David Pocock applauds $387.4m in extra funding for CSIRO after tens of thousands sign petition

The Albanese government will boost funding to CSIRO by $387.4m in a bid to meet the long-term costs of the national science agency. It follows months of advocacy by scientists and staff after hundreds of job cuts and cost-cutting measures. The funding, over four years, will support facilities and technology upgrades and research and is on top of the agency’s existing $1b in annual funding. The announcement is not expected to reverse recent decisions to slash hundreds of jobs but it is hoped it might mean further job cuts are avoided. CSIRO’s annual funding as a percentage of GDP had been falling, with a parliamentary library analysis commissioned by ACT senator David Pocock finding it was at its lowest since 1978. Pocock said the additional $387.4m was welcome and “reflects huge and effective advocacy from scientists, staff and the community”. “Tens of thousands of people signed my petition to save CSIRO, and alongside other senators I pushed for a Senate inquiry into the agency’s resourcing because Australia can’t afford to keep hollowing out public science.” Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email He said after years of declining investment, more funding was still needed. He said investments in research and development were at record lows and further investment could be funded if the government adopted a 25% tax on gas exports. “I’ll keep pushing the government to back the science and scientists we need to meet the huge challenges ahead,” he said. …