Greens secure Senate inquiry into CSIRO job cuts
Greens secure Senate inquiry into CSIRO job cuts | Australian Greens Skip to main content Search Get Involved Join Donate Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Get Involved Join Donate Search Our plan Toggle Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Toggle Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Toggle Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement Toggle About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Greens secure Senate inquiry into CSIRO job cuts 2025-11-26 The Greens have secured a Senate inquiry into the job and program cuts at the CSIRO, Australia’s leading scientific research agency.
The inquiry will consider the impacts of the funding cuts, the importance of public funding for science, CSIRO’s future funding and resourcing needs, among other matters. The CSIRO, which employs 5800 staff, last week announced up to 350 jobs would be cut, which equates to 6% of its total workforce. The latest round of cuts follows the slashing of 800 positions in the past 18 months.
The Senate inquiry will report by March 31st 2026. Lines attributable to Greens spokesperson for science, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson: “The Albanese government has dealt the CSIRO some of the most savage job cuts in the science agency’s entire history. “It is reprehensible that the Albanese government has failed to address concerns that the job cuts disproportionately impact public good science – with the Environment Research Unit set to bear the brunt of proposed cuts.
“The government is either disregarding the biodiversity and climate crisis facing our nation, or it doesn't care. “Science is one of the best defences we have in tackling Australia’s biggest future challenges – including climate change, food security, and health emergencies. “The short-sightedness of the Albanese government’s job cuts to the CSIRO is negligent.
Everybody needs science, and we need to defend it from attack. “Scientists deserve better and they deserve answers, indeed all Australians do. It is critical the Senate examines how the CSIRO ended up in this position, who knew about the dire state of the agency and for how long, and why senior executives took bonuses while funding cliffs were obviously approaching." Lines attributable to Greens spokesperson for finance and public sector Senator Barbara Pocock: “At a time when investing in science and research has never been more important, it’s deeply concerning that our nation’s leading research organisation is being forced to cut hundreds of jobs just to stay afloat.
These are not just numbers - these are skilled workers whose expertise underpins Australia’s scientific future. “Workers at the CSIRO are facing relentless uncertainty over their jobs and research projects. These are workers who have dedicated their lives to public science and the loss of their expertise and experience would be detrimental.
Funding shortfalls and looming job cuts are untenable for the agency, its staff and scientific research - and it must be investigated through a Senate inquiry. “In the face of a worsening climate crisis, the work of the CSIRO is vitally important to Australians and our future generations. We should be strengthening our research capacity, not running it into the ground.
“If this government can waste billions of dollars on wealthy property investors and on nuclear submarines, why can’t it commit to funding our national science and research agency? It’s all about choices and the government has clearly got it all wrong. “The Greens are deeply concerned about the CSIRO’s funding trajectory following funding cuts after funding cuts - we must do all we can to save the CSIRO before it sinks.
That’s why we’ve secured a Senate inquiry. “Science matters and it’s critical for it to be sufficiently resourced with public funds, to ensure science and research is independent and free of commercialisation.” Media contacts: WHISH-WILSON: Eddie Gray - 0439 002 881 POCOCK: Charlotta Lomas - 0466 339 862 Facebook for the Australian Greens YouTube for the Australian Greens X for the Australian Greens Instagram for the Australian Greens Bluesky for the Australian Greens Privacy Members website Your safety Contact us Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action In your language 2025 policy platform Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Federal portfolios Federal media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Upcoming events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Green Magazine All news Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Members website State/territory parties Contact us The Greens acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.
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