350 Jobs Despite $387M Funding Boost
The federal government has announced $387.4 million in additional funding for the CSIRO over four years, but Australia’s national science agency says it will still cut up to 350 jobs announced last November. More than 1,150 CSIRO positions have been eliminated in the past two years. The funding will go toward medical research, pandemic preparedness, and advanced technology, including $38 million annually to upgrade the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong. The CSIRO union welcomed the money but called it cold comfort for workers already let go, and demanded no further job cuts follow.
Australia’s national science agency is getting federal money, but it won’t save jobs already on the block. The CSIRO said the two cuts and the funding could co-exist. The union representing its workers most certainly does not.
Key Highlights
- The federal government has committed an extra $387.4M over four years for CSIRO.
- CSIRO says it will cut up to 350 jobs.
- More than 1,150 jobs were cut at the CSIRO over two years.
- The fresh funds will support medical research, pandemic preparedness, and technology.
- CSIRO union says new money should prevent job losses.
Government Pours $387M into CSIRO but Jobs Are Still Being Cut
The federal government announced on Friday that it would be investing a further $387.4 million in the CSIRO over four years, a huge increase for Australia’s national science agency which has invented wi-fi, polymer bank notes, Aerogard and a vaccine for the Hendra virus. The investment is in addition to the $278 million that was announced last year and it already has a funding level of nearly a billion dollars.
Science Minister Tim Ayres described the investment as providing confidence in the future for the CSIRO and a vote of confidence for Australian science at a vital moment. Despite the funding announcement, CSIRO also reiterated it would go ahead with cutting up to 350 jobs announced last November saying those changes were already well underway.
Even With New Money, CSIRO Insists It Still Needs to Cut Jobs
CSIRO chief executive Doug Hilton said the extra money was a huge vote of confidence in the agency, although he said that the restructuring announced in November was a separate thing driven by strategic research shifts, not just funding shortfalls. The funding will go towards certain government priorities, medical research, pandemic preparedness and high-tech development, with $38 million a year to assist upgrades to the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong.
Science Minister Ayres said preparing for pandemics to come was not a matter of “maybe”, but “when” and “how well”, and that ensuring Australia leads the way is an investment in the nation’s health future, as well as national resilience.
Union Shows Disagreement Towards Job Cuts
The CSIRO Staff Association of the Community and Public Sector Union says 1,150 jobs have been cut at CSIRO over two years, 850 in early 2024 and 350 more have been cut since last November. CPSU National President, Beth Vincent-Pietsch said she welcomed the funding, but was very blunt about what the funding actually means. This funding is going to be a very small consolation for the workers who have lost their jobs.
FAQs
- How much additional funding is CISRO getting?
CSIRO is getting $387.4 million dollars along with $278 million announced last year as funding.
- How many jobs has CSIRO cut in the last two years?
CSIRO has cut more than 1,150 - 850 jobs in February 2024 and up to an additional 350 announced last Autumn.
- How will the new funds be used?
Funds will go for medical research and pandemic preparedness.
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