The CSIRO will axe close to 40 jobs across its energy unit in a move the union says will have an "enduring impact on the national capability to develop and implement energy and climate policy".
The Community and Public Sector Union called for a halt to the cuts yesterday after CSIRO management announced 39 jobs, including about nine at the organisation's Energy Centre in Mayfield West, would go.
The job losses are due to the impact of the government's average staffing level cap and budget cuts, the union said. Four sites will be affected including Newcastle and North Ryde in NSW.
"At a time when the government should be focussed on the future of our energy needs, they are more concerned with cutting jobs," CPSU national secretary Melissa Donnelly said.
However in a statement, the CSIRO said its energy unit had been "reviewing its science capability" to ensure it was "best placed to deliver affordable, reliable and sustainable solutions to support Australia's energy transition to net zero emissions".
"As we shift away from fossil fuel-based energy dependence, CSIRO is increasing investment and capability in renewables and digital energy technologies," it said.
"As a result, we have proposed a reduction of 39 roles in the areas of upstream oil and gas activities, primary carbon fuel production and coal-injection engines, coal post-combustion CO2 capture, and routine testing and certification."
Up to 12 new roles will be created in "growth areas", the CSIRO said, to "maximise the impact" of key research areas of hydrogen, environmental and emissions management, decommissioning and end-of-life technologies, techno-socioeconomics, circular economy, and data science and engineering.
The union's CSIRO section secretary, Sam Popovski, said staff were concerned there would be further cuts.
"Chief executive Larry Marshall needs to do a lot more to protect CSIRO jobs and start to make a case for increased public funding," he said.
"The [King Review] indicates that Australia's energy policy remains far from settled and diminishing CSIRO's specialist capabilities in this area harms government decision-making and future innovation.
"There are growing concerns that the October federal budget may feature spending cuts and Dr Marshall and the board must ensure that the case for CSIRO public funding is heard loud and clear."
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