Photo by Long Ma on Unsplash
Photo by Long Ma on Unsplash

EXPERT REACTION: Report on Australia’s relationship with the Antarctic Treaty System

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The Australian Parliament has released a report on Australia’s relationship with the Antarctic Treaty System. 'Australia’s Antarctic Territory: Report on the Inquiry into the Importance of Antarctica to Australia’s National Interests', makes 13 recommendations relating to Australia’s relationship with the Antarctic Treaty System, supporting conservation and scientific research, and the beneficial position of Hobart as Australia’s Antarctic Gateway.

Organisation/s: Parliament of Australia

Funder: The Australian Government

Media release

From: Parliament of Australia

Antarctic report released

The Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories tabled its report, Australia’s Antarctic Territory: Report on the Inquiry into the Importance of Antarctica to Australia’s National Interests.

Committee Chair, Alicia Payne MP, said, ‘This inquiry has highlighted the pivotal role that Antarctica plays in advancing Australia’s scientific, environmental, strategic, and economic priorities. This role is made ever more pressing by the current rate of man-made climate change and the crucial function Antarctica has in regulating our climate systems.’

‘Science and conservation are the currencies of influence in Antarctica’, Ms Payne said. ‘It is incredibly important that Australia continues to invest in world leading research and support Antarctic science’.

The Committee has made 13 recommendations relating to Australia’s relationship with the Antarctic Treaty System, supporting conservation and scientific research, and the beneficial position of Hobart as Australia’s Antarctic Gateway.

The report considers the significance of ongoing funding stability for Antarctic research institutions and the need to end the use of terminating measures. The Committee has also recommended that the Commonwealth Government prioritise Australia’s icebreaker, the RSV Nuyina, for scientific research, and lease or acquire a second vessel to undertake the core resupply of Australia’s Antarctic stations on an ongoing basis.

The full report of the inquiry can be found on the Committee’s inquiry webpage.

Attachments:

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  • Parliament of Australia
    Web page
  • Parliament of Australia
    Web page
    Australia's Antarctic Territory Report

Expert Reaction

These comments have been collated by the Science Media Centre to provide a variety of expert perspectives on this issue. Feel free to use these quotes in your stories. Views expressed are the personal opinions of the experts named. They do not represent the views of the SMC or any other organisation unless specifically stated.

Professor John Long is a Strategic Professor in Palaeontology in the Biological Sciences at Flinders University.

Antarctic science is vital for our survival as a species, for three powerful reasons.

1.    Because we need to fully understand Antarctica as one of the major key factors causing dramatic shifts in global climate, through studies of ice cores and past atmospheres, oceanic currents and loss of ice sheets.

2.    Because the seas around Antarctica are home to a vast biomass of organisms that form the base of the Southern Ocean food chains, necessary for sustainable fishing of important food resources, and the health of marine ecosystems throughout the southern hemisphere, also impacting on northern hemisphere ecosystems through the movements of many southern ocean migrant species.

3.    Antarctica is also special because of the way in which scientists from around the globe work together in a neutral place where results are achieved with a deep mutual respect for its pristine environment. Everyone who spends time working there would agree with me in saying it needs to stay pristine as one of the last vast areas on Earth not despoiled by human presence. Antarctic science collaboration is a microcosm of how countries could act towards each other one day, to create a peaceful world founded upon mutual respect."

[Background: 4 expeditions working in remote parts of Antarctica over 1988-89 (NZARP funded), 1991-92 (ANARE-NZARP), 2016-17, 2018-19 (both USAP). Author of two books on Antartica:

The Mountains of Madness -A Scientist’s Odyssey through Antartcica. By J.Long, 2000. Joseph Henry Press, USA, Allen & Unwin, Australia. 238 pp.

https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9848/mountains-of-madness-a-scientists-odyssey-in-antarctica

Frozen in Time-Prehistoric Life in  Antartcica, by J.Stilwell and J.Long, 2011.CSIRo Publishing, Australia. 238pp.

https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/6431/]

Last updated: 12 Feb 2025 4:32pm
Declared conflicts of interest:
None declared.
Professor Matt King is Director of the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science, and Professor of Geography & Spatial Sciences at The University of Tasmania

In the last years, Antarctica has thrown the world surprise after alarming surprise. Getting ahead of the surprises requires Australia to plan for the long term and extract the most from our investments in Antarctic research. Our success will depend on our ability to organise our Antarctic ships, planes and bases with our world leading university and government researchers for the long term. 

The parliamentary committee have made some really excellent recommendations on some of the critical issues where relatively modest changes will have great benefit to Australia better responding to what is now rapid and accelerating change in the Antarctic. I'm particularly pleased for the call for long-term support for university research, which leads or supports 75% of all Australian Antarctic research, and the call for a second ship. 

But we've seen many of these sorts of recommendations before. What we now need is for them to be accepted and implemented. There's an urgency in this. Some of these cannot wait until next year - many of Australia's most talented Antarctic researchers will lose their jobs this year due to a funding cliff in my centre. 

A second ship will free up Australia's world-leading scientific icebreaker from shipping baked beans to stations and allow it to start to catch up on almost a decade of inactivity in remote Southern Ocean science. But that only works if we have researchers to go on board who are able to plan the voyage years in advance knowing they'll have a job when it sets sail. 

