Australia's scientific research agency has told staff it will cut 92 roles from its environment research unit, bringing the number of research programs down from eight to five.
First announced in November last year, the CSIRO cuts were confirmed at a town hall meeting on Thursday morning, after consultation with staff.
The CSIRO has followed through on plans to cut jobs despite a funding top-up in the federal budget. Picture by Keegan Carroll
CSIRO has already slashed more than 800 jobs since a first round of cuts was announced in April 2024, and the agency will axe 350 more.
A CSIRO spokesperson said the cuts were about focusing efforts on delivering the greatest national impact.
"To achieve this sharpened focus, we are exiting research where we lack scale to achieve significant impact, or areas where others in the sector are better placed to deliver," they said.
"The changes reinforce our unique capabilities and national leadership in freshwater, marine, climate and adaptation science, circularity and social sciences."
While the unit was initially due to shrink by 102 roles, the spokesperson said 10 jobs had been spared in response to feedback from staff.
They said the environment research unit remained one of the CSIRO's largest, with the cuts bringing its full-time-equivalent staffing to around 600 full-time-equivalent roles.
CSIRO's union has slammed the reduction, saying the savings drive will "hurt Australia's core environmental science capacity, research that supports our oceans, atmosphere, our land, water and our climate".
"All roles are important, but we know that CSIRO's climate research is critical to maintaining accurate modelling here in the Southern Hemisphere as part of a global science effort," CSIRO Staff Association secretary Susan Tonks said.
The agency received a $387.4 million funding lifeline in the last federal budget, but the money will not be used to save staff on the chopping block.
In a statement earlier this month, the CSIRO said the workforce cuts remained "essential strategic research shifts".
Provided over four years, the money is expected to be spent on much-needed equipment and building upgrades, cyber protection and technology support.
But the union has taken aim at management's claim that the funding will support the CSIRO's " sustainability and provide greater stability for its workforce".
"We're calling on CSIRO executive to make good on that commitment and rule out further job cuts until the end of the decade," Ms Tonks said.
Independent senator David Pocock expressed his disappointment at the latest tranche of cuts.
"Lowering our sovereign climate modelling capacity at this point in time betrays the needs of Australians in communities across our country," Senator Pocock said.
"These cuts don't align with our National Science and Research priorities released less than two years ago and makes me question if this government has a coherent plan for the future of science and innovation in Australia."
First published: in the Canberra Times on May 21, 2026 as "Environmental research hit by widespread CSIRO job cuts", By Miriam Webber.
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Image credits: Keegan Carroll
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