The Australian Greens are continuing to push for the white continent - Antarctica - to be protected as a World Heritage park.
Greens leader Bob Brown says Australia should take the lead in organising other Antarctic Treaty nations to support the heritage listing of the continent and its surrounding waters.
"The ALP went to the last election backing World Heritage protection for Antarctica but once it got into office it backflipped," Senator Brown said in a statement.
"Protecting Antarctica against mining is critical in the coming years as climate change may make the continent more accessible to countries that are not signatories to the treaty."
Senator Brown said the white continent was one of the world's last great wilderness areas "and meets all the values for heritage protection".
