Families on the Ice may not be far off

Press, 24 May 1985, Page 6

Families on the Ice may not be far off

NZPA-AAP Hobart Australia is beginning to consider sending families to “colonise” Antarctica, following a lead set by South American nations. Apart from reinforcing Australia’s territorial claim, it could help to normalise life at Antarctic stations, a national legal conference in Hobart was told yesterday. Cautionary advice was given that the task could be much harder in the remote wilderness of the Australian Antarctic Territory, than it is on the relatively benign Antarctic Peninsula. Communities where there are births and marriages, and young children are

schooled, have already been set up on the peninsula by Chile and Argentina. According to Associate Professor of Law, Francis Auburn, of the University of Western Australia, such acts are clear attempts at reinforcing sovereignty. All territorial claims in Antarctica have been suspended since the signing in 1959 of the Antarctic Treaty, but in six years there will be a chance to review this treaty. Chile and Argentina have conflicting claims that centre on the peninsula, while in Australia’s case, the 42 per cent of the continent it claims has three Australian bases — and four Soviet.

“There is little doubt about the attitude of Chile and Argentina in sending families down,” Professor Auburn said. He told the annual conference of the Australasian Law Schools’ Association that bearing of babies, weddings and schooling all had a nbn-scientific purpose. “All these are clearly intended not as matters of research but to support sovereignty,” he said. The Antarctic Division’s director, Mr Jim Bleasel, said already Australia was moving towards “family starting” in Antarctica. “It’s happened to each of the other nations that have mixed sexes down there,” he said.