The Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) welcomes the investments outlined in this week’s Federal budget that will improve Australian satellite earth observation capability to benefit critical Australian industries and support Australia’s national interests. 

The FY24-25 Federal Budget reflects a significant reliance on Australian space capability. 

Key announcements across the maritime, critical minerals and emergency and disaster management sectors require sophisticated space capability. 

Satellite communications, earth observation and ground segment are central to the delivery of the intent and spirit of programs identified in the Federal Budget. 

SIAA supports the prioritisation of innovation, science and digital capabilities as part of the Government’s Future Made in Australia. 

The announcement to establish Australia’s partnership with the United States on the next generation of the Landsat satellite earth observation program (LandSat Next) is a welcome opportunity for the Australian space sector. 

LandSat Next will positively impact Australia’s primary industries of critical minerals and agriculture by providing critical earth observation data, with opportunities for direct participation from the Australian space industry. 

SIAA notes that the tender for the LandSat Next spacecraft is expected to be released later this year, and we are confident that this will open opportunities for Australian companies within the delivery of the project across the supply chain. 

Space companies will also have a critical role to play in Geoscience Australia’s mapping of Australia’s national groundwater systems and resource endowments. 

SIAA notes the extension for the Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service from 2024-25 and additional funding for the Eastern VAST service in 2023-24 and welcomes the government’s ongoing investment in satellite capability across a range of applications. 

SIAA welcomes the Government’s ongoing prioritisation of the South-East Asia and Indo-Pacific region as outlined across this Federal Budget. 

SIAA is pursuing strong engagements with regional space agencies across South-East Asia and the Indo-Pacific in accordance with these priorities. 

A prioritisation of South-East Asia is particularly relevant to SIAA, who will host the world’s largest space conference, the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), in Sydney in 2025. SIAA is actively engaging with our regional partners to showcase space capability across Australia and our region to the international space sector. We also support the Federal Budget’s focus on bilateral partnerships between Australia and France and support these commitments. 

The budget outlines a range of workforce programs that have applications for the Australian space sector and SIAA welcomes the announcements. 

SIAA will continue to engage with the government to support the space sector’s engagement across these initiatives. 

These initiatives will help support the ongoing development of enhanced pathways for Australians to participate in the space sector and increase Australia’s STEM workforce more broadly. 

SIAA understands that there is no change to the funding allocated to the Australian Space Agency’s current programmes and that the adjustment of some funding is in accordance with the changing time frame of some of the Australian Space Agency’s programmes. 

SIAA continues to work closely with the Government and the Australian Space Agency in support of space programmes to support and develop Australia’s capability. 

SIAA Executive Chairman Jeremy Hallett is available for further comment. 

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ABOUT SIAA: 

The Space Industry of Australia is the national peak body for the space industry in Australia. Formed in 1992, SIAA hosted the 2017 International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide which led to the establishment of the Australian Space Agency in 2018. SIAA and its member companies work closely with Australian governments, international partners, academia, and industry to advance Australia’s space industry and economy. In 2025, SIAA will host the 76th International Astronautical Congress in Sydney. 

SIAA welcomes the investments outlined in the Federal Budget