'Carnage' avoided, scientist says

Nobel Prize winner Brian Schmidt believes the scientific community has avoided "carnage" after the Abbott government backed down on a threat to drop funding for research.

The government decoupled the funding from its university reforms and agreed to commit $150 million until June 2016 while a review into research funding is conducted.

"We've lost a few people, but most of the carnage has been avoided," Professor Schmidt told ABC radio of the uncertainty surrounding the funding.