Department urged Australia to quit astronomy program, save around $55m yearly
The Department said Australia should quit a global astronomy program to save about $55 million each year, even though research would suffer.
Unsealed government documents show the Department urged Minister Tim Ayres to pull Australia out of a global astronomy program to free up budget. The saving would be roughly $55 million each year.
The Department rejected a cheaper option. That option would have cost about half as much.
It would have let Australia stay in the program for at least two more years while a longer-term decision was made. Officials told the minister that accepting harm to research and reputation was worth the budget relief.
The documents do not yet show what decision was actually made.
- Around 55 million dollars
- Annual saving
- Tim Ayres
- Minister
- About half of full withdrawal
- Interim option cost
Why it mattersAustralia's astronomy research capability and standing in global science partnerships depend on this decision. It also affects how much budget is left for other science spending.
AustraliaIf Australia exits, local astronomers lose access to shared global data and collaborative research, and the country's voice in international astronomy planning shrinks.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 10 h ago
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