The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties will hold a public hearing today for its inquiry examining an extension of the Australia-US scientific balloon agreement.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 18 July 2024

The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties will hold a public hearing today for its inquiry into the Exchange of Notes 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 16 February 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, Mr 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: 11.00 am–11.40 am 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. Media enquiries Katharine Longley, Office of Josh Wilson MP 0419 092 979 For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.