“It will also bestow rights to regulate marine scientific research and manage the marine environment.”

In 2008, the government announced the UN had expanded Australia’s jurisdiction over the continental shelf in nine of the 11 areas.

But issues dealing with Antarctica continue to be controversial. The 2003 submission contains several paragraphs blacked out on the grounds that their release could “cause damage to the security, defence or international relations” of Australia.

Australia claims 42 per cent of Antarctica or almost 5.9 million square kilometres. If it were a nation, it would be the seventh largest in the world.

However, the claim itself is only formally recognised by four other countries – New Zealand, Norway, Britain and France. Other nations that signed the 1959 Antarctica Treaty, which governs the whole continent, do not recognise the claims – including South Pole rivals the United States and Russia.

Cabinet noted that some countries might have had concerns about Australia’s submission, particularly concerning how it affected Antarctica, where mining remains banned.

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“There could in future be circumstances, however, when Australia would wish to exercise its sovereign rights over the continental shelf,” they said.

“For example, genetic resources might be discovered, the exploitation of which would not constitute mining. Australia may also use its rights to prevent others from exploiting the resources and disturbing the environment, reinforcing the object and purpose of the treaty ban.

“Should the Antarctic Treaty system break down, Antarctic resource issues will again be controversial and it will assist Australia to protect its underlying rights.”

Three years later, then-Nationals backbencher Barnaby Joyce – just returned from a month-long visit to Antarctica – said that given the gold, iron ore, coal and fish resources of the continent, mining should be considered.

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