The CSIRO will receive an additional $233 million in federal funding but will still proceed with up to 350 job cuts announced last month.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the funding boost as part of the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO).
The government said the funding would enable the CSIRO to continue expanding its work in areas including artificial intelligence, critical minerals, climate change adaptation, agricultural productivity and biosecurity.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the $233 million boost to the CSIRO at the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook. (ABC News: Callum Flinn)
“The Albanese Government backs the CSIRO and is supporting it to continue its vital work into the future,” the treasurer said.
“The future of our economy and our nation’s productivity depend on the pioneering research the CSIRO does in these fields, which is why this funding boost is so important.”
Last month, the CSIRO said its funding had failed to keep pace with rising costs and up to 350 jobs would need to go.
Up to 150 of those roles were to come from its environmental research unit, which focuses on topics including climate and adaptation science, water security and oceans.
Mr Chalmers said the CSIRO had to make decisions about how it managed its resources.Â
“How the CSIRO manages their budget is a matter for them,” he said.
In a statement, a CSIRO spokesperson welcomed the funding announcement but said it was short-term support.
“CSIRO must retain the savings that will come from the recently announced changes to our research portfolio — which include an estimated reduction of 300-350 [full time equivalent] roles,” the statement said.
The statement said CSIRO’s appropriation funding had risen by 1.3 per cent per year since 2010, while inflation had risen by an average of 2.7 per cent over the same period.
Government playing down impact of CSIRO job cuts
Science Minister Tim Ayers said the new funding would safeguard and strengthen research and innovation in areas critical to Australia’s prosperity and security.
“CSIRO is at the heart of our national effort to tackle the biggest challenges of our time from navigating global uncertainty and harnessing fast-changing technologies to driving the transition to a low-carbon economy,” Senator Ayers said. 
The additional funding comes on top of nearly $1 billion in annual government appropriations and additional funding announced in this year’s federal budget.
Not a long-term solution
Science and Technology Australia Chief Executive Ryan Winn said the $233 million boost was “a good start”.
Ryan Winn says the announcement is not a long-term solution. (Supplied: Science and Technology Australia)
“It is just a one-off payment investment — which is great to see and it will help buffer some of the big questions that CSIRO is dealing with,” Mr Winn said.
“But it is not a sustainable, long-term solution, which is what we want to see for the science sector.
“We often get confused when we talk about budgets giving money to science, when rather it’s actually about investing in science.
“What I’d like to see is a really deliberate conversation around where are the areas that CSIRO can have the biggest impact … for the rest of the economy and create the jobs of now, create the jobs of the future.”
Community and Public Sector Union CSIRO section secretary Susan Tonks says CSIRO’s funding arrangement has not kept pace with the cost of doing science. (Supplied: Instagram)
Community and Public Sector Union CSIRO section secretary Susan Tonks said the one-off funding boost would help urgent pressures at the CSIRO, but would “not address long-term funding issues”.
“CSIRO management must do the right thing with this funding and ensure further job cuts are abandoned,” she said.Retaining the best talent
Mr Winn said Australia was not a strong investor in research and development, which would lead to losing top scientific talent.
“If I heard my job was on the line, I would be looking at other options,” Mr Winn said.
He said Australia invested 1.68 per cent of gross domestic product into research and development, compared to South Korea which invested about 4.9 per cent.
The OECD average is 2.7 per cent.
“There are some countries around the world who are looking at investing significantly — and are,” Mr Winn said.
“We’re an amazing country and a great place to live but there are great jobs that are investing in smart people in other places in the world.”
Other national institutions receive funding boost
The federal government’s mid-year budget update also included hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for national institutions in Canberra.
The government will provide $220 million over five years to fix the leaking roof at the National Gallery of Australia.
Another $4.5 million will be spent replacing the heritage windows, doors and facade at the National Library.
The Australian War Memorial will also receive almost $120 million over four years to support its financial sustainability and the completion of its major redevelopment.