Treaties Committee to examine extension of Australia-US scientific balloon agreement

THE Joint Standing Committee on Treaties will hold a public hearing today for its inquiry to extend the Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America to Amend and Extend the Agreement concerning the Conduct of Scientific Balloon Flights for Civil Research Purposes of February 16, 2006.

The treaty action concerns the extension of a 2002 agreement between the Australian and US Governments which would allow the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to continue conducting scientific balloon experiments in Alice Springs.

Committee Chair, Josh Wilson MP, said, "The extension of this agreement would continue the long-standing and mutually beneficial relationship between the Australian and US Governments. NASA’s collaboration with Australia on space-related activities has contributed more than $1 billion to the local economy.

"The existing facilities established by NASA in Alice Springs aid research into matters related to black holes, quasars, and atmospheric and environmental science. Australian scientists directly benefit from these experiments, with the agreement ensuring that Australia is entitled to receive any data from the experiments."

The Committee will hear from officials from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the University of New South Wales, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

More information about the Committee and its inquiry can be found on the Committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday 18 July 2024
Time: 11am–11.40am
Location: Committee Room 1R4

The hearing can be accessed online and the program for this hearing is available on the Committee website, along with further information about the inquiry.

 

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