SHAPING A NATION’S SPACE POLICY: AUSTRALIA

Paper number

IAC-10,E3,1A,4,x6268

Author

Dr. Noel Siemon, The PC Users Group (ACT) Inc, Australia

Year

2010

Abstract

Over the past two years, public debate about space within Australia has led the Australian government to propose the creation of a new space policy.  This debate included a public enquiry by the Australian Senate into the current state of Australia's space science and industry sectors.  Following the Senate’s report, the Government initiated a process to create a space policy for Australia.  However, this is not the first time that an Australian Government has invited public consultation as a forerunner to developing a space policy and resultant strategy.
During the 1980s, the Australian Government commissioned the Australian Academy of technological Sciences to prepare a report on space science and technology in Australia. The resulting report, A Space Policy for Australia, influenced the government to create a space policy and establish an administrative office, the Australian Space Office, under the Australian Space Board, but did not lead to the establishment of a formal space agency. In less than six years, a plethora of consultancy reports again influenced the direction of Australian space strategy and this led to the replacement of the Space Board with a supporting Space Council.  Following a change of government in 1996, the Australian Space Office and Space Council were abolished.  This formal institutional arrangement was replaced by a small space unit within a government department.
The lack of long term consistency in Australia’s policy making and formal space institution structure has led to a long decline in Australia’s space capabilities and capacity.  This technological downturn has resulted in a fading acceptance within the international arena of Australia as a spacefaring nation. Australia now needs to rebuild its reputation within the international space community as a potential emerging space power.
This paper compares Australia’s past policy making approaches and the resultant space-related institutional structures to determine whether the current process  will provide a different (or new) perspective to space policy making and pave the way for a new space player in the Asia Pacific Region.

Abstract document

IAC-10,E3,1A,4,x6268.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-10.E3.1A.4.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.