Australia and the US have reached in-principle agreement on a technology safeguards agreement (TSA).
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden announced the TSA on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Japan. The TSA will allow for the transfer of US space technology, including rockets and satellites, to be launched from Australia.
As the leaders’ statement between Prime Minister Albanese and President Biden said, “space collaboration is a rich opportunity to build high-skilled, well-paying jobs and increase investment between our countries.”
The TSA will help our domestic launch sector and spaceports to grow and is expected to create jobs in developing infrastructure to support US launch activities.
Head of the Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo said this is an important milestone.
“Having a TSA with the US is a vital step in continuing to grow Australia’s space sector,” Mr Palermo said.
“It will create commercial opportunities for our launch sector and send a signal to the global market that Australia is ‘open for launch’.
Australia is already a place that the world wants to launch from thanks to our geography and ability to access multiple orbits, wide open ranges, focus on responsible operations and trusted alliances to protect sensitive technologies – a TSA will cement that.”
More launches in Australia are also likely to reduce the cost of access to space through commercial efficiencies and experience. This will make Australia more attractive as a global launch hub and lead to more international launches in Australia.
Industries such as transport, hospitality, security, maintenance, operations and logistics will also benefit. Particularly in rural and remote areas where most launch facilities are located.
Australia and the US have worked closely together in negotiating this framework to provide the required protections for the US whilst acknowledging the commercial ambitions of Australia’s developing launch sector.
The TSA has been in negotiation since October 2021, with the Australian Space Agency leading efforts across the whole-of-government.
The TSA is subject to final domestic authorisations on both sides.