Australia's Antarctic research needs '100-year plan'

Vice-chancellor of the University of Tasmania Rufus Black said scientific work in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean had never been more crucial given climate challenges.

Australia needs a long-term plan for scientific research in Antarctica, Professor Rufus Black says. (Ethan James/AAP PHOTOS)

But he said Australia's capacity to deliver research was at risk due to disjointed funding and competing science and logistic interests.

"Ensuring appropriate resources ... is critical to Australia's stated national interests," Professor Black said.

"The way Antarctica might change as climate changes it, that really will fundamentally change the geopolitical significance of it.

"It may - we don't know whether its resources can be extracted - but in a very changed climate, it might.

"Australia should be playing the 100-year game, not the short-term five to 10-year game.

"We could be playing that game far better if we were able to have a more substantial science footprint."

Australia claims ownership of more than 42 per cent of Antarctica, with the federal government noting its role in the region is "more important than ever".

The nation's $528 million Antarctic icebreaker Nuyina, which is based in Hobart, conducts scientific work and re-supplies remote outposts.

Prof Black said the university, which had invested $160 million in Antarctic research across a decade, was advocating for a second ship to undertake more science.

Institute of Marine and Antarctic Science (IMAS) executive director Nicole Webster told the inquiry there had not been a dedicated science icebreaker voyage since 2017.

The $528m icebreaker Nuyina conducts scientific work and re-supplies remote outposts in Antarctica. (HANDOUT/AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC DIVISION)

The federal government in May announced an extra $17.6 million for the Nuyina to undertake more scientific trips, including a 60-day sailing to Denman Glacier.

Prof Webster said IMAS had been given $5 million a year for Antarctic science since 2019 but that had not been indexed across 30 years.

Head of the Australian Antarctic Division Emma Campbell said there was a lot of "pent up" science demand due to COVID-19 challenges.

"Nuyina was a year late in arriving," she said.

"We need to do work about (the) next 10 to 20 years of science voyages."

A senate inquiry in May called for Australia to adopt a two-ship model because it was not sustainable to rely on the same vessel for science and logistics.

Ms Campbell said the division had reduced the scope of requirements for upgrades at the Hobart wharf used by the Nuyina.

The federal government in June described an estimated price tag of more than $515 million across 30 years as exorbitant, placing the future of the ship's home under a cloud.

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water deputy secretary Sean Sullivan told the inquiry the federal government had been clear about its desire to keep Hobart the home of the Australian Antarctic Program but upgrade talks needed to move more quickly.

The federal government has pledged $290.5 million across five years from 2023/24 for the Australian Antarctic Program.