PREMIER Will Hodgman will speak to federal Industry, Innovation and Science Minister Christopher Pyne next Wednesday about the potential impact of CSIRO's restructure on Tasmania.
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Mr Hodgman's discussions with Mr Pyne came under the microscope on Friday when it was revealed that Mr Hodgman had left messages with his office, but failed to speak to the minister.
He deflected Labor criticism that he had failed to stand up for the state, and said the state government had made it very clear it was concerned there would be job cuts to CSIRO's Tasmanian operations.
Mr Hodgman said he was very keen to understand what the cuts to CSIRO's Tasmanian arm might be, and how they could be averted.
In Senate estimates, CSIRO management said 193 staff based in Hobart could be potentially affected by a decision to reduce climate modelling and monitoring staff.
A phone hook-up with Mr Pyne, Mr Hodgman and State Growth Minister Matthew Groom is now organised to discuss the changes on Wednesday.
A spokesman for Mr Pyne said he and his office had been in regular contact with the Tasmanian government regarding a number of issues across his portfolio, including the CSIRO.
The spokesman said CSIRO's board of directors and senior management, not the government, was responsible for setting the organisation's priorities.
"There will be no overall reduction in staffing or funding as a result of changes announced by the CSIRO," the spokesman said.
Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said Tasmania's reputation for climate and Antarctic science needed to be protected, and called on Tasmanian federal Liberal MPs to lobby Mr Pyne and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to "protect the economic future of the state".