Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Carr. Given the CSIRO’s announcement that some 40 scientists working on ecosystem research and space programs in the ACT and Brisbane will lose their jobs, can the minister ensure the Senate that public interest research such as maintaining biodiversity is a priority for the government rather than just privatising research that is likely to lead to direct commercial gain? If so, how does the minister explain the CSIRO’s decision to slash 10 per cent of the budget for its new Ecosystem Sciences Division?