State Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and Southern Ocean Policy
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The Tasmanian Government’s vision for participating in the growth of the state’s Antarctic community over the next three years is articulated in the 2004 State Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and Southern Ocean Policy. The Tasmanian Government also acknowledges the significant work that is already being initiated and completed by the private sector, research organisations and the community.
The policy focuses on areas in which the Tasmanian Government can play an active role. At the same time, the Tasmanian Government also recognises that a complex range of environmental, political, economic, academic and social objectives needs to be considered.
This policy is based on a detailed understanding of the various jurisdictions and responsibilities of the international and Commonwealth Government organisations that are based in Tasmania with Antarctic responsibilities. Within this context, the Tasmanian Government will achieve its three key objectives by adopting the principles of:
- Leading the development of the Antarctic sector in Tasmania
- Partnering with other governments and organisations to develop areas of mutual interest
- Supporting Tasmania’s Antarctic sector agencies and businesses in their Antarctic and cold climate endeavours.
The six priority areas identified in the policy provide a direction for Tasmanians to exert their influence in advancing the Antarctic sector in Tasmanian, Australian and international environments. The priority areas are:
- Information sharing and partnerships
- Logistics and provisioning
- Commercialisation of products and services
- Conservation and environmental management
- Education and training
- Cultural heritage and tourism.
The Tasmanian Government has a vision for Hobart and Tasmania to be recognised globally as the world's pre-eminent international gateway to the Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and Southern Ocean.
Tasmania aims to be known worldwide as an international centre of excellence for science activities in the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean, and to play host to a thriving community of scientists, engineers, artists, companies and administrators whose focus is beyond 40 degrees south.
Over the next three years, the Tasmanian Government will strive to:
1. Increase the size, diversity and economic contribution of Tasmania's Antarctic community to the state
2. Raise the profile of, and celebrate, Hobart's contemporary and historic links to the Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and Southern Ocean with Tasmanians and visitors to the State
3. Support endeavours to improve the understanding and management of the Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and Southern Ocean ecosystems.
This policy identifies seven strategies to enable the Tasmanian Government to achieve its key Antarctic objectives:
1. Lead and coordinate efforts to promote and brand Hobart and Tasmania as an internationally recognised Antarctic gateway and centre for Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and Southern Ocean climate and marine research, education, environmental management, tourism and logistics.
2. Continue to support Tasmania’s existing Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and Southern Ocean institutions, and lead efforts to increase the number of these institutions that use Hobart as a base for some or all of their operations.
3. Promote best practice environmental management in the Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and Southern Ocean, and work in partnership with the Australian and international communities to provide expertise in sustainable environmental management.
4. Lead efforts to increase the number of Tasmanian companies participating in the Tasmanian Antarctic sector and their capacity to supply specialist Antarctic, cold climate and temperate marine products and services to state-based Antarctic institutions and organisations based overseas.
5. Facilitate the development of infrastructure and support services to maximise the benefits to Tasmania from the implementation of the airlink from Hobart to Antarctica.
6. Establish educational pathways and raise community awareness of Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and Southern Ocean themes, and lead efforts to promote Hobart and Tasmania’s key cultural and heritage assets under the themes of: (1) humanity, (2) heritage, (3) living resources, (4) contemporary significance, and (5) Hobart as a pre-eminent gateway to the Antarctic.
7. Monitor advances and developments in Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and Southern Ocean logistics that have the potential for expanding sustainable tourism opportunities and for tourism operators to use Hobart a gateway to the Antarctic.
The government emphasises that cooperation and a coordinated approach is needed to achieve the vision, aims and objectives of this policy. The value of the policy will be determined by how successfully its strategies support Tasmania’s involvement in the Antarctic sector and maximise benefits for the State.
An Antarctic Policy Reporting Committee will be established to provide advice and progress reports to the Minister for Economic Development and Tourism. The committee will meet and report on a six-monthly basis. A final report on this policy will be submitted in March 2007.
Click here to view Tasmania's Antarctic, Sub-Antarctic and Southern Ocean Policy.
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