David Pocock has launched a petition to fight CSIRO job cuts: “(ARC cuts) feel like yet another attack on our research community that is already under siege.” Photo: David Pocock.
Jobs are set to be slashed at the Australian Research Council (ARC) as the Federal Government pushes ahead with its insistence that agencies achieve across-the-board budget efficiencies of up to 5 per cent.
ARC is a Commonwealth entity established as an independent body under the Australian Research Council Act 2001 and reports to the Education Minister, Jason Clare.
But its executives avoided scrutiny this week over the planned jobs cuts when the Senate’s Education and Employment Legislation Committee excused them from their scheduled Senate Estimates hearing.
That committee closed early on Thursday evening (4 December) despite having more witnesses listed on its program, and even though other committees held hearings late into the night.
The ARC has been secretly conducting an organisational restructure to meet the government’s demands, and it launched a witch hunt among its staff once the news got out.
Region has seen emails between bosses and staff flagging that there will be job losses.
The emails describe a consultation period until 9 December and an outcome that will result in “employees that will be excess”.
Staff meetings and focus groups were held over the issue in October, resulting in heated exchanges.
On 19 November, some staff were informed that their positions would be impacted by the restructure.
Once word started leaking, ARC management set about grilling individual staff members, demanding to know who was talking.
ACT independent Senator David Pocock has raised concerns over the ARC’s campaign to shed staff.
He has also demanded answers over why the ARC’s senior executives were allowed to skip Estimates and not be questioned about the plans.
Senator Pocock said he has been contacted by multiple ARC staff raising the alarm, and was sent copies of email correspondence confirming that consultation is underway on a proposed new organisational structure which, if implemented, “will result in a reduction in the number of roles” at the entity.
“I am deeply concerned that the Australian Research Council appears to be conducting an organisational restructure in secret and without adequate consultation with impacted staff or public oversight,” Senator Pocock said.
“It’s very disappointing that, given concerns have been raised with me, I wasn’t afforded the opportunity to ask questions at estimates.
“I have been contacted by multiple ARC staff alarmed at the prospect of losing their job as part of multiple positions reportedly under threat, and even more concerned about potential reprisals for seeking to shine a light on what’s happening behind closed doors.”
Senator Pocock said he had hoped to question officials from ARC at Senate Estimates on Thursday night; however, the committee released them earlier in the day, as they also did in the previous estimates in October.
“This feels like yet another attack on our research community that is already under siege,” he said.
“In recent months, we’ve seen more than 1000 jobs cut at the ANU on top of 1100 jobs being cut at CSIRO, NHMRC [National Health and Medical Research Council] grants with record low award rates and now potential job losses at the ARC.
“The CSIRO was unable to rule out further job cuts in Senate estimates last night [Thursday].
“Some of Canberra’s best and brightest are losing their jobs in what is a huge blow for our territory and its future, as well as the future of science and research in Australia.”
Senator Pocock said he would write to Minister Clare to raise his concerns.
ARC CEO Ute Roessner responded to Region’s enquiries with the following detailed statement.
“The Australian Research Council is undertaking an organisational review to ensure our structure aligns with our expanded responsibilities under amended legislation that took effect on 1 July 2024,” Professor Roessner said.
“The review focuses on aligning staffing levels with the APSC’s Optimal Management Structures to ensure we have the right people at the right level to support early-stage research for the benefit of all Australians.
“This organisation review has been a developed in consultation with staff:
- Staff were advised on 20 October 2025 that the ARC would be embarking on a review of its Operating Model
- 11 focus groups were held in total with more than 70 per cent staff participation to inform a proposed Operating Model and structure
- On 18 and 19 November 2025, potentially impacted staff met with agency representatives to discuss the proposed structure and how it may affect their role
- These potentially impacted staff were advised in writing afterwards that if a new organisational structure is introduced, this will result in a reduction in the number of roles at the ARC, predominantly at the Executive level. The email advised that the ARC expects staff would have an opportunity to consider a voluntary redundancy, apply for an EOI for a new or vacant role, or they may be matched to a new role
- Under the proposed organisation structure, it is proposed that 21 APS positions are removed and 16 APS positions are created; this is a net reduction of 5 APS roles, and
- Consultation on this proposed operating model and structure opened on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, and closes on Tuesday, 9 December 2025.
“The ARC Senior Leadership team are regularly reviewing feedback throughout the consultation process. No final decisions have been made.
“The ARC encourages all staff to participate in consultation; feedback is integral to this process. It is intended that the final operating model and organisational structure will come into effect from 1 March 2026.”
