24 April 2024
Topics: Antarctic funding inquiry
E&OE
Senator Duniam:
We’ve come to the end of the public hearings for the Antarctic Inquiry relating to the funding for the Antarctic Division. And there are a great many troubling findings that I’m sure we’ll talk about in the committee report.
The fact that we don’t know how money is being spent, the fact that there is the lowest ever morale within the Antarctic science community, the fact that there are questions that remain unanswered about the operation of the Nuyina, the fact that when the Minister was informed of the $40 million overspend in the Antarctic Division, her office asked for no further action to be taken. There was no red flag or alarm bell ringing. Instead, hands off the wheel. This government have just let the AAD travel on – those who overspent by $40 million were allowed to go off and somehow mop up by some creative accounting.
All of the questions that have been asked, all of the concerns that have been raised by those in the Antarctic science community, in the Antarctic industries who support this great sector of our community have gone unanswered and there are many questions that we will be seeking answers for through this committee.
But at the end of the day, the lack of seriousness with which this issue has been taken makes me, as a Tasmanian, very concerned around whether this Government is serious about our role as a global leader when it comes to Antarctic science, whether they’re serious about Hobart remaining the gateway to the Antarctic for many western nations. Those things are big concerns and the Government have many questions they’ve left unanswered.
Journalist:
So what should the office of Minister Plibersek done when they found out that there was this $40 million plus overspend in the Division?
Senator Duniam:
The Department themselves have said that $40 million is an ‘extraordinary’ overrun in terms of this expenditure. I know that if I’d have been in Ms Plibersek’s position, I would have immediately sought an explanation as to how. I would have asked for immediate answers on how they intend to provide remedies for that. I’d be talking to the Prime Minister’s office and other ministerial colleagues that have responsibility for Antarctic science. I wouldn’t have just let it go. The officials told us today, given the sensitivities around our Antarctic funding and given the nature, the quantum of the overspend, that they thought they should bring it to the Minister’s attention. The fact that she and her office did nothing was an indictment on them. If they think this is ok, then they have serious questions to answer.
Journalist:
From your perspective, what’s the next stage after this morning?
Senator Duniam:
Well, obviously the committee will consider all of the evidence that’s been provided. We’ll look at the questions that remain unanswered, the concerns that have been raised by the Antarctic science community and the Antarctic industries, and we’ll put forward a report with recommendations around what we think, as a group of Parliamentarians, what actions should be taken. So we’ll be looking at all of that. As Tasmanians, whether you’re Liberal, Labor, Green, Independent, we want Tasmania to thrive as leader in the Antarctic science community. We think we need to be a leader in this region as well, and there’s a lot of geopolitical tensions of course around Antarctica. So we want to make sure that the recommendations that are put forward address those aims and aspirations. It really does come to the Government now about what they seriously want to do and that’s where the rubber hits the road, their response to those recommendations.
Journalist:
And in terms of consultation, how do you feel like that’s going down for the Antarctic Division? Do you feel like they’re open with the budget (inaudible)?
Senator Duniam:
Unfortunately, a lot of the questions, as I say, were left unanswered. We were left wanting for more information about specifically whether money was being spent as it was promised, whether the $804 million, the bulk of which was supposed to go on Antarctic science, whether that is in fact being spent on Antarctic science programs. We don’t know. There are a lot of wordy answers, but very little in the way of detail that actually satisfied our inquiries, and it frustrates me as a Member of Parliament to not be able to get answers on behalf of those who are reaching out. So, as I say, a lot of the questions remain unanswered. The Minister, if she’s serious about her job as a Minister with responsibility for the Antarctic, would instruct her officials to respond to those questions with detail, because this is not a political issue, this is something that is very much about Tasmania leading the way on and we want to back that in. Every member of this committee is of that view, regardless of their political persuasion.
