Southern SurveyorIn addition, direct operational funding for CSIRO has been increased by $43m or 6.4%.
Staff Association Secretary Sam Popovski said: “CSIRO desperately needed an injection of funds to sustain its research efforts.
The Government has responded with both direct funding and investment into infrastructure which will boost astronomy and marine and ecosystems research.
“National collections and facilities such as the Southern Surveyor have been neglected for too long. The funding in this Budget indicates that the Government is serious about recognising their importance to Australia.”
By increasing direct funding, the Government has offset the impact of the so called ‘efficiency dividend’ and responded to the recommendations of the Cutler review of the national innovation system. The Budget has also provided support for CSIRO to increase its research into agricultural productivity and food security.
“Staff working in agricultural research have borne the brunt of recent job cuts and site closures. CSIRO now has the opportunity to reverse the trend, build on agricultural and environmental sustainability research and support jobs at rural and regional sites.”
The Staff Association also welcomes the new Super Science, Clean Energy and commercialisation initiatives which will facilitate adoption of CSIRO’s research into renewable and solar technologies, energy efficiency and carbon capture and storage.
The Anglo-Australian Observatory will receive $36m over four years to sustain operations under new governance arrangements within the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.
