OPPOSITION to budget cuts and job losses at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s climate change research laboratories in Aspendale is back on the agenda in the aftermath of July’s federal election.
The CSRIO Staff Association claims the Coalition government has “a shaky election mandate” after seeing its winning margin reduced to just one seat, pending a possible legal appeal by the Liberal Party in the ultra-marginal Queensland seat of Herbert.
Former federal Liberal Environment Minister Greg Hunt was appointed Industry, Innovation and Science Minister – with responsibility of oversight of the CSIRO – last month by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in a post-election cabinet reshuffle.
His predecessor in the portfolio, new Defence Minister Christopher Pyne, insisted any decisions on staff cuts and reallocation of scientific research away from climate change into other areas is a matter for the national science body’s board and CEO Larry Marshall.
“The Staff Association will write to the Minister and Assistant Minister as soon as possible seeking an urgent meeting to discuss CSIRO funding and jobs and the union’s concerns regarding the performance of the executive team and the level of staff morale,” Staff Association secretary Sam Popovski said.
The union says the election result shows many voters “want a different style of government with a different set of priorities”.
Federal Isaacs Labor MP Mark Dreyfus said he will urge Mr Hunt to “reverse the restructuring of the CSIRO”.
“Mr Turnbull has only just scraped to victory. A true test of his leadership will be whether some of his unpopular policies will now be re-examined,” he said.
“The sacking of CSIRO climate change scientists, including in Aspendale, was one of those extremely unpopular policies.”
Mr Hunt’s spokesman John O’Doherty said the “CSIRO is a wonderful organisation”.
“Minister Hunt has already met with Dr Larry Marshall, [CSIRO chair] David Thodey and the Chief Scientist.
“The Minister will have further meetings with CSIRO staff, Friends of CSIRO and the broader scientific community in the near future.”
Mr Dreyfus said: “It is not too late to save climate science in this country, and save the Aspendale centre from closure.”
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 3 August 2016
