Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Carr, I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 1153 standing in his name and in the name of Senator Wong.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes with concern:

  (i) the proposed 350 job losses at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), including around 100 jobs to be cut from the Land and Water Business Unit,

  (ii) evidence from the CSIRO’s senior management that these cuts respond to the Government’s Statement of Expectations, as well as its cuts to science funding delivered through the Department of the Environment,

  (iii) the critical importance of the CSIRO’s land and water research, including urban water, to the State of South Australia, as well as its public good value to the nation,

  (iv) the CSIRO’s failure to consult with its research partners before deciding to cut public good research in the Land and Water Business Unit,

  (v) the CSIRO’s misleading advice to the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science about the capacity of the academic sector to take up the research the CSIRO is proposing to abandon, and

  (vi) the risk to national public good presented by the CSIRO’s proposed restructure;

(b) further notes that the Australian Labor Party, as the alternative government, has publicly stated that it would set different priorities for the CSIRO, recognising the value of its environmental and other public good research; and

(c) calls on the Government to use the ministerial authority under the Science and Industry Research Act 1949 to direct the CSIRO Board to:

  (i) delay the proposed cuts until after the federal election,

  (ii) carefully consider the impacts of the proposed cuts on Australia’s national research capability and reputation,

  (iii) ensure that CSIRO management consults meaningfully with the organisation’s research partners and staff, and

  (iv) ensure that management takes immediate steps to address the significant effect of the proposed cuts on staff morale across the CSIRO.