Former prime minister Scott Morrison says he is “thrilled” to join Space Centre Australia and chief executive officer James Palmer as the company’s non-executive chairman as it pushes to build a spaceport on Cape York. Photo: Supplied.
The appointment of a former prime minister to the board and signing of a global memorandum of understanding (MOU) have put the possibility of a spaceport being established on western Cape York a giant leap closer, according to the chief executive officer of Space Centre Australia (SCA).
The road to building a spaceport in the northernmost part of the state has been a bumpy one for SCA and boss James Palmer, with tenure, approvals and funding the consistent hurdles to making the ambitious plan a reality.
But Mr Palmer said things were now looking up for the project after last month’s signing of the MOU and announcement former PM Scott Morrison had taken on the non-executive chairman role on the SCA board.
The MOU supports a plan for eight companies, including SCA, to construct eight spaceports on five continents and establish a forum to “explore potential strategic collaboration in a range of areas of common interest and introduce a dialogue on establishing international spaceport standards”.
“This MOU represents a significant step forward in the development of global spaceport operations,” Mr Palmer said.
“This collaboration will help ensure that spaceports worldwide operate with greater efficiency and care, ultimately leading to more reliable and sustainable outcomes for the entire space industry; through these partnerships, we are also opening the door to shared innovations that will drive continued progress in this rapidly evolving sector.”
SCA and Mr Palmer came under fire in late 2023 after another one of his businesses, Palm Branch Group, was liquidated.
The scrutiny does not appear to have diminished the former PM’s appetite to come aboard, with Mr Morrison saying he was “thrilled” to join the SCA team.
“I’m thrilled to be taking on this new role with the team at SCA as they implement their plans to become not just the premier permanent spaceport with the most comprehensive launch service offering in Australia, but a leading player in the space launch sector globally,” he said.
“I believe SCA will present a unique offering to global investors, providing both exposure to the fast growing global space sector, while providing the stability and durability associated with a traditional infrastructure investment.”
Of the MOU, Mr Morrison said it would be critical to recognising the impact the space sector could have on the economic prosperity of the region and Australia.
“It … provides a platform for the sector to authoritatively engage with the regulatory, defence and security agencies of government, as space becomes an increasingly important item on the strategic agenda of global political leaders,” he said.
“Such engagement will be vital to realising the extraordinary potential of the space sector.”
Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch, who said in 2023 he had “started as a sceptic and I’m now an absolute disciple” about the project, told Cape York Weekly he had not been given a recent update on the project but said the appointment of Mr Morrison gave it more credibility.
“I haven’t had an update on where they are with it at the moment, but I’ve got no reason to believe it’s not going to continue,” he said.
“Scott (Morrison) told me he was going to take a role on and he’s been actively involved, so he’s been ticking the boxes.
“Is it going to happen? I hope so.
The Leichhardt MP added he believed the unique nature of the spaceport project represented the type of commercial diversification Cape York required to plot a sustainable future independent of mining.
“What he’s proposing is exactly what we need in relation to diversification [on Cape York],” Mr Entsch said.
“The fact he’s got a former prime minister gives it a lot more credibility as well.
“If it goes ahead, I think we’re all going to benefit from it.”
In another boost for SCA’s ambition, sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT announced late last month it had a contract with Mr Palmer’s company to deliver two high-performance air surveillance radar – next generation systems (ASR-NG), along with a 20-year sustainment plan, with the deal estimated to be worth around $30 million.
Under the contract terms, HENSOLDT will deliver the two ASR-NG radars by the end of 2026, with sustainment services starting in 2027.
While there has not been any detail around the siting of the systems, Mr Morrison hinted one could be located on Cape York.
“The establishment of SCA’s spaceport in Cape York will not just provide the infrastructure needed to make Australia a leading nation in the global space industry, but it will importantly and significantly enhance Australia’s surveillance and aviation domain management capabilities in remote Northern Australia,” the former PM said.
Space Centre Australia CEO James Palmer (right) and former prime minister and SCA non-executive chairman Scott Morrison (centre) join HENSOLDT stakeholders to inspect one of the air surveillance radar – next generation systems following last month’s contract signing. Photo: Supplied.
