Antarctica injects $186m into state

THE Antarctic sector contributed more than $185 million to Tasmania’s economy in the last financial year and offered more than 850 full-time jobs, according to a new report.

A report from Wells Economic Analysis commissioned by State Growth valued Antarctica’s contribution to Tasmania’s economy at $185.9 million, up from $180.6 million in 2015-16.

It made up 0.64 per cent of gross state product in both financial years.

Non-wage expenditure totalled $51.5 million.

Full-time equivalent positions within the sector rose by 100 to 855, though an excerpt from the Wells report provided to the Mercury said almost all the increase was attributed to a change in how associated private sector jobs were calculated.

“Had the 2017-18 figures been prepared using the 2015-16 approach, there would have been a slight increase in total Antarctic sector FTE employment over the past two years,” the report said.

The bulk of positions were in research (244 FTE), followed by technical, administration and other support (215 FTE) and expeditioners (129 FTE). Research positions had increased.

The average wage of people employed in the Antarctic sector was 107 per cent more than the Tasmanian average (more than double) and valued at $130,814 in 2017-18. The consultants attributed the high wages to the increase of highly paid researchers.

State Growth Minister Peter Gutwein welcomed the report.

“In total, the gross value added of Antarctic and Southern Ocean organisations and their private sector suppliers in Tasmania is currently worth more than $110 million a year,” Mr Gutwein said.

“The value of staff supporting the Australian Antarctic Division and Bureau of Meteorology is also substantial, with the report finding expeditioners and delegates spent around $6.5 million in 2017-18, with expeditioners spending a combined 7000 nights in Hobart.

“The results of the report illustrate the importance of the Antarctic sector to the Tasmanian economy.”