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CSIRO Cuts Climate Modelling Team, Receives Additional Government Funding

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CSIRO Proceeds with Major Job Cuts Despite A$387M Funding Boost

Australia's national science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), is pressing ahead with significant job cuts—including in its climate modelling team—despite receiving A$387.4 million in additional federal government funding.

The cuts affect approximately 100 scientists, with about five of the 15 core scientists working on the national climate model (ACCESS) facing job losses.

Funding and Job Cuts Timeline

  • CSIRO announced in November 2024 it would cut 300-350 full-time research roles as part of a strategic shift.
  • The agency confirmed 92 job cuts, with the majority from environment and climate modelling teams. This is 10 fewer than the 102 initially proposed in March 2023.
  • These cuts follow approximately 800 job losses in the previous year. The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) reports a total of 1,150 job cuts over the last two years, including 850 in February 2024 and 350 more announced later.
  • The federal government announced A$387.4 million in additional funding over four years, on top of CSIRO's existing annual budget of approximately A$1 billion. An additional A$278 million was announced in 2025.
  • CSIRO CEO Doug Hilton confirmed the job cuts would proceed despite the new funding, stating the changes are part of strategic research shifts already underway.
  • The additional funding includes A$38 million per year from 2030-31 for upgrading the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong.

Impact on Climate Modelling

Five of the 15 core scientists working on the Australian Community Climate and Earth System Simulator (ACCESS) have been informed they may lose their jobs.

CSIRO management told a Senate inquiry in February that the impact would be minimal, citing about 60 people working on the climate model. Scientists state the core team is only 12-15 people.

The agency stated it will continue to provide climate data, models, and scenarios. The changes reduce activity in selected areas, including atmospheric chemistry modelling and Indo-Pacific ocean dynamics, to align with future priorities.

CSIRO will exit research areas where it lacks scale or where other organisations are better placed, and will focus on climate adaptation and resilience research.

Consequences Identified

  • Australia may be unable to submit climate projections for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) seventh major assessment report, due in 2028-2029.
  • Rebuilding capacity may be difficult as Australia is the only country with modelling focused on the southern hemisphere.
  • The changes could affect research organisations and advisory agencies that rely on ACCESS data.

Statements from Officials and Experts

Doug Hilton, CSIRO CEO: The funding reflects government commitment to science, but the job cuts are essential strategic research shifts. CSIRO must retain savings from these changes to support long-term sustainability.

Tim Ayres, Federal Minister for Science: The funding sets up CSIRO with confidence for the future and is an investment in health, prosperity, and resilience. Ayres backed CSIRO's decision to proceed with cuts, stating it was a matter for the board and management.

Katy Gallagher, Minister: The funding would provide stability.

Senator David Pocock: The funding reflects advocacy from scientists, staff, and the community, and noted further investment is needed.

Andy Hogg, Professor of ocean and climate modelling, director of ACCESS-NRI: The cuts will make Australia suboptimal in core climate science capability in atmospheric and oceanographic modelling.

Christian Jakob, Professor at Monash University: Cutting climate modelling expertise removes a foundational capability and risks Australia no longer being seen as a credible contributor to international climate change assessments.

Professor Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, President, Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society: Cutting one-third of the specialised workforce would devastate CSIRO's capacity to predict and model climate effects.

Ryan Winn, CEO, Science and Technology Australia: Losing the ACCESS modelling capability could affect research organisations and advisory agencies that rely on the data.

Susan Tonks, CSIRO Staff Association secretary: The cuts would damage the agency's science capacity.

Beth Vincent-Pietsch, CPSU National President: Called the funding "cold comfort" for laid-off workers and said it should mean no more job cuts.

Background

  • CSIRO managers are expected to secure 70% of funding from external sources before a research project is approved.
  • Scientists attribute the cuts to years of insufficient federal funding increases relative to rising costs.
  • CSIRO is Australia's national science agency, known for inventing Wi-Fi, plastic bank notes, Aerogard, and the Hendra virus vaccine.
  • ACCESS is a national weather, climate and Earth system modelling capability used by climate scientists across Australia.