ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
Australia will be the next nation to space, the Prime Minister announced in Canberra this morning, telling reporters that Australia will have a base on the Moon by 2035.
The Moon is an untapped resource and Australia will use both public and private investment to be the first nation on Earth to mine minerals and precious metals on our celestial friend.
“The Australian Government will build a base on the moon to mine it, securing the future of potentially the next hundred or so generations of Australians,” said Anthony Albanese today.
“We will design and build our own Australian-made rockets. We will work in partnership with great Australian companies such as Rio Tinto, BHP, Hancock Prospecting and Fortescue to make this vision a reality in the next 11 years,”
“Six sites have been earmarked for the base. We propose to build the first four by 2035 with the others coming on line later by 2040. Please refer to your one-page handout. We’ll now be taking questions.”
A reporter from the ABC got the first go.
“How much will those cost the Australian taxpayer?” they asked.
The Prime Minister shrugged.
“Not sure but it’ll cost a fair bit you’d think. That’s not important right now. What is important is that we have the electoral panache to announce such large nation building projects. While the Opposition only wants to talk about building 1960s technology, we’re trying to build a sustainable future for the next hundred or so years.”
Another reporter, this one from a Nine Entertainment Co newspaper, got to go next.
“Can Australians get the chance to name the bases via a survey?” they asked.
Albo nodded.
“Well, the first base will be called Basey McBaseface. The others will be named in consultation with the traditional owners.”
More to come.
