The $330 million marine research hub set to be established in Launceston will be an Australian first, its research director says.
On Tuesday, the Coalition announced that a Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre would be based at the AMC in Launceston. The CRC's purpose is to bring national marine industries together for research purposes.
The Coalition will contribute $70 million to the 10-year project, while $258 million will come from industry.
Blue Economy CRC research director Irene Penesis said the centre had 45 partners across Australia and around the world.
"To bring together the marine and seafood industries, to bring together the offshore engineering industries and the renewable energy industries ... to find ... solutions is a first time seen [initiative] in Australia," she said.
Associate Professor Penesis said it was the CRC's intention to build a "living laboratory" in an offshore environment in the last five years of the project, possibly on the North-West Coast.
Tasmanian Liberal Senator and Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Richard Colbeck said the centre "puts Tasmania ... at the leading edge of blue economy research".
Bass Labor incumbent Ross Hart, meanwhile, welcomed the announcement but downplayed the Coalition's involvement in the project, saying the CRC program was "independent".
"This is not a Liberal commitment," he said.
Tasmanian Greens Senator Nick McKim said the Liberals "cannot be taken seriously on science while they continue their climate denialism".
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Rob Inglis
Rob Inglis is a reporter with The Examiner, covering state and federal politics. He is based in Hobart.
Rob Inglis is a reporter with The Examiner, covering state and federal politics. He is based in Hobart.
