Contents

Foreword
Membership of the Committee
Terms of reference
List of abbreviations
List of recommendations

Introduction
Funding for Australia’s Antarctic Program
Operations and logistical support
Australia’s obligations under the Antarctic Treaty System
Conservation and protection of the Antarctic environment
Australia’s Antarctic science program
Additional Comments—Senator Stott Despoja
Appendix A – List of submissions
Appendix B – List of exhibits
Appendix C – List of witnesses appearing at public hearings

Foreword

On behalf of the Committee, I am pleased to present this unanimous report on the adequacy of funding for Australia ’s Antarctic Program.

Prior to conducting a review of Australia’s Antarctic Territory as part of a general monitoring of the nation’s external territories, the Committee sought a briefing from the Australian Antarctic Division as the lead agency for Australia’s Antarctic Program.

The ensuing briefing provided a fascinating insight into the positive nature and scale of the work being carried out by Australian researchers in Antarctica. However, during the briefing, it also became clear that the critical issue confronting Australia’s Antarctic Program was the question of whether the Antarctic Division was receiving adequate funding to achieve the Government’s stated goals for the frozen continent.

The issue of the adequacy of funding for Australia’s Antarctic Program therefore became the focal point of the Committee’s inquiry.

The inquiry lapsed with the dissolution of the 40 th Parliament, but, was recommenced by the new committee in the 41 st Parliament.

The Government’s goals for Antarctica reflect Australia’s status as a major player in Antarctic affairs. The goals promote participation in the Antarctic Treaty System and enhanced influence within that System, protection of the Antarctic environment, an understanding of the role of Antarctica in the global climate system and, the undertaking of scientific work of practical, economic and national significance.

Meeting these goals and consolidating Australia’s leading reputation in Antarctica requires substantial financial support. Operating in such an unpredictable, hostile environment is an expensive exercise, but one which is critical if Australia is to preserve its sovereignty over its Australian Antarctic Territory.

During the inquiry, the Committee heard of the fundamental need to establish an inter-continental air link between Tasmania and the Australian Antarctic Territory. It was suggested that an air link would attract a wider spectrum of researchers to the continent. Currently, researchers are reliant predominately, on the research and resupply vessel Aurora Australis which necessarily requires that a significant amount of its time be spent at sea.

Obviously, the Committee was pleased to learn of a commitment in the 2005-06 Budget to fund an inter-continental air link from Hobart to Antarctica. However, in the Committee’s view, the introduction of the air link does not diminish the need for additional funding to be invested in Australia’s Antarctic Program. The Australian Antarctic Division has continued to develop new initiatives in spite of a generally static budget through the implementation of innovative cost-saving measures. Yet the evidence the Committee received suggested the Division now has exhausted all avenues for creating meaningful savings.

Australia’s contribution to Antarctic science is considered world-leading by scientific peers and the efforts of our researchers should receive greater domestic recognition, particularly given that much of the science being undertaken has implications for the region as well as global relevance.

The Committee is grateful to those who participated in the inquiry. As always, I also very much appreciate the cooperative way that the Committee invariably works on inquiries and the subsequent report.

Senator Ross Lightfoot
Chairman

Membership of the Committee

41st Parliament

40th Parliament

Committee Secretariat

41st Parliament

40th Parliament

Terms of reference

Resolved 10 September 2003:

That, on the basis of the annual report of the Department of the Environment and Heritage for 2001-02, which has responsibility for the Australian Antarctic Division and the Antarctic Program, in relation to the Australian Antarctic Territory and the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands, and which stands referred to the Committee by the House of Representatives for any inquiry it may wish to make, the Committee conduct an inquiry and report on the adequacy of funding for the Australian Antarctic Division to meet the four goals set for advancing Australia’s Antarctic interests:

• Enhancing Australia's influence in the Antarctic Treaty system;
• Protecting the Antarctic environment;
• Understanding Antarctica's role in the global climate system; and
• Conducting scientific research of practical, economic or national significance.

Resolved 26 November 2003:

That the basis of the inquiry into the adequacy of funding for the Australian Antarctic Program be extended to include the Annual Report of the Department of the Environment and Heritage for 2002-03, which was presented in the House of Representatives on 4 November 2003 and stands referred to the Committee for any inquiry it wishes to make.

Resolved 8 December 2004:

That the basis of the inquiry into the adequacy of funding for the Australian Antarctic Program be extended to include the Annual Report of the Department of the Environment and Heritage for 2003-04, which was presented in the House of Representatives on 17 November 2004 and stands referred to the Committee for any inquiry it wishes to make.

List of abbreviations

List of recommendations

3 Operations and logistical support

Recommendation 1

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government makes funding available in the 2005-06 financial year to enable a scoping study to be conducted to determine the need for a new dedicated marine research vessel to advance marine science in general and, the Australian Government's goals for Australia's Antarctic program in particular. (para 3.53)

4 Australia’s obligations under the Antarctic Treaty System

Recommendation 2

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government makes an appreciable investment commensurate with Australia’s significant involvement in polar activities to support Australian programs planned for the International Polar Year 2007-2008 and ensures that Australia plays a leading role in International Polar Year activities. In addition, the Committee notes the need for additional funds to be made available immediately for this purpose. (para 4.25)

5 Conservation and protection of the Antarctic environment

Recommendation 3

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government allocate an additional $50 million to the budget of the Department of the Environment and Heritage over a ten-year period, to be administered under Australia’s Antarctic Program, specifically for the remediation of past work sites in the Australian Antarctic Territory. (para 5.50)

Recommendation 4

The Committee recommends that additional funding be provided to enable the Australian Antarctic Division to comply with its responsibilities under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) for its work with the cultural heritage management of Mawson’s Huts. The Committee also encourages the continuation of partnership links with community sponsors to continue the restoration work of Mawson’s Huts. (para 5.73)

6 Australia’s Antarctic science program

Recommendation 5

The Committee recommends that the current appropriation for the Australian Antarctic Science grants scheme administered by the Australian Antarctic Division be doubled from the current level of approximately $700,000 per annum for the remainder of the Science Strategy 2004/05-2008/09 and be reassessed after that period. (para 6.24)

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