Australian Antarctic Division put on ice over budget and lack of science projects at Senate Inquiry
The Australian Antarctic Division has been put on ice, after denying claims of budget cuts and science projects on Mawson and Davis station.
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The Australian Antarctic Division has denied claims of budget cuts, but has had ongoing Budget transparency issues, a Senate Inquiry has heard.
Evidence presented to the inquiry on Thursday indicated many science projects were not being conducted on Davis and Mawson stations.
But the AAD strongly denied claims of scientists not doing fieldwork at those stations and said more scientists are heading down South than last year.
“We have AAD scientists at Mawson station undertaking critical seabird observations … on Davis we have critical sea ice observations being undertaken but not by AAD science branch staff,” chief scientist Professor Nicole Webster said.
She confirmed that 10 scientists will be based at Casey Station, with an additional 27 scientists flying into Casey to be deployed for an upcoming campaign.
AAD head of division Emma Campbell revealed to the Inquiry that less scientists were sent to Davis station because of a lack of water.
“This summer we will do some water remediation work on Davis. We have less people on at Davis and have sent less people to Davis because we have been in a position because there is not enough water for them,” she said.
“By investing in water we are hoping to increase the availability for footprint.
“One of the water tanks is leaking at Davis and one station there already has water restrictions in place.”
Ms Campbell told the inquiry the AAD knew the tank had been leaking since before Covid.
“We had real constraints throughout Covid in sending people down to the station,” she said.
Ms Campbell took on notice the amount of tradies who travelled to fix the leakage and will provide it to the Inquiry at a later date.
After hearing a large volume of evidence over the past two days, Liberal Senator Jonathon Duniam said there is money missing from the AAD budget.
“There are 40 jobs that aren’t being filled permanent on time – ongoing jobs that aren’t being filled. Those issues need to be fixed.” he said.
An email written by Ms Campbell to staff, which was leaked to the media, said there would be a 16 per cent reduction to the operating budget.
“We know from a leaked email that the AAD has to find 16 per cent savings, which
means 16 per cent cut to their operating budget across all divisions. The important point here is that, at a time of climate emergency, where Antarctic science is absolutely critical, the work we do is critical,” Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said.
“The AAD self-identified a shocking $42m overspend and ongoing issues with budget transparency – and whether or not the Division likes to admit it, this has resulted in budget restraints that have impacted Australia’s delivery of critical science programs in the Antarctic.”
But AAD deputy secretary Sean Sullivan denied the claims of the cuts.
“There has not been a 16 per cent cut to the Divisions budget,” he said.
“Lower funding availability this financial year compared to last financial year is simply because of termination of temporary measures that were there because the Nuyina was out of service.
“What we are doing now has been forecasted for some years … moving back to a one ship model to support the program.
“In 2023-24 the Division will commit $275m to support 55 projects including 43 science projects. We’re sending more people South this year than we did last year.”
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