COMMITTEES

Senator BARBARA POCOCK (South Australia) (15:47): I, and also on behalf of Senators Whish-Wilson and David Pocock, seek leave to amend business of the Senate notice of motion No. 8. Leave granted. Senator BARBARA POCOCK: I, and also on behalf of Senators Whish-Wilson and David Pocock, move the motion as amended: That the following matter be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 31 March 2026: Funding and resourcing for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), with particular reference to: (a) the nature of recent and proposed job and program cuts in the CSIRO; (b) the importance of public funding for public good science; (c) the importance of public resourcing of Australian sovereign scientific capability; (d) the recruitment and retention of staff including senior and mid-career researchers, along with the training and career paths of early-career researchers; (e) the CSIRO's commercialisation of scientific research; (f) the long-term capability needs of the CSIRO, including workforce, infrastructure and equipment; (g) the role and independence of the CSIRO's leadership in making resourcing allocation decisions; (h) the effects of these cuts on the program of scientific work conducted by the CSIRO, including in relation to: (i) areas of fundamental and basic scientific study that do not find ready industry funding partners, (ii) areas of scientific study that relate to emergent, pressing and/or priority issues like the pace, impact and mitigation of climate change including study of the oceans, biodiversity, agricultural adaption to a changing climate, and related issues, and (iii) the particular burden of proposed cuts on the Environment Research Unit; and (i) any related matters.

Question agreed to.