A new national agency to assist Australian businesses win a greater share of the global space exploration market is to be established in the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.
Announced by the Minister for Jobs and Innovation, Senator Michaelia Cash, the Australian Space Agency will support the long-term development and application of space technologies, growing the domestic space industry and securing Australia’s place in the global space economy.
It will begin operations on 1 July
Senator Cash said Australia already had strong capability in space-related industries.
“We are world leaders in automated mining and precision agriculture, and we have immense expertise as an advanced manufacturing nation,” Senator Cash said.
She said the global space economy was growing at nearly 10 per cent a year, but Australia accounted for just 0.8 per cent of the total.
“We have a fantastic opportunity to triple the size of our domestic space industry to up to $12 billion by 2030 and create a new industry and jobs.”
She said the Agency is to be headed by former head of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Megan Clark.
The Minister said the Government had also released the Expert Reference Group Report, advising of Australia’s immense potential as a participant in the global space market, and the Government’s response, setting out its commitment to growing the space industry and creating more jobs.
The 86-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
