Australia Form National Space Agency

** Australia will set up its own space agency in an effort to bring in AUD $ 240 billion (Rp 2.502 trillion) from the aeronautics industry and create thousands of new jobs. **

Most developed countries have their own space agencies, including New Zealand. There is now concern that Australia does not take advantage of this emerging industry.

The Federal Government will explain the details of the plan at the 68th International Astronautics Congress in Adelaide. The opposition Labor Party will also reveal its own plans.

Industry Minister Michaelia Cash said the sector is growing rapidly globally so Australia needs to take part.

"A national space agency will ensure we have a long-term strategic plan that supports the development and application of aerospace technology as well as fostering a domestic space industry," he said.

"The agency will be a benchmark of our domestic coordination and the event for our international engagement," he explained.

The explanation from Senator Cash's office mentioned that feedback from industry reviews pointed to the need for a national space agency.

Separately astrophysicist Alan Duffy hopes the announcement will bring benefits to the number of Australian jobs in space.

"We have a long-term relationship with NASA, exploring space together and producing all this work, that's the essence of the government and Labor plan, this body that puts jobs first," he told ABC News Breakfast.

"The agency is designed to make satellites and the use of new images coming from the satellites.I do not mean bus-sized satellites like the 60s and 70s," he said.

"Thanks to smartphones, the toaster-sized rides have the same capabilities as those historic launches, so we can get into space more cheaply and we can do more while we're there," Duffy explained.

** Fortunately for South Australia **

The government has not announced where the space agency is located. But Senator Simon Birmingham of South Australia said the state would benefit.

"With unique geography, we can be confident that South Australia will be the centerpiece and the major beneficiary of growth related to the activity of the space agency," he said.

Last week, South Australian premier Jay Weatherill announced a space industry center in the state and hinted that the creation of a national body was imminent.

"We know that the space industry in this country and around the world grows about three times as much as the growth rate of other world economic industries," he said.

** The opposition supports **

The Labor Party on Monday announced plans to boost the Australian space industry twice over five years by establishing the Australian Space Agency and Science.

Opposition spokesman for science and research Kim Carr said the new agency would create thousands of new jobs in Australia.

To ABC he explained that the domestic industry has the skills and technology to make money in this multibillion dollar industry, but risks lagging behind other countries.

"We are dependent on other countries that can choose their own national interests well above our interests," Senator Carr said.

"We certainly need to be able to protect our domestic interests, need to build our industry capabilities and need to secure future work for Australia," he said.

Senator Carr welcomed the Government's announcement but said it was "too late". He called many people in the science community saying it was too late.

Leading scientists, including Australian-born astronaut Andrew Thomas, also called for the creation of a national space agency.

The space industry grows about 10 percent annually since the late 1990s.

Australia is significantly involved in space activities nationally and internationally. But a special agency will help the development of a cohesive space program and provide a stronger international collaboration platform.