Australia's $528 million Antarctic icebreaker could be forced to find a new home after a federal government ultimatum over slated upgrades to its Hobart base.
Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has raised concerns about the proposed cost and "stalled negotiations" surrounding upgrades at Macquarie wharf six.
In a letter to Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff, Ms Plibersek said the wharf's development was a fundamental requirement of Hobart remaining the icebreaker's home.
She said the federal government was "increasingly concerned" negotiations were not progressing satisfactorily.
Ms Plibersek said the Liberal Tasmanian government enterprise TasPorts' proposed cost of more than $515 million over 30 years was not value for money.
"This is more than 14 times more than the Commonwealth currently pays and there have been no costings provided to back up this request," she said.
"The Australian government cannot accept that these are reasonable commercial terms."
Ms Plibersek said she wanted Hobart to remain the "gateway" to Antarctica, but called on Mr Rockliff to intervene, saying an agreement with TasPorts was currently impossible.
She said the federal government required a "revised pathway" to maintain the Port of Hobart as the home for the Australian Antarctic program.
Mr Rockliff told state parliament he would work through the issue sensibly but would continue to stand up to Canberra in Tasmania's interests.
State Labor leader Dean Winter said the lack of progress on the upgrades placed thousands of jobs and hundreds-of-millions of dollars of economic opportunity at risk.
"(Mr Rockliff's) answers to deflect and blame the Australian government are not good enough," he told state parliament on Thursday.
TasPorts CEO Anthony Donald slammed the "leak" of the letter, saying it contained misleading figures and was an example of the federal government avoiding commercial negotiations.
He said TasPorts was committed to Hobart remaining the Antarctic gateway and was ready to continue negotiations with the federal government and Australian Antarctic Division.
Mr Donald said TasPorts had been flexible to the changing requirements of the division.
"They have invested in a new, larger state-of-the-art vessel without planning for where it could be berthed," he said in a statement.
"We have been very clear about our concerns for the interim wharf asset, which cannot continue to safely provide an interim solution given it's deteriorating condition.
"It is misleading to attempt to compare what (the division) pays today for a wharf that is end-of-life, to the costs of a fit-for-purpose ... design with a dedicated facility."
A division spokeswoman said activities at wharf six were restricted because of its deteriorating condition and discussions about its ongoing use were continuing.
The icebreaker, named Nuyina, is currently unable to refuel in Hobart after testing revealed it could not safely pass under the city's main bridge.
It must instead travel to Burnie in Tasmania's northwest at a cost of $900,000 a year to taxpayers.
