The CSIRO has unveiled plans to cut 59 roles as part of a merger of its health and biosecurity and Australian animal health laboratory research units.
A spokesperson said the new Biosecurity Research Unit "better positions CSIRO to make the most of its unique combination of expertise at the intersection of animal, human and plant health, as well as shared infrastructure including ACDP."
The Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) facility will sit within the new Biosecurity Research Unit, consistent with how other critical facilities are organised within CSIRO, the national science agency said in a statement.
The merger was being undertaken "following careful consideration of consultation feedback from staff and stakeholders," the statement said.
CSIRO executives updated staff on the final decision for their units at a town hall on Thursday, after hosting a Q&A session on Wednesday.
Staff found out last week that 92 jobs would be cut from the environmental research unit.
The agency has been working through each research area as it implements a plan to cut 350 roles.
CSIRO staff organisation secretary Susan Tonks said members were "really concerned that there's going to be further restructures and cuts."
She said staff had sought answers on what would happen to those on contracts, and were given no assurance that the agency would not end contracts early or decline to renew them.
"They need to give clarity on this, because when we've asked today ... they did not answer," Ms Tonks said.
"They just said, 'Oh, we'll just deal with this on a case by case basis'."
If the CSIRO was considering getting rid of those workers, she said, "they need to come clean."
Science and Technology Australia chief executive Ryan Winn said Thursday's 59 job cuts were "another blow to Australia's science capability."
"The Health and Biosecurity team at CSIRO already went through jobs cuts two years ago," Mr Winn said.
"How can we expect to keep or attract people to be part of Australia's STEM workforce when there is so much instability?"
The agency said it was "making essential strategic research shifts to focus its efforts on where we can deliver 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," its statement said.
The CSIRO said the number of roles being cut through the merger was "five fewer than originally proposed" and that there were "no research staffing impacts at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory."
"Importantly, these changes will not negatively impact the critical and ongoing work undertaken at ACDP, which will continue to host and deliver critical diagnostic capabilities and maintain globally eminent facility operations."
