Australian Antarctic Division budget blowout scrutinised in Hobart Senate hearing
Leaders of the Australian Antarctic Division have faced their final grilling in a Senate inquiry that has put the heat on budget management and cuts to science. What was exposed >>
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A Senate inquiry which has exposed budget woes and fears for the future of science at the Australian Antarctic Division has wrapped up in Hobart.
The Standing Committees on Environment and Communications has been examining the funding of the AAD, with particular reference to revelations the organisation was pursuing cuts worth roughly 16 per cent of its operating budget.
Leaders from the Antarctic Division and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water faced further questions over budget management at Wednesday’s hearing.
It was revealed in a previous hearing the Division had blown its budget by $42m – or a budget overspend of around 20 per cent.
The overspend has been largely blamed on shipping costs as the division waited for the new icebreaker RSV Nuyina.
Also during Wednesday’s hearing, it was revealed the AAD has been unable to find someone to take the Hobart-based Chief Scientist role.
An initial recruitment round has failed to discover a suitable candidate.
“It’s a challenging position, based in Hobart, looking for scientific expertise and leadership expertise. It is a special candidate that can do that role,” said Division Head Emma Campbell.
Tasmanian Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, who chaired the inquiry, said the process had highlighted systemic issues in the Antarctic Division that needed fixing.
Senator Whish-Wilson said it was time for a restructure for the AAD.
“My motivation to initiate and chair this inquiry was to see more science done down in the Antarctic at a critical time in history, when we actually need world beating scientists doing their jobs,” he said.
“The Division if you ask them will tell you that science is core to their mission, it’s central to all their activities, but if you have a look at what’s actually going on the ground it seems to be anything but.”
Tasmanian Liberal Senator Jonathon Duniam said the inquiry had resulted in “a great many troubling findings”.
“The fact that we don’t know how money is being spent, the fact that there is the lowest ever morale within the Antarctic science community, the fact that there are questions that remain unanswered about the operation of the Nuyina, the fact that when the Minister was informed of the $40m overspend in the Antarctic Division, her office asked for no further action to be taken,” he said.
“There was no red flag or alarm bell ringing. Instead, hands off the wheel. This government has just let the AAD travel on.”
Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek laid the blame for the AAD’s issues on the former Liberal government, saying it had “irresponsibly” managed the sector.
“As a result, we’ve had to have three inquiries into the program in 18 months,” she said.
“The Albanese government is working hard to clean up the mess and put the Antarctic program on a more secure footing.”
Ms Plibersek pointed to increased long-term funding for the Australian Antarctic Program under Labor budgets.
“Fixing the Antarctic program is a big job, but we’re getting on with it.”
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Originally published as Australian Antarctic Division budget blowout scrutinised in Hobart Senate hearing
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