This is the free monthly meeting of the Space Association of Australia - all welcome!

NEW VENUE: Cinema Theatre (80.02.02), Building 80, Level 2, Room 2, Swanston Academic Building at RMIT University, 445 Swanston Street, Melbourne

NEW TIME: 6:30 - 9:00 pm

The meeting will be streamed live here and then made available on-demand via the Space Association's YouTube channel - SAA.TV.

Countdown to an Australian Space Agency

On 8 May 2018, as part of the 2018-19 Budget, the Australian Government announced the establishment of an Australian Space Agency with ongoing funding starting at $26 million over the next four years. The Agency will also be able to draw on a pool of $15 million, from 2019-20, to invest in specific international space projects which are considered to be beneficial to Australia.

• 2018-19 Budget Media release

On 14 May 2018, the Minister for Jobs and Innovation, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash released the Report on the Review of Australia’s Space Industry Capability and announced the Australian Government Response to the Review’s Report. Minister Cash also announced the appointment of Dr Megan Clark AC as the interim Head of the Australian Space Agency.

• View the media release
• View the response Australian Government response (PDF 339KB) 
• View the Expert Reference Panel Report Review of Australia’s space Industry Capability (PDF 3.1MB)

The Australian Space Agency will commence operations on 1 July 2018.

The Agency will have four core responsibilities:

• support the development of Australia’s space industry so that it can compete effectively in the global space sector
• coordinate domestic activities in Australia’s space sector
• engage closely with key stakeholders, including state and territory governments, to identify opportunities to harness industry advantages and create a globally competitive space industry in Australia
• facilitate international space engagement, both in policy and industry forums, to build the networks needed to develop Australia’s space capability and ensure our industry players can access global supply chains.

Source: Department of Industry, Innovation and Science