The CSIRO did not sign off on proposed job cuts before chief executive Dr Larry Marshall notified staff, the Federal Opposition says.

Key points: Management circumvented the CSIRO board, says Kim Carr

Management circumvented the CSIRO board, says Kim Carr He says it is clear the board did not sign off on cuts

He says it is clear the board did not sign off on cuts Carr calls on Minister Pyne to step in

A Senate Select Committee has handed down an interim report into the 275 proposed job losses, recommending the Government hold off making changes before July's federal election.

The committee also recommended an investigation into the use of private emails by the CSIRO to establish whether the organisation's management met its record-keeping obligations during the restructure process.

Victorian Labor senator and shadow innovation minister Kim Carr said management circumvented the CSIRO board.

"It's absolutely clear that the board did not sign off on the job cuts before Dr Marshall sent out his all-staff email on the fourth of February," Mr Carr said.

"It's absolutely clear that the draft all-staff email that they saw didn't even mention the cuts.

"It appears that at least one board member replied to the draft email saying, and I quote, 'I don't think I approve'. But there was no opportunity for discussion.

"This is a failed process. The board should have been fully engaged in the decision."

The report also recommended an independent agency investigate the economic value of CSIRO climate measurement and research.

A spokesman for Science Minister Christopher Pyne stressed the CSIRO was an independent body and the Government had no control over operational decisions.

"The CSIRO is an independent statutory agency governed by a board of directors," he said.

"The board in conjunction with senior management are responsible for operations, including staffing, and setting the CSIRO's priorities."

Carr calls on Pyne to intervene

But Mr Carr said Mr Pyne needed to step in and save the important positions.

"The Minister has said nothing, except to hide behind the legal fiction of the independence of the CSIRO," he said.

"The Minister sets out the statements of expectation. The Minister has the power to direct the board."

The Oceans and Atmosphere division was the hardest hit under the jobs plan, facing a loss of 75 positions.

Losses elsewhere included 35 from Minerals, about 70 from Land and Water, about 30 from Agriculture, 45 from Manufacturing and about 20 from Food and Nutrition.

Value of climate research underappreciated: IMAS

Professor Nathan Bindoff from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) agreed with the committee's recommendation (see below) that an independent agency investigate the economic value of CSIRO's climate research.

"This is the one that goes to the heart of actually thinking about the real value of climate research and the sort of fundamental research that CSIRO has been performing for the last 20 years," he said.

"It goes to the heart of what public good environmental research and its value to Australia is.

"Understanding the natural climate system is really fundamentally important stuff and it's really important to informing our adaptation and mitigation capabilities.

"Climate research is often not understood, how valuable it is to Australia as a nation."

Professor Bindoff suggested the Productivity Commission would be a relevant independent body to do the investigation.

Jessica Munday from the Community and Public Sector Union said the report reflected what CSIRO staff have said.

"The CPSU supports the recommendations and we particularly support the recommendation that this process should stop until an election's occurred," she said.

"There are concerns with the process, the consultation and, in fact, with the proposal and these cuts should be ceased."