SA Premier would love to see KBP in space
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas on ABC News 24
Growing national momentum for an Australian astronaut mission has been reinforced by South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas backing the opportunity as both an inspiration and an economic imperative on ABC News 24 this morning
Speaking in the context of the global attention surrounding NASA’s Artemis II mission, Malinauskas highlighted the powerful role human spaceflight plays in capturing public imagination, and the opportunity for Australia to harness that momentum.
“[Artemis has] captured the world’s attention. It’s a source of inspiration and hope,” he said.
The Premier pointed to Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg, recently named Australian of the Year, as a uniquely powerful figure to drive that inspiration domestically.
“She is a superstar… I think she could be the greatest source of a good example about how to do that and why to do that [follow a career in STEM].”
Importantly, he confirmed there is a real and current opportunity before the Federal Government to enable Bennell-Pegg’s spaceflight, noting that Australia has a chance to create its own defining national moment in space.
“We would love to see her get into space. There is an opportunity before the federal government to do that.”
Beyond inspiration, Malinauskas framed the decision as a strategic economic one, emphasising the importance of the space sector to Australia’s future competitiveness.
“This is an industry that is growing. Australia should have its place in the world… we don’t want to be missing out on that growth opportunity.”
With global mission timelines advancing and international investment accelerating, the message is clear: Australia has both the capability and the opportunity, but the window to act is limited.
A mission for Katherine Bennell-Pegg would not only mark a historic first for Australia, but help anchor the nation in the rapidly expanding global space economy.