The icebreaker RSV Aurora Australis may be leaving Australia forever. 

Designed and built in Australia, the AA served Australia's Antarctic Program for 30 years before being retired in March 2020. During this time she transported millions of tonnes of cargo and thousands of expeditioners. Important scientific research has been conducted on board. The Aurora Australis has been critical to the success of Australia in Antarctica.

Her history is made up of the stories of thousands of Australians, from those who built her, to her crew and those who travelled on board to and from the adventure of their lives.

The Aurora Australis is viewed with great affection by all Australians but particularly the people of Hobart, her home port, where she is a familiar and well-loved sight. The prospect of a permanent ship museum has been well received there.

A new group, the Aurora Australis Foundation, seeks to purchase and preserve the ship in Hobart as a museum to Australian achievements in Antarctica. This museum would include accommodation, function and conference facilities and a maritime training centre.

However the owners P&O Maritime are seeking to sell the ship overseas, and a sale may be imminent.

The RSV Aurora Australis is the only Australian designed, built and crewed ship to serve the Antarctic Program, and the longest-serving ship to do so. She represents a significant part of Australia's Antarctic and maritime heritage and must not be lost to Australia and Australians.

We call upon the Tasmanian State Government and the Federal Government to stop the Aurora Australis leaving Australia, and to consider her heritage value as well as her value as an economic stimulus to the Tasmanian tourism sector.