Hundreds of scientists and researchers will lose their jobs with Australia's leading science agency blaming rising costs and funding gaps for the cuts.

The CSIRO has announced up to 350 full-time staff roles will be abolished as the agency embarks on a new research direction to remain sustainable over the coming decades.

But the union representing the agency's workers has slammed the Albanese government for 'devastating' cuts, which it said were worse than under the former Abbott coalition government.

The CSIRO said it was facing long-term financial sustainability challenges and it was at a "critical inflection point" due to funding not keeping pace with the rising costs of running a modern science agency.

After decades of stretching resources to maintain the breadth of its programs an

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