Speakers: Dr Doug Hilton, Senator Susan McDonald, Speaker 1

Transcript

Senator Susan McDonald

>> Dr. Hilton, can you rule out further job losses in 26 27 27 28?

Dr Doug Hilton

>> The additional funding we received enables us to keep a stable workforce number. Um but as you would understand we always uh ensure that the capability we have the skills that we have among our scientists are those that will deliver the best possible impact for the country by focusing on priority skills on priority projects. Um so we would always look to optimize our skills base and that may um require some uh staff turnover and that that's something I think the public would expect of us. If we didn't do that, we'd be doing the same science as we were doing in the 1950s. And I don't think that's in the

Senator Susan McDonald

>> So the government says funding to the CSRO is sustainable. SRO CSRO says that there is a funding cliff shortfall. I'm didn't say you said that, but that would be my expectation. Short on funding. Um, and you're talking about not ruling out job losses. You're talking about job skills movements. Is that am I reading that right?

Dr Doug Hilton

>> That's right. So, as I said, the additional funding we received in my EPO and in this year's budget provide us a pathway to sustainability. It enables us to do the urgent repairs and maintenance. And you know, remembering we've had we've had property repairs and maintenance and capital upgrades that have accumulated over probably the best part of 40 years. So that for the first time in a long time puts us on a pathway to sustainability. It also enables us while we are investing in those important elements of sustainability, cyber security, capital upgrades, repairs and maintenance, we can keep a relatively stable total staff number. All things being equal.

Senator Susan McDonald

>> Thanks chair.

Speaker 1

>> Thank you very much Senator PCO. Thank