Larry Marshall, the embattled chief executive of the CSIRO, is clearly hoping for anger within his agency over his handling of the hundreds of job cuts will subside.
In the past few weeks, he has visited sites from Canberra to Hobart, hobnobbing at morning and afternoon teas with small groups of staff, apparently avoiding the large Q&A sessions that sparked staff booing, a complaint of bullying and at least one walkout earlier this year.
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| CSIRO chief executive Larry Marshall can expect fierce grillings from senators if he retains his job. Photo: Andrew Meares |
The prompt for the email, though, is one reason those calmer times may remain out of reach of the former Silicon Valley venture capitalist charged with running Australia's premier research agency, which marks its centenary in 2016.
The email was to welcome the move by Greg Hunt, the new Science Minister, to intervene in the agency's affairs, directing it to restore 15 climate research positions that Dr Marshall had deemed surplus to "Team CSIRO's" needs.
Removing Mr Hunt's spin on the $37 million funding during 10 years revealed Dr Marshall was given no extra cash to top up its $730 million-plus annual funding from the budget for the move. Instead, the CEO has to find the money from within.
Mr Hunt's rapid action marks a complete reversal of the mantra of his predecessor, Chris Pyne, that CSIRO was "an independent statutory agency governed by a board of directors", largely left to its own devices.
"I would think Larry Marshall could have had a stiff drink when he discovered Hunt was appointed science minister," says Andy Pitman, director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science based at the University of NSW.
CSIRO cuts: Scientist questions future in Australia
Climate expert Dr Annette Hirsch is currently working in Switzerland and says the recent cuts to the CSIRO will make a 'huge influence' on her decision to come back to Australia.
Climate expert Dr Annette Hirsch is currently working in Switzerland and says the recent cuts to the CSIRO will make a 'huge influence' on her decision to come back to Australia.
As Environment Minister Mr Hunt had already been active, working with Chief Scientist Alan Finkel and others to salvage a climate science centre that would preserve at least 40 of the 140 climate researchers. CSIRO managers had been exploring how to cut, transfer or outsource almost all of them.
Mr Hunt has offered his "strong support" for Dr Marshall in his role, and a senior government source denies patience with the chief has run out.
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| Not out?: Larry Marshall at the SCG, trying to rouse CSIRO leaders in September 2015. |
Another signal test will come when the CSIRO board decides whether to extend Dr Marshall's tenure beyond the end of 2016. The board had been tipped to accept the endorsement by the Turnbull government – made barely a week before the election was called – at its June meeting.
"Not yet" was reportedly Dr Marshall's answer to staff in Canberra asking about his contract extension last week. Fairfax Media sought confirmation from CSIRO.
Whether Dr Marshall can cast off the disarray of the past six months, which included multiple grillings by a Senate and incessant leaks to the media by disgruntled staff, remains an open question.
Response to his plans revealed by Fairfax Media in February to slice 350 jobs so soon after the Paris climate summit in late 2015 included international alarm and a petition signed by thousands.
In the end, just 20 climate positions are now slated to go. The other divisions hit– Land and Water, Data61 and manufacturing – were less successful in mounting a public case, and they will carry the bulk of about 275 job losses all up.
Ken Lee, one of the architects of the climate cuts, has opted to exit too. The head of the Oceans and Atmosphere unit and an expert in oil leaks, will depart for his native Canada in early 2017, according to an email sent to staff on Thursday.
Longer term, the loss of top scientists and capability will make it harder to lure and retain the next generation of talent, says John Church, a world-renowned sea-levels expert who will leave on August 19 after his position was made redundant.
Those going include researchers such Saul Cunningham, an award-winning ecologist, or Fiona Walsh, whose work on Indigenous communities will disappear with the closing of the Alice Spring research centre.
Dr Church declines to join the Greens in demanding Dr Marshall join those departing but wonders if an exit might not be too far off.
"If he's come this far and still not had his contract extended, why does he want to stay?," Church says.
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