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| CSIRO chief executive Larry Marshall in Canberra. |
CSIRO staff have taken the first steps towards industrial action, and the Bureau of Meteorology has warned of gaps in joint weather research programs, as the fallout from the science agency’s restructure continues.
Climate scientists yesterday filed out of a Melbourne conference to stage a protest over the CSIRO’s plans, which threaten up to 350 jobs, as the agency discontinues some of its modelling work to focus on mitigation and adaptation to climate change. The protesters included former CSIRO researcher Penny Whetton, who shirtfronted Malcolm Turnbull during Sunday’s open day in the grounds of The Lodge.
Dr Whetton, whose partner is Greens senator Janet Rice, told The Australian it would take 20 years to rebuild the expertise now in the firing line. “If there were resources some years down the track to re-establish that capability, money couldn’t buy it,” she said.
The BoM yesterday said there would be “holes” in joint programs if the CSIRO pulled out. “CSIRO aren’t doing everything but they play a very significant role,” chief executive Rob Vertessy said.
Peter Stott, a visiting scientist from the British Met Office, said the decision breached “good faith” in an international project to monitor oceanic conditions.
Dr Stott said the project was an “altogether” enterprise. “If one country withdraws support, somebody may be able to step in. But you need the expertise that Australia has built up because of its position in the southern hemisphere. With research expertise, you can’t just stop it and then start again in a few years’ time.”
On Friday, the CSIRO Staff Association notified management of a dispute, claiming it had breached consultation obligations in the staff agreement. Secretary Sam Popovski said the association would today decide whether to refer the dispute to the Fair Work Commission.
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