We knew that the CSIRO was going to be cut in the Federal Budget. Now we have the papers, and we know just how much Australian science is losing.
Turns out, the rumours about the CSIRO cuts were bang on the money.
Over the next four years, Australia’s scientific agencies will see $146.8 million cut from their bottom lines, with most of that being taken from the CSIRO.
The CSIRO specifically will lose $111.4 million over the next four years, with the cuts to start from next year at a value of $26.4 million.
$28.9 million will be cut from the 2016-17 budget, and $28.6 million will be cut from the 2017-18 budget.
The Australian Institute of Marine Science and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation will also see cuts from their bottom lines.
Check out the table below for the full cuts:
It isn’t all bad, however. The Budget includes $5.5 million for the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science, $13.4 million for National Science Week, and $9.1 million for a Questacon education program for disadvantaged and regional communities.
There’s also going to be a $20 billion medical research fund for Aussie scientists to discover cures to massive diseases, funded in part by the $7 GP co-payment.