Put those scientists on ice.
That's the federal government's literal response to a two-decade plan for Australia's Antarctic involvement.
Amid fears Australia was failing to meet its international obligations to carry out research on the frozen continent, Environment Minister Greg Hunt is now championing a "massive injection" into Antarctic research funding and capability.
"That's about getting bodies on the ice, getting world-class researchers out of Hobart doing extra science on the ice," he told reporters in Hobart on Friday.
The minister was releasing the 20 Year Australian Antarctic Strategic Plan and used the opportunity to highlight a $25 million funding package from Canberra earmarked for "big science".
But more dollars are always welcome and, in a submission made during the document's creation, Mr Hunt's department suggested Antarctic agencies turn to "crowd-sourced funding" for supplementary income.
"Government has a critical role but if there are activities which can generate additional income then we would be silly not to look at them," Mr Hunt said.
International universities, philanthropic bodies and even wildlife welfare groups could be on the radar.
"They might be able to provide funding for a specific type of research, whether it's into the health of some of the marine life, the health of some of the on-ice extraordinary life, the walrus population, penguins."
While the minister may have confused walrus - which are not native to Antarctica - with seals, he was clear not to have his proposed crowd-sourced funding model mistaken for a fundraising drive.
"To paint it as anything other than supplementary would be wrong," he said, insisting that the government would remain the primary sponsor of Antarctic research.
But Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre professor David Worby, who welcomed the report, said later that the community should not be relied upon for funding at any level.
"The questions we are trying to answer are far more important than having to rely on the good will of people who might want to throw (in) a dollar or two," he told reporters.
Report author and former head of the Australian Antarctic Division Tony Press, is pleased the government has moved quickly to address some of his high-priority recommendations.
This includes funding for a new ice breaker vessel, promoting Tasmania as a gateway to Antarctica, and an increase in Australia's scientific capability.
"There has been an historic decline in the expenditure of Antarctic affairs because of the death of a thousand cuts: efficiency dividends and no specific government action but the erosion of capability," Dr Press said.
"I think the government has taken some major steps in resolving those issues."
But the Australian Greens want a stronger funding commitment across the sciences and said government policy is harming some of the aims of the plan, including making Hobart an Antarctic research hub.
"Efficiency dividends and other cuts are killing the Antarctic and Southern Ocean programs," party leader Christine Milne said.
She called for the reversal of funding cuts to the CSIRO and Australian Antarctic Division.
The Australian Academy of Science made a submission to Dr Press outlining fears the nation's declining research efforts were risking its 42 per cent territorial claim in Antarctica.
On Friday, the academy welcomed the plan and urged the government to act quickly in support of its recommendations.
Canberra plans to spend a further $24 million on a collaboration between the CSIRO, AAD and University of Tasmania to drive the state as a gateway to Antarctica, including attracting more international research bases to Hobart.
AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC STRATEGY PLAN - Key Recommendations:
* Supply a new ice breaker vessel to replace the Aurora Australis
* Establish Hobart as the world's leading Antarctic gateway
* Modernise Australia's Antarctic stations
* Continue fisheries surveillance and enforcement operations
* Oppose mining and other mineral activities in Antarctica
* Review funding for the Australian Antarctic Division
