Exclusive: Decision comes after Guardian Australia revealed Australian Antarctic Division planned to cancel or delay science projects
The impact of budget pressures at the division will be examined by a senate inquiry in early October. Confidential sessions will be available for scientists and public servants who are concerned about publicly criticising the division.
In a submission to the inquiry, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water said the budget pressure was largely due to “the known lapsing budget measure to support the commissioning of the RSV Nuyina”. The submission implies the division had committed to projects it could not afford.
Since the list of affected projects was revealed, many scientists have raised concerns. Prof Alexander Babanin and Dr Joey Voermans of the University of Melbourne told the inquiry there was an “urgent” need to understand the impact of the climate crisis in the region.
Dr Stuart Corney, a senior lecturer at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, has told the inquiry that cutting Southern Ocean research would “diminish our international reputation for excellence in science”. “It is the equivalent of removing the canary from the coalmine as it starts to choke due to a lack of breathable air.”
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