Julie Collins (Franklin, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Hobart is at the moment hosting a conference for climate scientists from all over the world. Ironically, as they are doing this today, our local newspaper in Hobart is full of headlines about the revelations last week of CSIRO's cuts and the impact it will have on Tasmania. We understand that up to 320 positions nationwide in climate science will be affected, but of course Tasmania and Hobart are home to CSIRO's oceans and atmosphere division, and rumours are rife in Hobart that more than 100 of those 350 positions nationwide will come out of Hobart. I repeat: more than 100 out of 350 could come out Hobart, and Hobartians are furious. This is the Murdoch press writing editorials about the science cuts being a great big mistake. The editorial states:

No amount of spin can change the fact this is a significant and unacceptable downsizing of an area of science of which Australia is at the forefront and that has unprecedented global ramifications.

It goes on to say:

Australian science needs more funding not less, and no amount of rearranging the furniture will convince Tasmanians that this is in our best interests.

Certainly it will not, and the Tasmanian state government should be outraged at this decision. I understand they are seeking clarification from the federal government. Of course, the Liberal members in this place should be standing up for Tasmania and for Tasmanians and demanding that the Turnbull government overturn this decision.