CSIRO braces for job cuts

By Corin Kelly
Thursday, 04 February, 2016

It has just been reported that CSIRO is facing significant job cuts, with climate science teams among those expected to be hit the hardest. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the Oceans and Atmosphere division is expected to lose 110 staff, with similar reductions in the Land and Water division. In an interview with Fairfax media, CSIRO chief executive Larry Marshall explains the rationale behind the cuts – Mr Marshall suggests 350 staff will be affected, and has sent a letter to CSIRO staff this morning.

Professor Samantha Hepburn, Research Director at Deakin Law School and Director of EMI Partners says, "The job cuts in the climate science division of CSIRO have been rationalised by the new CEO, former venture capitalist, Mr Marshall, as being the product of a rationalised and streamlined approach to corporate management in line with startup companies such as Netflix."

"The CSIRO, however, is a crucial agency for social and environmental progression. It is the Federal government government agency for scientific research in Australia. It seeks to develop the scientific knowledge required to manage Australia's wildlife, plant and land resources for ecological sustainability. It is not a technology startup," she says.
Hepburn goes on to say "Mr Marshall also suggested that following the Paris summit, the question on climate change 'has been answered' and as such, the people qualified to measure and model climate change may not be best placed to determine mitigation and adaptation strategies. This is a non sequitur. These two issues are inextricably linked. As a legal academic who has worked extensively in natural resource and climate change law, I am extremely conscious of the strong connectivity between the nature and pace of climate change and the regulatory and policy mechanisms that are needed to address it," she says.
"The work of the CSIRO and the expertise of the scientists and experts within Data61, Oceans & Atmosphere, Land & Water and Manufacturing is absolutely critical if we are to implement effective and informed climate change strategies. The Paris Summit focused upon the importance of 'bottom up' strategies that utilise 'subnational' initiatives, informed by science and environmental agencies. Maintaining the integrity of the accumulated research and expertise of the climate science division of the CSIRO is vital to the overall effectiveness of Australia's response," she concludes.