Today's Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) funding announcement is welcome but will be of little comfort to the Hobart-based Antarctic and Southern Ocean researchers that are still suffering a substantial reduction in government funding for their critical science programs.
As stated by Greens spokesperson for science, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson:
"Today's Antarctic funding announcement is welcome but can't be used to hide the fact that yet again scientists are facing funding cuts and imminent job losses at other critical Antarctic research programs like the Australia Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS) and at the CSIRO.
"Current funding for the ACEAS is $6.7m per annum which expires imminently. Despite lobbying for a long-term government commitment this critical cooperative research centre has only received $5m for two years - which will result in significant job losses.
"We still don't understand how many job losses will occur at the CSIRO in Tasmania, but we know the Environmental Research Unit (ERU) is facing the brunt of job cuts, which includes many oceans, climate, and nature-based researchers based in Hobart.
"Why is the Minister giving with one hand and taking with the other? Either you are committed to funding Antarctic and Southern Ocean science and research, or you are not.
"Disappointingly there still appears to be no long term, holistic plan for Antarctic science funding, with no sign of any details on Labor's long-promised decadal plan for Antarctic science funding and priorities.
"A well thought-through decadal plan for Antarctic science was a key recommendation of a recent Senate Inquiry into funding at the AAD. This decadal plan is again proving more elusive than the Scarlet Pimpernel.
"More short-term funding top-ups without a plan just won't cut it anymore for our Antarctic efforts, which require critical long-term government commitment.
"Antarctica is the heartbeat of our planet, and is facing significant challenges from a warming climate, primarily caused by the burning of fossil fuels. As Antarctica changes it presents significant risks to our planet, and our research efforts to better understand this are critical."
