Labor's Antarctic plan is giving with one hand but taking with the other
Labor's Antarctic plan is giving with one hand but taking with the other | Australian Greens Skip to main content Search Get Involved Join Donate Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Get Involved Join Donate Search Our plan Toggle Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Toggle Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Toggle Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement Toggle About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Labor's Antarctic plan is giving with one hand but taking with the other 2025-12-11 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.
Lines attributable to 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." Facebook for the Australian Greens YouTube for the Australian Greens X for the Australian Greens Instagram for the Australian Greens Bluesky for the Australian Greens Privacy Members website Your safety Contact us Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action In your language 2025 policy platform Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Federal portfolios Federal media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Upcoming events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Green Magazine All news Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Members website State/territory parties Contact us The Greens acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.
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