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Boaty McBoatface All Over Again? You Can Vote To Name A New Australian Government Boat

Boaty McBoatface All Over Again? You Can Vote To Name A New Australian Government Boat
50 years of Victory, on the way to the North Pole, Russian Arctic, July 2008.
Sue Flood via Getty Images
50 years of Victory, on the way to the North Pole, Russian Arctic, July 2008.

Remember Boaty McBoatface? When the United Kingdom's Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) opened up online suggestions from the public to name a new ship, the poll was hijacked by an internet joke that got waaaay out of hand.

Well, it might happen all over again in Australia.

The Turnbull government launched its Australian Antarctic Strategy and 20 Year Action Plan on Wednesday, committing $255 million of funding over the next ten years "to enhance Australia’s Antarctic logistics and science capabilities."

A big part of that funding will go toward "the acquisition of a world-class icebreaker for resupply and multi-disciplinary science," which Prime Minister Turnbull said was "the largest ever investment by Australia in our Antarctic program."

That all sounds great, right? Well, over to you, Environment Minister Greg Hunt...

A public poll! A public poll to name our new icebreaker boat! Oh Lordy Lordy Lordy... might we see 'Icy McIceFace'? 'Anty Mc AntarcticaFace'? 'Breaky McBreakFace'? Not if Greg Hunt has his way...

We'll just see about that, won't we.

For more information on the Antarctic plan, see Antarctica.gov.au.

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