29 April 2024
Topics: Antarctic funding inquiry
E&OE
Richard Perno:
It’s the end of the public hearings for the Antarctic inquiry relating to the funding for the Antarctic Division. Seems a remote piece of ice down the south of Tasmania. The man that’s been looking after this, the Shadow Minister for the Environment, Fisheries and Forestry, the Liberal Senator for Tasmania, Jonno Duniam. Any discoveries in the Antarctic at all, Jonno? Good morning. Anything like the Titanic, anything like that?
Senator Duniam:
Nothing that exciting or that would bring in the money that that pocket watch raked in. I’ll tell you what, I’ll stick to my Apple watch. It’s about all I can afford.
Richard Perno:
Yeah, mate, I don’t know whether this bloody thing actually worked. What do we get out of this? Do we get out of it for Tasmanians or is it for the rest of the country or is this the Liberal versus the Labor? Come on Jonno, cough up, what is it?
Senator Duniam:
Well look, I’m going to be square with you on this, and I’ll start with the fact that Antarctic policy is generally something that is not partisan. You’ll find with Tasmanian Members and Senators in the Federal Parliament, we’re generally on the same page and, for what it’s worth, we broadly are on this as well. You might remember this inquiry started off when it became apparent that there was a funding cut – $25 million being taken away from the Antarctic Division. We had a series of hearings where we spoke to scientists, we spoke to people who work in the Antarctic industry who build equipment we take down to the icy continent, but also we talked to government officials. And it became apparent that not only was there a funding cut, but we’ve seen a massive overspend of more than $40 million in one year in the Antarctic Division and no one could tell us how it happened or why it happened. And, more alarmingly, when Tanya Plibersek was told about it, instead of asking those questions, how on earth did we spend $40 million of taxpayers money and not have a way of accounting for it…
Richard Perno:
Woah, you said $25 million’s gone missing, and now we’ve got $40 million spent. Where’s it all gone? If I went down to the Antarctic, I got a plane or I got a boat from Launceston, I trekked down to Hobart, got on board the ice crusher, and went to the Antarctic, what would I see that was different or not there that I should be seeing? What’s gone on down there?
Senator Duniam:
Well, in fairness, a lot of the money, particularly the $40 million overspend, came about because the icebreaker wasn’t operating as it should have, it wasn’t able to run on the missions it was supposed to because of operational difficulties, mechanical issues, etc. These things happen, which is not acceptable when you’ve got a billion-dollar vessel but, you know, we are where we are and a lot of that money went into deploying secondary or supplementary vessels that were able to deal with some of the logistical issues that they were having. Now, the big, alarming thing though is they couldn’t tell, they weren’t keeping a track of their money, or your money, I should say. They weren’t able to account for it through the year and it wasn’t until the very end of the financial year they figured out instead of overspending a few dollars here or there, which sometimes happens in these budgets, it was over $40 million spent. Now, that is an alarming thing. Do we have anything to show for it? No, we really don’t.
Richard Perno:
Goodness me, Jonno, nothing?
Senator Duniam:
No, I mean has our places Tasmania, that is the Gateway to the Antarctic, been secured through this investment? No, I don’t believe it has. Is morale better amongst the scientists at the Antarctic Division? The evidence we heard is no. We lost our Chief Scientist. They went to market to employ a new one at the end of last year, nationwide, international search as well. Nothing. But they’re going back to market to see if they can find someone. It’s all very worrying.
Richard Perno:
Money, money, money. Alright now, Jonno, tell me in sixty seconds, what do we do now?
Senator Duniam:
Well, now this committee will provide recommendations to the Government through the Senate around how better to manage money, how better to ensure we get proper science being done, and how to ensure the Antarctic Division remains world leading and Tasmania remains the Gateway to the Antarctic. The Government now needs to adopt the recommendations when they’re handed to it and anything shorter that will be a failure.
Richard Perno:
Oh god, what a dog’s breakfast, Senator, isn’t it?
Senator Duniam:
Look, there will hopefully be good stuff coming down the track, but that’s why we have this committee – to get to the bottom of the problems that we’re having. Now look, this is the job of Government, they can fix these issues…
Richard Perno:
They can.
Senator Duniam:
They just have to look at the recommendations when they’re handed down.
Richard Perno:
Alright, leave it there for now. You keep on it, won’t you? I want to know where my money going. And it’s your money too. You’re paying tax, Jonno, you’re a Senator. But you’re our eyes and ears. You can get to the answers to these questions. It’s just ridiculous. It’s just an apparent loss of, if you like, integrity from our Fed Government. Thank you, Jonno, and stay in touch. Thank you.
Senator Duniam:
Take care, Richard. Thanks.