Aspendale climate research lab to lose 32 staff in CSIRO restructure

ANGRY scientists have taken to the streets after at least 32 jobs at the Aspendale CSIRO lab were axed, in a move insiders fear could spell the end of the world-leading research centre.

Workers at the CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Centre in Aspendale meeting with Federal member for Isaacs Mark Dreyfus about job cuts to the CSIRO. Picture: Valeriu Campan

ANGRY climate change scientists have taken to the streets after at least 32 jobs at the Aspendale CSIRO lab were axed, in a move insiders fear could spell the end of the world-leading research centre.

CSIRO Community and Public Sector Union organiser Dr Michael Borgas said “essentially that decision has already been made”.

“The current job cuts would hasten that shift of staff away from the site,” Dr Borgas said.

“People have to be prepared for the worst.”

Dr Borgas and other angry scientists have now made the cuts a Federal Election issue, going door-to-door with leaflets dressed in their signature white coats.

“If there was a change of government there would be a complete redirection of these cuts,” Dr Borgas said.

“It’s a matter of getting organised, but most CSIRO staff wouldn’t have done anything like this in the past.”

CSIRO scientists have been in limbo since chief executive Larry Marshall announced in early February that an organisational “restructure” had been approved by the board, Science Minister Christopher Pyne and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

It was revealed in April that internal CSIRO communications presented to the Senate Estimates Committee recommended the cuts be focused on the Aspendale centre, as a way to remove climate scientists “who will no longer be aligned with the new CSIRO strategy”.

The scientific community reacted with horror to the plan, as the CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Centre in Aspendale has gained an international reputation as the most significant climate research site in the southern hemisphere.

Dr Borgas said it was “the fact that the science is being damaged so much” that was causing the most angst among CSIRO’s dedicated staff.

“This important work needs to continue,” Dr Borgas said.

“We have a total lack of trust in the local management.”

Federal Labor member for Isaacs Mark Dreyfus said the cuts were “a disaster for Aspendale and for Australian science”.

“Cuts to CSIRO have seen the climate research division gutted and some of Australia’s finest researchers sacked,” Mr Dreyfus said.

“The CSIRO Centre in Aspendale should be a centre of research — I will oppose these cuts at every step.”

Affected Aspendale CSIRO staff are expected to be terminated or relocated from August 2016.