Journalist:
What’s your reaction to what we heard in the committee, that there hasn’t been a Chief Scientist in place since the start of the year, in fact since the end of December, and that there won’t be a Chief Scientist in place in a permanent official capacity, only in an acting capacity for another six months potentially.
Senator Duniam:
And the key is potentially. We don’t know, given the first round of recruitment failed and they intend to repeat exactly the same process again hoping for a different outcome, whether we will get a Chief Scientist at the end of this, I assume, costly process. It is the beggar’s belief that in this community, the Antarctic science community, we cannot attract someone to come and work at an institution that we’ve all been told and believe is a world leader. It does, I think, go to the morale issues at the AAD. It does go to whether this government is taking seriously their funding commitments to Antarctic science. And so, they need to act post haste to attract someone good, someone who can do the role justice and lead in this respect. But if the Government can’t achieve this outcome, then we are in big trouble as a leader in this space. I just hope they can.
Journalist:
Another thing we heard was that there’s some contingency plans being put in place because of the industrial action that’s going on. What do you think about this potential of hiring another vessel to pick up expeditioners from Macquarie Island?
Senator Duniam:
The Nuyina and the inability to function as planned and as promised is very, very concerning. Of course, industrial relations related to a third-party contractor and its staff is something that is difficult for Government to control, but it is incumbent upon the Government to pressure their provider, Serco, to reach a resolution with the employees affected by this industrial action. I certainly hope that we can get that vessel, the Swiss Army Knife of the Seas as it was put to us once, to operate as it was promised. I mean, a billion dollars spent on a world leading, technologically advanced icebreaker, we should be deploying it as we were able to and if we can’t, then Serco need to come to the party, of course, and fit the bill for any supplementary arrangements we need to put in place.
Journalist:
Given that they are putting potentially a contingency plan in place, which could be costly, which could involve another vessel being contracted, does it highlight that that could be a possibility for having a second vessel available for resupply and using the Nuyina for more science voyages?
Senator Duniam:
I definitely think we should have all options on the table when it comes to ensuring that we are able to fulfill our scientific commitments, obligations and plans in Antarctica. If a way of doing that is freeing up the Nuyina by having secondary or supplementary shipping capacity for logistics and other needs, then that is something we should consider. The government should not rule that out. I’m sure this committee will probably make recommendations around that very issue, ensuring that we have appropriate resources to free up the Nuyina to do what it was designed to do – support world-leading Antarctic science. So of course, cost is always a question, but if we rule it out with without even looking at what it might cost, then that would be a fool’s errand and I think we should look at it very seriously.
Journalist:
And in terms of costing, you know that’s a pretty intense subject. How did that play out this morning?
Senator Duniam:
Well, as I mentioned before, the lack of transparency around the costs associated with the work of the AAD, how nearly a billion dollars of taxpayers money is being spent, remains unclear to us. And we’ve had hours and hours of questioning of officials from the Department of Environment and the Antarctic Division and we remain no wiser on exactly how nearly a billion dollars is being spent, whether certain agencies are still being contracted to do work that they were supposed to do, where the partnerships with agencies like Geoscience Australia are being fulfilled or maintained at the same level. All of this remains unclear. And when we have a lack of detail, a lack of transparency, well then I think there’s something to be hidden there and I hope the Minister steps in and demands that transparency is given. It’s what we’ll be asking for as a committee in our final report, I’m sure, but Tasmanians, Australians, the Antarctic science community, deserve no less and that’s what we’ll be pushing for.
Journalist:
And so just confirmation, no costings specifically on icebreakers?
Senator Duniam:
The funding for the icebreaker to be established is well known, of course. In terms of the blowouts in costs, it is unclear to us that how much the Government is going to have to foot the bill on any contingencies or supplementary arrangements. It could be in the millions of dollars. I expect it would be probably tens of millions of dollars if you’re looking at chartering vessels that have the capacity to sail into the Southern Ocean. You are looking at great cost. The government need to be transparent, they need to provide us with detail and they need to provide certainty to the Antarctic science community.