Major job cuts announced
Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has confirmed plans to cut between 300 and 350 research roles beginning next year, amid a broader restructure and budget pressures. These cuts come on top of more than 800 job losses already announced in the past 18 months. The agency says the reductions are necessary to generate savings and address ageing infrastructure — expecting to free up between A$80 million and A$135 million annually for property maintenance and renovation.
Why CSIRO says it needs to change
According to CSIRO chief executive Doug Hilton, the agency is at a “critical inflection point” and must refocus its efforts to align with national priorities and sharpen its research capabilities. CSIRO’s statement highlighted six priority research domains: energy transition, climate change, advanced technologies (AI, quantum, robotics), farming, biosecurity and “disruptive science and engineering”. The rationale given: many of CSIRO’s 800+ buildings (around 80%) are close to “end-of-life” and require investment — part of the justification for the savings target.
The fallout: what staff and experts are saying
The CSIRO Staff Association described the job cuts as “a very sad day for publicly funded science in this country”. Secretary Susan Tonks said that under the current government the cuts now exceed those under the previous Coalition government. The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) warned the move threatens Australia’s national research capacity and long-term productivity. Its president, Katherine Woodthorpe, said investment in science leads to three-fold economic returns — and reduced capacity is “disheartening”.
Which parts of the agency will be affected?
While CSIRO hasn’t released a complete breakdown of where each role will go, reporting suggests that cuts will hit health & biosecurity, agriculture & food and environment research units. Some corporate and support roles within the enterprise services function have already been reduced heavily — with more than 440 positions cut in the 2024-25 year, and the restructure continuing into 2026-27.
Why it matters: implications for science and innovation
The timing of these cuts comes as Australia faces multiple scientific and technological challenges — climate change, food security, defence innovation, and health risks among them. Experts say that weakening the national science agency at this moment risks reducing Australia’s global competitiveness. As Woodthorpe put it: “If we’re serious about lifting productivity, we need to invest in science and technology — and Australia’s national science agency is a proven way to do that.”
What happens next
CSIRO says it will begin consultations with staff imminently as the lay-off process begins. The federal government has been urged by unions and industry bodies to step in with additional funding, or risk the cuts undermining the country’s research infrastructure and capability. Observers will be watching closely how the agency manages the restructure — whether the promised refocus on “fewer things, done better” produces tangible results, and how emerging research gaps are addressed.
