The Labor Government's War on Space

I spoke in support of a motion to protect Australia's space program. The Albanese government's decision to terminate the national space mission for Earth observation (NISMO) is shortsighted and false economy.

Investment in a homegrown space program designing, building and launching satellites was a recommendation by the Australian Academy of Science in a 2022 report. Apart from the career opportunities and jobs the program would have offered, it also provided national security.

It would provide Australia with its own remote sensing capabilities and reduce sovereign risk. It would give us the ability to respond to emergencies and track bushfires, floods and extreme weather events.

Does PM Albanese not understand remote sensing?

The cancellation of NISMO follows last month's axing of the Australian Spaceports Program, which would have seen government funding assist the establishment of launch facilities on Australian soil.

This is not about saving money — we still need this capability somehow. It would be far better to have the capability under public control rather than relying on a patchwork of private and foreign suppliers.

Transcript: https://www.malcolmrobertsqld.com.au/the-labor-governments-war-on-space/