If anyone needed another reason to oppose "democratic" government .. Too often it's embarrassing being an Australian. Bloody idiots in our "government". Welp, least we protectin' the bird poop and rocks from them Russkies, oh and our own Aussie scientists on board. As if Turnbull wasn't bad enough with his endless "subtlety" on the world stage. Obviously we must have invented foot in mouth syndrome. I'm unfortunately not unfamiliar with that one myself ... terminally Aussie condition it seems. Scientists not allowed to land on sub-Antarctic island http://tass.com/science/928791 "It was planned to make a landing the sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island, but, unfortunately, the Australian side did not issue the required permits, although scientists from this state actively participate in this expedition," said Alexander Makarov, the deputy head of Roshydromet’s Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute. "