Senate Economics Legislation Committee [Part 2], , 1:20:46 to 1:25:23
Officials address potential job impacts in biosecurity and technology research units, explaining a shift toward reinvestment in quantum sensors, AI foundation models, and genetic solutions for invasive species.
Topics: Agricultural research and levies, Artificial intelligence, Biosecurity
Speakers: Dr Doug Hilton, Senator David Pocock, Rob Hough, Jen Taylor, Unknown Speaker, Dr. Jen Taylor
you very much for your uh time here this evening and um um yeah really associate myself with your your comments about um yesterday we learned that about 100 people 86 FTE are losing their jobs from the biocurity and technology research units. Why is that?
>> So that's not quite correct. So we're in consultation and we take consultation incredibly seriously. Senator. Um, so we really respect the conversations we have with staff and the union over any major changes that that we have. There are potentially 86 staff that could be impacted. Um, but we are in the middle of consultation. I think it would for me it would be disrespectful to to preempt the consultation process.
>> Mhm. And why is that consultation happening with those um two units?
So the the view of CSRO is that by bringing uh by merging the units that lead to those two units and having done a um review of the science going on in those units, we believe we can transfer staff and have greater impact by moving them closer to the people they collaborate with. But also as as I indicated that there are opportunities to invest into areas that we think will generate more impact for the community. And we have six of those areas identified and I think you know I think the community would expect us to be focusing on the areas of science where we can deliver greatest impact for industry the community and for our national trajectory.
>> Mhm. Um there's been reporting that there may be a shift from the roles being consulted on to around 150 new roles. Uh where are those roles expected
to be? So, we have six areas we're looking to reinvest in. Um, and I think they're I think they're areas that um senators would find align to our national priorities and importance. I'm happy to go through the the list of the six. Um, Dr. Huff, do you want to speak first about the two areas in the two areas in your portfolio?
>> Yes, thanks Dr. Hilton and and thanks Senator uh Rob Huff um executive director for technology national facilities and collections and the executive director responsible for the technology research unit. A couple of examples that um my team are uh very involved in and the reinvestment is supporting. One is around quantum sensors and quantum devices where we look at super cool devices and the potential of um new sensors utilizing
>> um I'm happy to get the detail on notice. I know we're up against. Can you maybe just go through the the the top line? Sorry, sorry to cut you off.
>> No, that's okay. Um so yes, so quantum sensors was one. Um and then the other one is foundational models for geoscience which is around bringing artificial intelligence together with our geoscience expertise. So there's two
the the development of sovereign foundation models in areas where we have real data assets and where we have the opportunity to deploy AI in a way that will both drive productivity and sustainability I think is a incredibly important area for the nation. Sure. >> Dr. Taylor, do you want to speak to the areas in your just briefly?
>> Dr. Jen Taylor, executive director for future industry. So there's an area in my portfolio in biocurity that we're investing in and that's to use some of our decadal strengths in genetics and agriculture to turn some of that into solutions for invasive pest weeds and diseases that impact our landscape and um you know have a big economic impact on Australia.
>> And so will these biocurity roles that are being consulted on moved there or
possibility to explore redeployment in in those areas and so yes we'll be opening up some new roles but they they are in sort of new areas of science and as Dr. Hilton said, "We continually look to refresh with new skills."
>> You know, that's what that that's an important element of our strategy. You know, it it's very very difficult to retrain a scientist who's got experience in one area um and deploy them into another. There's an opportunity then for recruiting younger staff, and I understand how that impacts um staff whose positions are uh up in the air. Um, those are difficult decisions, but they're ones that we make after serious consideration and in consultation with staff to mitigate the effects.