Phillip Law Lecture

Of Close and Immediate Concern: Australia and the Antarctic Treaty System.

The Antarctic Treaty and the Antarctic Treaty System, have provided a framework for governance of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean for over sixty years.

Negotiated amid the geopolitical tensions of the Cold War, the past seven decades have continued to present various internal and external challenges to the Antarctic Treaty and Treaty Systems. Australia has played a key role in critical moments to help sustain and revitalise the system, balancing the maintenance of national interests and cooperation between Antarctic states.

This presentation explores Australia’s engagement within the Antarctic Treaty System during a new period of geopolitical tension and heightened national interests – where Antarctica and the Southern Ocean remain “of close and immediate concern”.

Marcus Haward is an Emeritus Professor in the Oceans and Cryosphere Centre at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, and a Program Leader in the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre. Marcus is also a member of the Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania and an Honorary Professor at the Centre for Policy Futures at the University of Queensland. Marcus has been a member of Australian delegations to CCAMLR and the ATCM and has published widely on Antarctic governance.

FREE EVENT. BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL