STAND UP FOR CSIRO STOP CSIRO JOB CUTS – INVEST IN SCIENCE

PUBLIC FORUM

TO ESTABLISH A FRIENDS OF CSIRO BRANCH IN QUEENSLAND

Date: Thursday June 23

Time: 7pm-8.30pm Location: Geographical Society Qld Lecture Theatre 237 Milton Rd, Milton (opposite Milton Railway Station). Parking: At rear of theatre

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is a critical component of Australia’s research and innovation capacity. The public good research it undertakes contributes enormously to Australian society and a secure future for Australians.

Few other organisations undertake the range of scientific long-term research undertaken by CSIRO or give the return on investment to society as does CSIRO. CSIRO has a long list of successful research outcomes contributing to important developments in medicine, ecosystem management, plant and manufacturing industries and other sectors.

It is greatly valued by Australians, but it’s very future is under enormous threat and we need you’re support.

After only a few weeks, branches of Friends of CSIRO have been established in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne and now Brisbane. Already the group already has 500 members and the phone is ringing off the hook!

Since the 2014 budget, 1200 jobs have been lost already and funding for programs has been reduced by $115 million. Funding to CSIRO from other departments (called external funding), which forms a significant amount of CSIRO funding, has also reduced significantly.

In this process the science side of CSIRO has been decimated.

As Climate Change becomes a matter of international calamity the CSIRO’s world renowned climate science is being dismantled.

There has been very little consultation with partners, stakeholders and collaborators, both national and international, leading to local and international outcry.

International collaborators like NASA, the National Oceans and Atmosphere Administration (USA), French and UK climate science organisations have protested about the damage these cuts would do. Around 2,800 scientists from around 60 countries have protested these cuts.

The process in terms of staff consultation and notices re redundancies has been appalling. The fact that Dr John Church, probably the foremost global expert on sea level rise, was notified of his likely redundancy while he was at work at sea, demonstrates the appalling lack of due process.
Ross Gwyther, www.friendsofcsiro.org.au