Dermot, How many times do you have to be told (and end up ignoring) - this is the way the private sector cuts budgets, and they have been doing for centuries.  If a private sector company has to cut by 50% to survive, they do it.  Then they pro-rate every department budget by 50% less.  The departments figure out the details of how they will operate with less money.  It's simple.  So simple even a journalist can understand this concept.  Oh wait, maybe not.

And quoting ISER again, please ... STOP!  ISER is paid by the state and will twist any number to get more money for the state so ISER survives (even though Alaska would do just fine without them).