LABOR SENDS OUR SPACE INDUSTRY CRASHING BACK TO EARTH

Paul Fletcher MP

Shadow Minister for Science and the Arts

Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy

Manager of Opposition Business in the House

MEDIA RELEASE

LABOR SENDS OUR SPACE INDUSTRY CRASHING BACK TO EARTH

The Albanese Labor government is demonstrating an alarming neglect of our space industry – and the resulting policy and funding vacuum will put jobs and businesses at risk, particularly in South Australia, Shadow Minister for Science, the Hon. Paul Fletcher said today.

“In recent days the Australian space industry’s peak organisation has taken the extraordinary step of writing to its members calling out the Albanese Labor government and Minister Ed Husic for their failure to engage on space policy since the election,” Mr Fletcher said.

“This in turn is creating real uncertainty about the future of critical national space projects worth nearly $2.5bn announced by the Coalition Government, risking thousands of jobs,” Mr Fletcher said.

“It is extremely troubling that space industry representatives report they have had ‘no substantial engagement’ from any Ministerial office in Canberra.

“Australia is in a global race to capture space opportunities. The longer Labor dithers, the bigger the risk that the space industry momentum built under the previous Coalition Government will be lost – meaning that jobs and opportunities, as well as scientific benefits, will be lost to our international competitors.

“The Coalition is particularly concerned for South Australian industry and jobs given its status as our ‘Space HQ’. South Australia hosts the Australian Space Agency and attracted significant amounts of investment under the Coalition Government to develop our space capability and create jobs.

“Not one space industry representative was invited to the so-called Jobs and Skills summit, despite the sector employing more than 10,000 workers.

“Minister Husic needs to take our space industry seriously. He should meet with Australian space industry representatives, provide certainty for the pipeline of projects and investment the Coalition government set in motion and respond to industry concerns.

“The Coalition has a proud record of achievement on space policy including establishment of the Australian Space Agency to kick off the industry and launching the Australian Civil Space Strategy 2019-2028 outlining a plan to transform and grow it over 10 years.

“We backed the sector with more than $700 million worth of investment – leaving Australia well placed to take advantage of the commercial and scientific opportunities space offers.”

“But unless the new Labor Government dramatically lifts its game, all that could be at risk,” Mr Fletcher said.

Further information: Jack Abadee 0403 440 099