Price calls for Mid West Space Agency

The Federal Government has committed to establishing a national space agency to ensure Australia has a long-term plan to grow its domestic space industry.

Member for Durack Melissa Price has called for some or all of the new agency and capability to be placed in Geraldton, in the Mid West, where a number of large space projects currently exist.

“We have already demonstrated we have the capacity to support that industry here in the Mid West” Ms Price said.

“We already have the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project here in the radio quiet zone of the Murchison, a next generation mega telescope that will help us to uncover the mysteries of the universe.

“We also have the Harold Holt Naval Communications Station at Exmouth, the Universal Space Network ground station at Dongara, the European Space Agency Deep Space Earth Station at New Norcia, the Swedish Space Corporation Ground Station, 30kms north of Mingenew and the Australian Defence Space Communication Station at Kojarena, 30kms east of Geraldton.

“You would be hard pressed to find any region in Australia with as high a concentration of satellite ground stations, with as much expertise in the field, as is found in the Mid West.

“Any space agency the Government is looking at creating, in my opinion, should seriously consider using the industry expertise that is already available in this region.

“As a member of the Select Committee on Decentralization and Regional Development, we are looking at a number of possibilities of relocating Government Department to where they are most suited, and a space agency based in Geraldton makes a lot of sense” Ms Price said.

Acting Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said the establishment of a space agency is one of the key issues being examined by the Expert Reference Group appointed to review Australia’s space industry capability.

“The global space industry is growing rapidly and it’s crucial that Australia is part of this growth,” Minister Cash said.

“A national space agency will ensure we have a strategic long-term plan that supports the development and application of space technologies and grows our domestic space industry.”

“The agency will be the anchor for our domestic coordination and the front door for our international engagement.”

Former CSIRO Chief Dr Megan Clark is chairing the Reference Group, and its review is well advanced.

The Reference Group has sought views from across the country from industry, government and society, which will be used to inform our plan to expand this important and exciting sector.

The Reference Group has received almost 200 written submissions in response to its issues paper, and more than 400 people have been consulted through roundtables in each state and territory.

Meetings have also been held with key stakeholders, including the state and territory governments.

Feedback from the extensive consultation process has overwhelmingly shown the need for the establishment of a national space agency.

The Reference Group will now develop a charter for the space agency for inclusion in the wider strategy being brought forward by the end of March 2018.