Exclusive: CSIRO dismantles clinical research units

CSIRO is under threat.

CSIRO is Australia’s national science agency – from inventing wifi to the research that informs our pandemic and climate change responses – we all rely on their science and innovation every day.

But staffing at CSIRO is being cut, with indications that jobs may be slashed by one third.

From critical research units being dismantled, to support roles that assist scientists to do their jobs being stripped, workers who’ve committed their lives to science for the public good are being made redundant.

Last week the front page of the Saturday Paper revealed that job cuts were in the range of 400 -1000 and were ‘significant, organisation wide and affecting projects that have been years in the making.’ 73 of the current cuts have been confirmed to be in health and biosecurity and agriculture and food research, with projects being cut mid-way through, the findings never made, and expensive equipment and facilities left for the skip bin.

The critical work done by digital research unit Data61 is also under threat. In March there was a staff meeting where staff were warned that there would be job cuts.

At Budget Estimates on 5 May, Senator David Pocock questioned CSIRO CEO Professor Doug Hilton on whether Data61 would be impacted, and Doug Hilton said there were ‘no plans’ for Data61. Yesterday, Senator Pocock again asked the question, with Doug Hilton saying this time that there were ‘thoughts but no plans.’

One thing is for sure – these cuts threaten the future of research, science and innovation in our country.

Together, let’s fight to protect CSIRO – sign the petition to call on CEO Doug Hilton and Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic to stop gutting CSIRO and properly resource our national science agency.