QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator DAVID POCOCK (Australian Capital Territory—Independent ACT Whip) (14:38): I think it's shameful to see a Labor government starving the CSIRO of funding. A thousand Canberrans work for the CSIRO. It's an institution we care deeply about.

In CSIRO's portfolio budget statement, we can see a drop in the average staffing level of 500 jobs, and, based on the numbers over the forward estimates, it looks like there are more cuts to come. At a time when we need science innovation more than ever, why is the CSIRO losing people?