Labor Senators' Additional Comments

1.1Labor Senators acknowledge the critical role of the CSIRO as Australia’s national science agency and support the ongoing need to ensure it remains fit for purpose, financially sustainable, and focused on delivering public good science and sovereign capability.

1.2The Albanese Government values the critical work of our national science agency. We want the CSIRO to be sustainable, independent and dynamic, supporting Australian industry while helping to tackle the most pressing challenges facing our nation.

1.3This Government values the contribution CSIRO scientists and broader staff make to Australia and is committed to ensuring that their work is sustainable over the long term.

CSIRO funding

1.4Labor Senators note that claims of ‘ongoing funding cuts’ to CSIRO are not supported by the evidence before the committee.

1.5The Albanese Government has not cut the CSIRO’s funding. The CSIRO receives close to $1 billion per year in appropriation funding from the Australian Government. In addition, the Government announced $233 million in new, additional funding for CSIRO in the December 2025 MYEFO.

1.6Labor Senators further note that evidence to the committee clearly established that CSIRO’s current challenges reflect long term funding trends, including significant historical cuts.

1.7Labor Senators reject the assertion that the Albanese Government’s economic management has directly affected CSIRO. After a decade of stagnation in public investment under the former Coalition Government, the Government has taken a responsible approach to budget management, and it is misleading to conflate broader fiscal conditions with staffing or research priorities determined independently by CSIRO.

1.8In particular, the Abbott Government cut $111 million from CSIRO in the 2014 Budget, resulting in the loss of more than 500 research jobs (361 FTE in 2014–15 and a further 228 FTE in 2016–17).

1.9Those cuts had lasting impacts on workforce capability and organisational stability, and form part of the cumulative pressures CSIRO is now managing.

CSIRO governance and independence

1.10Following an 18-month review of its research portfolio, CSIRO Board and management made a preliminary assessment identifying potential areas for reprioritisation, subject to staff and stakeholder consultation.

1.11This was the first whole-of-organisation research portfolio review in over 15 years, and Labor Senators acknowledge CSIRO’s Board and management in making difficult decisions to ensure the organisation remains fit for purpose and focused on national priorities.

1.12The portfolio adjustments reflect a strategic focus on areas such as a clean, affordable energy transition, critical minerals and materials, climate adaptation and resilience, advanced technologies including AI and quantum, and strengthening sovereign resilience and biosecurity.

1.13Labor Senators do not support Recommendation 2, which calls on the Government to ‘clarify whether there will be any further funding cuts or job losses at CSIRO’.

1.14Labor Senators note that CSIRO operates as an independent statutory authority with responsibility for its internal management and resource allocation decisions vested in its Board and executive, decisions regarding staffing levels and the implementation of workforce changes sit with CSIRO’s Board and management.

Senator Lisa Darmanin

Deputy Chair

Labor Senator for Victoria

Senator Deborah O'Neill

Member

Labor Senator for New South Wales