Alex Gallacher (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Pursuant to order, I present the report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee: Australia's future activities and responsibilities in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic waters together with the Hansard record of proceedings and documents presented to committee.

Ordered that the report be printed.

I move:

That the Senate take note of the report.

I am pleased to table this report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee into Australia's future activities and responsibilities in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic waters. The inquiry was referred to the committee in March 2014. We received 23 submissions and held public hearings in Hobart and Canberra in September 2014. In Hobart we visited the headquarters of the Australian Antarctic Division and toured both the AAD research and supply ship Aurora Australis and the new CSIRO marine research vessel the RV Investigator. These visits were very informative and the committee was extremely grateful to AAD and CSIRO staff who facilitated them for us.

In its inquiry the committee heard that Australia is a world leader in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic waters. We have a unique geographical proximity, we exercise an expansive sovereignty through our Antarctic and island territories, we are a major player in science and fisheries and, importantly, we are responsible under international law for search and rescue in a vast ocean area. Australia's leadership, however, is not assured. Interest and activity from other nations in Antarctica and its waters is growing at a time when Australian investment in personnel, science and operations is declining. Scientists have discovered that the Southern Ocean plays a major role in predicting and influencing climate change in Australia and globally, but our capacity to undertake research is diminishing, and our world-best expertise is at risk of being lost. Australian authorities are trying to counter an increasing threat from illegal fishing and the impact the growing Antarctic tourism has on search and rescue demands with inadequate maritime resources for patrol in response. After a significant victory in the International Court of Justice earlier this year against Japan's lethal whaling Australia's planned response to the threat of its resumption is unclear.

Meeting all these demands is difficult and is also expensive, however, it is clear to the committee that significant Australian interests are at stake. In short, the committee believes that the continued Australian leadership in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic waters is worth the investment. The government should place importance on our interests in the area and restore the resources necessary to support them.

The committee's report offers 18 practical recommendations to protect and promote Australia's key interests in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic waters. These include: that the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service be tasked to recommence regular maritime patrols in the Southern Ocean, which it has not done since 2012, starting with at least 240-day patrols in each of the next two financial years; that the government commits to continued funding for the Southern Ocean research partnership, an Australian-led international initiative on non-lethal whale research, and invites Japan to join the program; that Antarctic and Southern Ocean science be appropriately supported into the future through long-term assured funding linked to national priorities with a comprehensive review of the budget of the Australian Antarctic Division, recognising its special needs as recommended in the recently released 20 year Australian Antarctic strategic plan; that steps be taken to ensure that the RV Investigator is able to be used to its full potential by spending 300 days per year at sea; that an interagency review of Australia's marine assets be undertaken, with consideration of a national fleet approach to make better use of them, and the potential acquisition of new patrol capacity suitable for the Southern Ocean; and the continued pursuit of a dedicated Commonwealth-Tasmania strategy to maximise Hobart's potential as an international Antarctic gateway. Finally, the committee has recommended the creation of an Australian Antarctic and Southern Ocean ambassador. That person would draw much needed attention and support to Australia's interests to our south as well as providing a focal point for coordinating whole-of-government policy and international engagement in this area.

The committee was impressed by the passion and commitment shown by the many people we met who work in various ways in the Southern Ocean and in Antarctica. Their work is challenging and often goes unnoticed, but is extremely valuable to Australia and represents a sector of national excellence of which we should be very proud. The committee hopes this report will help to highlight the importance of that work and to ensure that it attracts support needed to remain an Australian flagship into the future.