Lauren Davis
One giant leap for Australia as national space agency announced
Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham surprised attendees at the 2017 International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide by announcing the government’s plans to establish Australia’s very own space agency.
S
“An important issue the review was asked to
supports the development and application of space
look at was whether Australia should have a national
technologies and grows our domestic space industry.
space agency, and while there is more work to be
“The agency will be the anchor for our
done in this review … one point is overwhelmingly
domestic coordination and the front door for our international engagement.”
peaking at the congress, Birmingham
clear. The case for establishing the Australian space
made reference to the government’s review into an
agency is compelling, and so I am pleased today to
So exactly what will this news mean for Australia?
Australian space industry capability, which began
announce that the Australian Government will be
Dr Alan Duffy, a research fellow at Swinburne
in July. The review has been undertaken by an
establishing a national Australian space agency,”
University and one of the country’s most well-known
expert reference group chaired by former CSIRO
Birmingham said.
astronomers, said the announcement “marks a huge
chief Dr Megan Clark, which received almost 200
In a statement made later in the day, Acting
written submissions and conducted more than 400
Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science
consultations from Australian industry, government
Michaelia Cash said, “A national space agency
Dr Duffy noted that the space economy is worth
and society.
will ensure we have a strategic long-term plan that
$420 billion each year globally and $3–4 billion per
36 | LAB+LIFE SCIENTIST - Oct/Nov 2017
moment for Australia as we can finally explore and commercialise space together as a nation”.
www.LabOnline.com.au | www.LifeScientist.com.au