Some of the country's prime scientific infrastructure, such as the CSIRO's soon to be commissioned RV Investigator marine vessel, also failed to receive the funding required to operate at full capacity. The RV Investigator, which last year Senate estimates heard would cost $26 million to run for 300 days a year, has been allocated just $17.4 million for its first year of operation, rising to $18.1 million and $20.6 million in following years. This will mean the research ship operates for just 180 days a year.

Funding for the Melbourne-based Australian Synchrotron and the WA-based Square Kilometre Array radio telescope, which is still under construction, does not exist beyond two years.

Shadow research and innovation minister Kim Carr criticised the Abbott government's first budget as being ideologically driven and motivated by destroying Labor's legacy. However, he warned there was more at stake, if the nation's science capability got caught in the crossfire.

''There is an expectation that the private sector will fund these things and that's just not borne out in any reality at all,'' Senator Carr said. ''Australia's scientific capacity and our ability to compete internationally risks being undermined.''

Senator Carr said Australia's ability to collaborate with international researchers and participate in global research projects could also be compromised - at a time when nations such as China were doubling their spending on science and research every four to five years.