Antarctic research vessel Aurora Australis berthed in Hobart earlier this year. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES
TWO Hobart institutions that drive Antarctic, oceanographic and climate change research could be gone in 18 months.
Experts fear the closures could leave Hobart's world-class Antarctic and oceanographic research reputation in tatters and jeopardise future projects and international partnerships.
Federal Government funding for the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Co-operative Research Centre is due to run out in 2014 and the Integrated Marine Observing System as soon as next year.
Pressure is building on Prime Minister Julia Gillard to continue the funding but she has indicated there will be no more money.
The CRC initiates joint ventures involving organisations such as CSIRO, University of Tasmania and the Australian Antarctic Division as well as overseas institutes, to stage projects such as last month's successful Antarctic sea ice expedition on board Aurora Australis.
IMOS develops and operates hi-tech ocean monitoring devices such as Argo floats and disseminates the information that they generate. It subcontracts a lot of its work locally with CSIRO, UTAS and AAD.
Denison Independent MP Andrew Wilkie said in a year when climate change and its impact on ocean temperatures, ice melt and marine ecosystems has gained unprecedented global attention, he was getting unsatisfactory responses from Ms Gillard on Antarctic and ocean research funding.
"I've raised the need for certainty of funding for IMOS, Australian Antarctic Division and the CRC repeatedly with the Government," Mr Wilkie said.
Ms Gillard, in a letter to Mr Wilkie, indicated the Government did not intend to continue CRC funding beyond 2014, and she did not commit to funding IMOS.
"I am advised the CRC has developed a transition plan to address future research activities ... to continue beyond 2013-14," her letter said.
CRC chief executive Tony Press said such a transition would only be effective if there was ongoing funding.
Dr Press said at stake was:THE strong reputation that the CRC had built in international research circles.HOBART'S attraction as a place for researchers to gather and conduct antarctic and climate change research.HOBART'S capacity to train world class researchers.
Federal Greens leader Christine Milne said the CRC had succeeded in pulling together CSIRO, UTAS, AAD and institutes from countries such as Germany, NZ, China, France, United States and Japan to collaborate on projects that otherwise never would have been achieved.
Senator Milne said the CRC's influence had transformed Hobart into a world class research hub, capable of attracting extra brains and money from overseas.
IMOS director Tim Moltmann said funding from other sources should keep IMOS going until 2014.
IMOS, with $18 million in annual funding, supports about 50 Tasmanian jobs including researchers and engineers employed by UTAS and CSIRO. The CRC with $4.5 million annual funding supports 25.
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