Australia’s leading scientific research organisation has told staff it will slash hundreds of research jobs, in a major blow to publicly funded science.

The CSIRO told staff on Tuesday that between 300 and 350 research jobs would be axed, according to a staffer speaking on the condition on anonymity. That equates to about 10 per cent of all scientists employed by the institution, the staff association estimates.

Up to 350 jobs will but cut at the leading research centre. Credit: Bloomberg

The news comes after about 800 research support jobs were cut last year, along with a number of contractors. Combined, the staff association estimates that equates to cutting the agency’s size by a third.

“It’s huge. That’s a lot of people’s jobs, and a big impact on science,” said Susan Tonks, se

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