Tasmania's role as Australia's Antarctic gateway took centre stage this week as representatives from all three levels of government joined leading Antarctic and Southern Ocean scientists at Parliament House to explore Why Antarctica matters to Tasmania.
Hosted by the Tasmanian Deputy Premier, The Hon Guy Barnett MP, the lunch-time event brought together Federal and State parliamentarians, local government leaders, and scientific experts from the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science (ACEAS) and the Australian Antarctic Program Partnership (AAPP) based at the University of Tasmania (UTAS).
ACEAS Director, Professor Matt King, said he was delighted the event would be attended by more than 30 elected representatives and officials from across the political spectrum.
"It's encouraging to see leaders from across government coming together to learn about and support our critical work," Professor King said.
"Few places on Earth are more important to Tasmania's climate and environment than Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. The science we do from Hobart helps us understand extreme weather, protect our coasts, and prepare for a changing future," he said.
"Rather than the bottom of the world at the edge of the map, Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are actually central to the global climate system and how the planet works.
"So when climate-related changes in the Antarctic environment start to shift currents and winds, the impacts ripple out to shape life in Tasmania and beyond - from rainfall patterns and bushfire risk to coastal change, sea-level rise, agriculture and our climate future."
"For example, research shows that bushfire severity on Tasmania's East Coast increases up to ten-fold when the winds circling Antarctica shift northward," Professor King said.
AAPP leader, Professor Delphine Lannuzel, said the conversations between scientists, parliamentarians and advisers over lunch showcased Tasmania's research strengths and reinforced the state's global reputation as a centre of Antarctic and Southern Ocean expertise.
"Our researchers, institutions and world-class facilities are enabling discoveries that matter for every community across our state. Events like this play a vital role in translating fundamental scientific discoveries into policy‑relevant knowledge that supports and informs decision makers," Professor Lannuzel said.
Cover image: Pack ice with tabular iceberg
in Antarctica. Credit: Mark Horstman
