It is far from a political issue. On the ABC last week, UNSW Antarctic oceanography expert Jan Zika said that cuts to the AAD were 'catastrophic'. Similarly, the CPSU secretary in Tasmania, Zac Batchelor, said that AAD staff now feel that crucial scientific research is not safe and that everyone is scratching their head, trying to understand this budget shortfall. Minister, aren't both Associate Professor Zika and Mr Batchelor right about the devastating impacts of the pursuit of this $25 million worth of cuts?