Roger Jaensch,Minister for State Growth
The announcement of an additional $800 million in funding from the Australian Government is welcomed by Tasmania as home to one of the world's most significant Antarctic gateways.
As the base for Australia's Antarctic and Southern Ocean operations, the new $528 million icebreaker Nuyina and a range of national Antarctic missions from around the world, we are well placed to increase our scientific and support services to the sector.
Already the sector employs almost 950 Tasmanians and injects almost $160 million into Tasmania's economy each year.
With this investment coupled with an increased focus on inland-Antarctic science, upgrading of facilities in Antarctica and Macquarie Island and the much-anticipated new Antarctic and Science Precinct at Macquarie Point we are already moving to increase the capacity and capability of Antarctic operations available in Hobart.
We expect this funding boost will have significant flow-on effects for both local jobs and our economy and we will continue to work with and support our local network of specialist businesses servicing and supplying the Antarctic program to ensure our strategically important Antarctic sector continues to grow.
