The CSIRO will cut up to 500 jobs in a wave of reforms the agency’s staff union says is gutting the organisation’s capacity to do research. 

In an internal memo sent on Tuesday and subsequently published online by the CSIRO’s Staff Association, chief executive Doug Hilton announced between 375 to 500 staff in non-research or support roles would be axed. 

In the email, titled “An update on our priorities”, Dr Hilton outlined cost-saving measures designed “to support CSIRO’s financial stability” were needed to reduce expenditure by at least $100 million. 

Dr Hilton said the CSIRO was “doing everything possible to minimise staffing impacts” including voluntary redundancies. 

The chief executive outlined economic challenges including inflation and increased demand on public spending as being reasons behind the restructure. 

“While these changes are essential, I fully appreciate that they are not easy,” he wrote.

The newly announced cuts will come from the enterprise services team, which encompasses technical staff supporting scientists, and employees from the legal, finance, IT and other departments.

CSIRO is a government-funded agency with financing of $916.5 million in the 2024-25 financial year, an amount which has remained stable excluding a pandemic boost that ended in 2023.

The secretary of the CSIRO’s Staff Association, Susan Tonks, called it a “dark day” for the agency.

“However, we know that research positions at CSIRO are not safe and the cuts just keep on coming.”

The axing of roughly 200 research staff roles was announced from April to July, with health, biosecurity, agriculture and manufacturing scientists and researchers affected. 

Research projects in nutrition and human health in Sydney and Adelaide will be closed down as a result of the cuts, the union said. 

Earlier this month, the association wrote to Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic to protest an estimated 700 jobs being cut over the course of the cost-saving measures and restructuring.

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“These cuts are widespread and reckless, jeopardising vital research and national capabilities in areas such as health, biosecurity (Human Health), climate change, and data sciences including artificial intelligence,” the letter said. 

“The concerns are not only for the jobs of CSIRO staff, but for the safeguarding of our national resilience and preparedness in a rapidly changing world.”

Ms Tonks and the union have called for the minister’s intervention in the agency, saying the CSIRO’s core purpose is being undermined by the restructure. 

A spokesperson from the CSIRO told the ABC in a statement that the organisation’s goal was: “to grow CSIRO’s research efforts by ensuring we have the right mix of science and skills to tackle the big problems facing the Australian community”.

“We are working to implement these changes with minimal impact on staff, while still delivering the best possible impact for Australia,” they said of the job cuts.

Mr Husic declined to comment.