Last updated: 12 Feb 2025 4:23pm
Declared conflicts of interest:
I am Director of one of the centres in view for sustained funding.

Professor Juan Francisco Salazar is Professor of Communication, Media and Environment, and Interim Director at the Institute for Culture and Society at Western Sydney University

Australia’s Antarctic Territory: Report on the Inquiry into the Importance of Antarctica to Australia’s National Interests has a number of most welcome recommendations which align with our report on the ARC Linkage international project Antarctic Gateway Cities (2017-2021).

Australia’s continued efforts to establish an East Antarctic Marine Protected Area through the Antarctic Treaty System is crucial under the Paris Agreement as Antarctica plays a pivotal function in regulating the planet’s climate systems. The Report includes critical recommendations for future-proofing Australia’s leadership in the Southern Ocean region such as considering options for providing further funding to Australian researchers and developing a national education and awareness campaign. But this campaign should not only focus on promoting Australia’s national interests in Antarctica, and I would have expected more in terms of how more resources can be available for Hobart to become a true Antarctic City rather than only a gateway and thoroughfare to the Antarctic.

In our Antarctic Cities project, we put forward a vision for how Hobart, in collaboration with other international Antarctic gateways might look at themselves as more than thoroughfares to become urban centres that embrace an urban identity associated with the custodial care for Antarctica.

Last updated: 12 Feb 2025 2:12pm
Declared conflicts of interest:
No financial and non-financial conflicts of interest. Steering Committee Member of the National Committee for Antarctic Research, Australian Academy of Science (unpaid)
Professor Nerilie Abram is a climate scientist at the Australian National University and a fellow of the Australian Academy of Science

Dramatic changes are beginning to unfold in Antarctica. The rising oceans and changing weather patterns that come from Antarctica will have serious impacts for Australia and the world. 

The recommendations to strengthen long-term certainty in Antarctic science funding and to prioritise scientific research on Australia’s icebreaker would allow our country to make real progress in helping Australia to anticipate the risks we will face from a changing Antarctica, and to be global leaders in protecting this unique and pristine part of our planet.

Last updated: 12 Feb 2025 1:36pm
Declared conflicts of interest:
I receive funding from the Australian Research Council, including through the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science. I was one of the experts who was called to give evidence before this inquiry. I was also a member of the Denman Terrestrial campaign last summer (this is specifically mentioned in one of the recommendations). I led the ice drilling component of that field program.

Professor Alessandro Toffoli is a Professor in Ocean Engineering at the University of Melbourne

Antarctica is changing, and we still do not fully understand why. Yet, these transformations have already begun to impact Australia’s climate. One key reason for this uncertainty is the lack of field data. The new icebreaker, RSV Nuyina, is equipped with technology for monitoring the Antarctic environment and the scientific community will have the opportunity to further develop and enhance these capabilities, ensuring that the icebreaker becomes a valuable asset for understanding and predicting these changes. 

Furthermore, RSV Nuyina plays a fundamental role in Antarctica in logistics, the sustainable development of emerging economic activities and national security, aligning with Australia’s commitments under the Antarctic Treaty System. Its headquarters in Hobart provide an optimal gateway, given the proximity of the Australian Antarctic Division, as well as regional offices of CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology. It is also conveniently connected to a broad scientific network, with support extending across Australia and internationally

Last updated: 12 Feb 2025 1:34pm
Declared conflicts of interest:
None declared.
Nicole Hellessey is an Adjunct Researcher with the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) at the University of Tasmania.

Australia's weather and ecosystem is intrinsically linked to Antarctica. By supporting conservation in Antarctica, we are ensuring the conservation of a major factor within our close climate and environmental region. Supporting research into the Antarctic continent and the Southern Ocean is beneficial to all Australians and is predominantly being done in Hobart, thanks to the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies and Australian Antarctic Division. Hobart is also home to multiple international policy centres such as CCAMLR and CEMP and private organisations with Antarctic links. Having a strong Antarctic research and policy centre in Hobart is central to Australia's strong standing within the Antarctic Treaty System for the next 60 years.

Last updated: 12 Feb 2025 1:46pm
Declared conflicts of interest:
None declared.
Dr Jane Younger is a Lecturer of Southern Ocean Vertebrate Ecology at University of Tasmania

This report reinforces what the Antarctic science community has known for years—Australia’s leadership in Antarctic research is at risk without stronger, long-term investment. A second Antarctic vessel is not just a luxury, it’s a necessity to ensure reliable access to critical field sites, improve resilience in our operations, and support the ambitious science that underpins Australia’s Antarctic interests.

Consistency in funding is another key issue. Antarctic research requires multi-year planning, yet we continue to see funding uncertainty that hampers long-term projects. If we want to maintain Australia’s position as a leader in Antarctic science and conservation, we need stable, predictable funding structures that allow scientists to focus on research rather than securing short-term grants.

Last updated: 12 Feb 2025 1:30pm
Declared conflicts of interest:
I receive funding from the ARC, WIRES Australia and the National Geographic Society; I’m in the STA Superstars of STEM program.

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