Page 2613 - Week 07 - Thursday, 1 August 2019
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NASA presented the trackers with a plaque that incorporated the Australian flag that had flown in outer space.
To ensure that the historical significance of the Honeysuckle Creek tracking station is not lost, the government has installed new signage. It commemorates the role of the station in the moon landing and, more broadly, in the Apollo missions, the Voyager and Pioneer journeys. The signs also celebrate the Ngunnawal people’s connection to country and the stars.
MS ORR: Minister, how is Canberra building on the leadership in space?
MR GENTLEMAN: It is an excellent question from Ms Orr. As I have said before, Canberra is the space capital; and we are. The moon landing anniversary highlighted our leadership 50 years ago. It also reminded us of the leadership that this government has taken in developing what has become the first space strategy from any state or territory. This helped to drive the national conversation in forming the Australian Space Agency.
Our leadership has also helped to further our city’s reputation in this important area, worth some $420 billion per annum globally. UNSW Canberra and ANU have significant and complementary space assets. There are local companies such as Geoplex and Geospatial Intelligence, along with significant space research organisations such as Geoscience Australia, CSIRO, the Space Environment Research Centre and the Deep Space Communication Complex.
Canberra also hosts multinational companies with major space capabilities, such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Airbus Defence and Space. More recently, a new cooperative research centre for smart satellite technologies and analytics was announced, with $110 million of committed cash funding.
As we reflect on 50 years since landing on the moon, we should be proud of the city’s leadership and work together to expand and create more jobs in this important sector.
Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders—Boomanulla Oval
MR HANSON: Coming back down to earth, Madam Speaker—
MADAM SPEAKER: Resume your seat, Mr Hanson. You have had a great lot of fun and made some snide undertone comments about the connection that Mr Gentleman had to this event. Fifty years we celebrated, and I am sure that you would have not had that amount of laughter if Margaret Reid had had the floor talking about her connection. You have the floor with your substantive question.
MR HANSON: Was that just commentary, Madam Speaker? What was that?
MADAM SPEAKER: It was asking you to behave during question time and to keep your comments in order.
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