CSIRO confirms up to 350 job cuts across four key research units, SA staff await updates

CSIRO staff face an anxious wait until next year to discover their fate as Australia's top science organisation finalises up to 350 job cuts.

The CSIRO building on Kintore Ave in Adelaide. Picture: Supplied

Local CSIRO staff will have to wait until the new year to find out if they still have a job, as Australia’s premier science research organisation begins consultations to determine how it will divide up to 350 job losses.

The Advertiser reported last week that up to 350 full-time equivalent jobs would be cut from the 6000 workforce, leaving staff across the country wondering if they’ll still be employed into the new year.

A CSIRO spokeswoman confirmed that the reductions are being considered across four research units: Environment (approximately 130-150 FTEs cut), Health and Biosecurity (100-110 FTEs), Agriculture and Food (45-55 FTEs) and Mineral Resources (25-35 FTEs).

“CSIRO is actively engaging with staff and stakeholders on these proposed changes,” the spokeswoman said.

“The specific areas that will be affected will be confirmed once the consultation process concludes next year.”

The CSIRO building on Kintore Ave in Adelaide, where scientists focus on biological research. Picture: Supplied

In SA, as at June 30, the CSIRO employed 274 people at locations including Waite Campus at Urrbrae, and Lot 14 in the city, working in areas including health and nutrition, environment and agriculture, digital technologies, energy and minerals. This is down from around 400 several years ago.

CSIRO left the SAHMRI site last financial year.

Chief executive Doug Hilton previously said the organisation faces financial sustainability challenges and needed to adapt in order to “deliver the greatest possible impact to the nation through our research”.

“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,” he said.

CSIRO staff association representative Susan Tonks described the cuts as “devastating”.

“These are some the worst cuts the CSIRO has ever seen, and they’re coming at a time when we should be investing in and building up public science,” she said.

“We don’t need a crystal ball to know these cuts will hurt – they’ll hurt families, farmers and our future.”