THE RV INVESTIGATOR – ABBOTT’S SQUANDERED OPPORTUNITY

“CSIRO cuts in Tasmania will result in the loss of 59 full-time equivalent CSIRO staff and all of their scientific knowledge. The majority of the research scientists lost are based in Hobart, headquarters of the CSIRO’s Marine and Atmospheric Research Division.” said Senator Lisa Singh, the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Water.

“These squandered opportunities to undertake critical research in the Southern Ocean diminish the standing of Australian marine research in the global science community, and leach Australia’s critical knowledge base on issues like global warming that directly affect our national environmental security

“While the CSIRO will receive $65.7 million over the forward estimates for the Marine National Facility to operate the new research vessel, the RV Investigator, the organisation will have to provide matched funding of $21.2 million from within its existing and now-depleted resources to keep the new boat afloat.

“Once it is finally made ready to sail, the Government’s cuts to science funding mean it will only be able to take advantage of half its research capacity, if that” stated Senator Singh speaking today outside the CSIRO in Hobart.

“As I warned the Prime Minister in the Senate this week, his clear-felling of science funding across the community means that Tasmania will lose its great minds to foreign countries that are committed to funding science and finding out the future.” Senator Singh said.

CSIRO funding in Tasmania has been cut by 23 per cent, compared to 13 per cent nationally and the number of funded CSIRO scientists in Tasmania will be cut from 260 to 201 by the end of the financial year.
SENATOR LISA SINGH SHADOW PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATER LABOR SENATOR FOR TASMANIA