Tasmania faces job losses as CSIRO plans cuts amid funding crunch
Tasmania's scientific community faces uncertainty as CSIRO plans to slash up to 350 jobs nationwide, with fears the state could be hit harder than other regions.
Tasmania risks losing a number of jobs at one of the state’s major employers as the staff consultation period continues over potential job cuts at CSIRO.
Australia’s peak science agency announced on Tuesday its intention to axe between 300 and 350 positions across its centres nationwide, citing a “critical inflection point” driven by shifting financial circumstances.
While the exact number of roles affected and where they are based remain unknown, a spokesperson for CSIRO Staff Association said the cuts could potentially impact Tasmania more severely than other regions - in part due to its smaller population and concentration of research infrastructure.
This was echoed by Tasmanian Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson, who on Wednesday warned of the implications for Tasmania’s reputation as a central research hub.
“Science is under siege all around the world right now and scientists are facing a lot of uncertainty,” he said.
“We know some of these scientists, especially some of our climate scientists in Tasmania can find work anywhere in the world. They’re world beating scientists.
“We know that the work CSIRO does, especially on oceans, atmosphere and climate is critical to our understanding of not only how to reduce emissions, but how we adapt to our changing world.
“We can’t afford to lose any of these people in our Tasmanian community.”
In their statement on Wednesday, the CSIRO said it was focused on expanding research in areas including clean energy and AI technologies and investing in research infrastructure.
Mr Whish-Wilson said the situation was a result of federal underfunding.
“(The CSIRO) are literally having to take money out of employing scientists to help pay for their capital costs,” he said.
“They should never have found themselves in this situation in the first place, but now that we’re here, why won’t the government step up and find the money that’s needed to help?”
CSIRO currently employs around 400 people in Tasmania.
CSIRO Chief Executive Doug Hilton said the organisation had a responsibility to make decisions to drive science forward.
“CSIRO’s reason for being is to deliver the greatest possible impact for the nation through our research,” he said.
“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.”
More than 800 jobs have been cut from the organisation in the past 18 months.
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Originally published as Tasmania faces job losses as CSIRO plans cuts amid funding crunch
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