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:
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. 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.
