The Turnbull government is "flip-flopping on climate change" and doesn't know what it stands for, Labor says, after Science Minister Greg Hunt ordered the CSIRO to restore climate research as a core priority.

As Fairfax Media reported on Thursday, Mr Hunt has instructed CSIRO's executives and board to "put the focus back on climate science", just months after the national science agency slashed climate staff and programs.

The cuts had prompted widespread condemnation, and fears that Australia was undermining global efforts to monitor and predict climate change.

The new strategy, which is yet to be fully devised, includes 15 new climate science jobs and research investment worth $37 million over 10 years.