Antarctic Division funding cuts hurting student outcomes: UTAS

Cuts to Antarctic funding are stifling the careers of young Tasmanian scientists, a Senate hearing in Hobart has heard.

Australia's new Antarctic icebreaker, RSV Nuyina, in fast ice 2022 © Pete Harmsen AAD

Cuts to Antarctic funding are stifling the careers of young Tasmanian scientists, while Australia should consider a two-ship model to allow year-round studies of the frozen continent, a Senate hearing in Hobart has heard.

The Committee probing the Australian Antarctic Division’s funding arrangements heard from multiple witnesses on Wednesday, including the University of Tasmania, TasPorts, and unions.

UTAS Vice-Chancellor Professor Rufus Black told the committee that studying the Antarctic region was vital to understanding the links between the oceans, atmosphere, and the cryosphere, and that trips south provided invaluable experience for research students.

The committee heard that UTAS had not had “boots on the ground” in Antarctica investigating sea ice thickness for over a decade, and Prof Black questioned whether successive Australian governments were taking climate science seriously.

“We need to be on the ice and physically there,” Prof Black said.

“If Australia and the world are to understand the implications of what’s occurring, we need to be able to do more science, more reliably, more consistently over the long run down there.

“But the current state of the Australian science program is at risk. There is a crisis in the funding of Antarctic science right now.

UTAS Vice Chancellor Professor Rufus Black. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“Antarctica in recent decades, I don’t think has been taken seriously enough by the Australian government.”

Prof Black called for significant reform in the way Antarctic science - and its associated logistics - were funded in order to maintain the prestige and diplomatic power of the national program.

The UTAS chief said that problems caused by an disconnected funding model for expeditions to Antarctica had implications for the educational and career growth of young scientists.

“To change, cancel or delay one of these programs has enormous implications, not just for the science but for the scientists,” Prof Black said.

“Unless we have a much better planned and joined-up way of coordinating logistics and science, we will continue to see kinds of disruptions which have gone on for a long period of time.

“If you delay a voyage by a year, there are whole scientific programs and careers that can’t progress.”

Prof Black said Australia’s program relied on just one vessel - the Hobart-based RSV Nuyina - and called for a more agile, two-ship system that had proven successful for other nations in the Antarctic.

The nuyina out at sea. Pic: Pete Harmsen

Establishing an overarching national body responsible for Antarctic science would help reduce waste and increase coordination, Prof Black said.

Chair of the Tasmanian Polar Network, Richard Fader, gave evidence that Tasmania’s Antarctic industry supported 950 jobs and contributed $160 million to the local economy each year.

Referring to the AAD’s Macquarie Island research station modernisation project, Mr Fader said that any cuts to programs had flow-on effects for his members.

“That project has been a challenge, I believe, for the AAD,” Mr Fader said.

“But if there is no certainty in funding for things, businesses are probably hesitant to work with an organisation.

“It’s very hard to put time and effort into a bid ... for a project and to then have that project cancelled.”

Emperor penguins, from the Australia’s Antarctica exhibition at Focal Point Gallery in North Geelong until July 30.

TasPorts chief executive Anthony Donald told the Committee that his organisation was still waiting for the AAD to sign a deal to fund construction of a new wharf for the Nuyina.

Mr Donald said that the current wharf facility was a lay-up berth only, which meant it was not suitable for loading and uploading.

“I remain to this day a little perplexed as to why AAD would invest such significant money in a really important vessel for Australia and to not ... put the appropriate things in place to secure a dedicated port that was fit for purpose,” Mr Donald said.