Speculation the Government plans big changes - including more mergers - among the crown research institutes (CRI) that make up most of the nation's publicly-funded science sector has sparked concern among scientists.
One option the Government is reported to be considering is merging its eight surviving CRIs into three super state science companies, clustering research in primary industries, the resource sector and the natural environment.
This could cut the numbers of administrative and support workers and directors who have to be paid.
But it would not be in line with the science sector taskforce, chaired by Neville Jordan which 13 months ago recommended "the Government make no immediate changes to the balance and number of CRIs as there is no strong case at present for mergers or realignment".
The companies have combined annual revenues of $675 million, but Science Minister Wayne Mapp said in March last year that CRI infrastructure was a little bit run down, and more needed to be done to sustain technical infrastructure.
Mergers were still possible in the future but were not an immediate priority, he said.
The Association of Scientists today warned the Government against a re-vamp, and said that the sector -- extensively re-jigged since 10 CRIs were set up in 1992 -- needed stability rather than further cuts.
The association, which represents working scientists, said the number of "back-office" staff working in the CRIs had already been pared to the bone.
Its president, climate scientist Dr James Renwick, said the November 26 election date seemed to be driving the Government's thinking rather than any strategic view of what the sector needed.
Labour science spokesman David Shearer said the last CRI review rejected further mergers, and conducting yet another review would show the minister was mistaking motion for movement.
"Shuffling yet another review through is not the same as real action and progress," he said.
"The 4400 scientists who carry out some of our best research will be concerned that the minister is tinkering with something without any real understanding of the costs or benefits -- if any-- that might come from it."
The PSA, the union which covers many workers in the sector, said today the Government needed to say outright what it was proposing.
"Indications that the eight institutes are to be merged into three super-CRIs are causing distress and uncertainty amongst our science sector members," said the union secretary Brenda Pilott.
"That's counterproductive and does nothing to support the work of scientists," she said.
"Any potential gains from possible mergers have to be weighed up against the inevitable human and financial costs," Ms Pilott said.
"There's no point in undertaking the cost and disruption of restructuring if the gains don't merit it".
