Cutting to the core: CSIRO Antarctic jobs go

Australia's "Aurora Australis"
at work in the Antarctic.

CSIRO plans to close its ice lab and cease key Antarctic science activities, moves that scientists warn will damage Australia's international partnerships and run counter to a new $2 billion-plus government plan for the region.

Staff in CSIRO's key climate science units within its Oceans & Atmosphere division will be told as early as Monday where the intended axe of 74 jobs will land, according to a leaked union document obtained by Fairfax Media.

The cuts are part of the agency's plan to slash 275 jobs and shift resources elsewhere. Monday is expected to mark the start of the formal contacting of staff to inform them their positions will go.

Read Peter Hannam’s story on today’s Melbourne Age - “Cutting to the core: CSIRO to end long-standing Antarctic ice, air research.”