-1 AUSTRALIA , L.
PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA TUESDAY 15 APRIL 1980
NATIONAL MARINE SCIENCE CENTRE FOR TASMANIA
The Commonwealth Government is to establish a Marine Science
Centre at a cost of about $ 25 million including $ 9 million
for a research vessel.
The decision follows a special examination by the Callaghan
Task Force.
The move involves:
tra.-s c t-he -omnonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Rearoh Organi_-_-ion ( CSIRO) Division of Fisheries and
Oce-ancgraphy a-present headquartered at Cronulla ( NSW)
where i occ-n1es land on lease from the State:
aczuisi'on cf a suitable site in Hobart and construction
of -e CSIRO ,__-ari-ne Science Laboratories:
construction of a multi-purpose oceanographic research
vessel able to range around the Australian continent.
The Centre is scheduled to be fully operational within the next
five to seven years, with initial funds being committed next
financial year.
This is in line with already-announced Government initiatives
to strengthen Commonwealth support for the fishing industryand
to upgrade oceanographic research following the declaration of
the 200 mile zone.
o -S
The Marine Science Centre together with the transfer of the
Antarctic Division of the Department of Science and the
Environment will constitute in Tasmania a research establishment
of international standing. As well as the purchase of a site,
and the construction of laboratories, it will involve the transfer
to Tasmania of 170 positions, with a significant effect on the
employment opportunities for the Tasmanian economy.
The decision marks another step in the progress that has been
made in Commonwealth assistance to Tasmania through the Callaghan
Task Force.
The enquiry into the structure of industry and the employment
situation in Tasmania was set up under Sir Bede Callaghan because
of the Government's concern for Tasmania's special problems and
because of the Government's commitment to meet these problems.
The decision to chocse Tasmania as the base from which to undertake
enhance.: research activ. ity in marine science work of national
signific.:. C is w--I--founded.
The exi_:-ig Cronulla site in inadequate, is 24 kilometres from
a deep--a:-er berth, is held on lease due to expire in 2001.
The Gover.-. ent drew cn any expert sources in determining the
site for : he Centre including:
0 the review of physical oceanography in Australia conducted
by Professor H. Charnock, FRS, of the University of
Southampton ( UK);
the report to me by the Australian Science and Technology
Council ( ASTEC) on marine sciences and technologies in
Australia; and 3
the Independent Inquiry into the CSIRO chaired by Professor
A. J. Birch.
As well-, the CSIRO Ocean Sciences Review Committee recommended
to the Executive that the present Division of Fisheries and
Oceanography be divided into two distinct research groups.
One group would be involved in physical, chemical and biological
oceanography, and ocean production programs. The other would
become a fisheries research group examining aspects such as
living resources, coastal ecology and physiological ecology.
The CSIRO will implement these new research directions progressively
as the marine Science Centre comes into operation.
The new Centre will also enhance co-operation between the
CSIRO an" the Antarctic Division of the Department of Science
and the Environment, As well as collaborative research with the
University of Tasw. ni.
The CS.? s other -rine science research laboratories at Marmion
near aa.: dr i Cle n near Brisbane will continue to operate.
000---