THE Abbott government will seek to recoup an estimated $2.4 million for the rescue of 52 climate scientists, tourists and journalists from a ship which got stuck in pack ice in Antarctica.
The rescue, by the icebreaker Aurora Australis, blew the Australian Antarctic Division's contingency budget and set back its scientific program.
In Hobart today, Environment Minister Greg Hunt suggested those aboard the trapped Russian ship Akademik Shokalskiy had contributed to its predicament, and the government would seek to recover the costs of the rescue.
"There has been significant disruption to the Australian Antarctic program because of the actions of those on board and in particular, the fact that the ship was frozen in and, I think we have a duty on behalf of taxpayers that we seek full cost recovery,'' he said.
"There are some questions as to whether or not the ship was detained by those on board within an area the captain identified would be subject to being frozen in.
