CSIRO chief executive officer Doug Hilton. A Senate inquiry has been set up for the Federal Parliament to scrutinise the reasons behind the mass job losses at CSIRO. Photo: CSIRO.
A parliamentary inquiry will be held into the government’s intention to cut hundreds more jobs at the nation’s peak scientific research agency.
A Senate inquiry will scrutinise the rationale for the planned job and program cuts at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, announced last week.
The inquiry will also consider the impacts of the funding cuts, the importance of public funding for science, and CSIRO’s future funding and resourcing needs.
CSIRO chief executive officer Doug Hilton made the announcement on 18 November, signalling the organisation needed to adapt to a new research direction.
Up to 350 research roles will be abolished next financial year, which is on top of the 800 jobs already cut over the past 18 months.
“CSIRO’s reason for being is to deliver the greatest possible impact for the nation through our research,” Dr Hilton said.
“As today’s stewards of CSIRO, we have a responsibility to make decisions that ensure we can continue to deliver science that improves the lives of all Australians for generations to come.
“We must set up CSIRO for the decades ahead with a sharpened research focus that capitalises on our unique strengths, allows us to concentrate on the profound challenges we face as a nation and deliver solutions at scale.”
That announcement was met with significant political concern and outrage from employees and the Community and Public Sector Union.
In the Senate on Wednesday (26 November), the Greens successfully secured an inquiry into the matter.
Greens science spokesperson Peter Whish-Wilson said Labor had dealt CSIRO some of the most savage job cuts in the science agency’s entire history.
“It is reprehensible that the Albanese government has failed to address concerns that the job cuts disproportionately impact public good science, with the Environment Research Unit set to bear the brunt of proposed cuts,” Senator Whish-Wilson said.
“The government is either disregarding the biodiversity and climate crisis facing our nation, or it doesn’t care.
“Science is one of the best defences we have in tackling Australia’s biggest future challenges – from climate change, food security and health emergencies.
“The short-sightedness of the Albanese government’s job cuts to the CSIRO is negligent. Everybody needs science, and we need to defend it from attack. “
Senator Whish-Wilson said scientists deserve better treatment and answers as to why such action is being taken against them.
“It is critical the Senate examines how the CSIRO ended up in this position, who knew about the dire state of the agency and for how long, and why senior executives took bonuses while funding cliffs were obviously approaching,” he said.
Greens finance and public sector spokesperson Barbara Pocock said that at a time when investing in science and research has never been more important, it is “deeply concerning” that the nation’s leading research organisation is being forced to cut hundreds of jobs just to stay afloat.
“These are not just numbers; these are skilled workers whose expertise underpins Australia’s scientific future,” she said.
“Funding shortfalls and looming job cuts are untenable for the agency, its staff and scientific research – and it must be investigated through a Senate inquiry.
“In the face of a worsening climate crisis, the work of the CSIRO is vitally important to Australians and our future generations. We should be strengthening our research capacity, not running it into the ground.
“The Greens are deeply concerned about the CSIRO’s funding trajectory following funding cuts after funding cuts.
“We must do all we can to save the CSIRO before it sinks. That’s why we’ve secured a Senate inquiry.
“Science matters and it’s critical for it to be sufficiently resourced with public funds, to ensure science and research is independent and free of commercialisation.”
Labor backbencher and former science minister Ed Husic responded to the CSIRO job cuts announcement by saying his own government should “pry open the jaws of Treasury” to fund the agency’s ongoing research program.
“If you do value science, you need to stop looking at science and research as a cost, and see it as an investment in the future, well-being and capability of the country,” he said.
The Senate inquiry will report by 31 March 2026.
