EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Ordinance 2009 No. 1
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Home Affairs
Christmas Island Act 1958
Christmas Island Space Centre (APSC Proposal) Repeal Ordinance 2009
Subsection 9(1) of the Christmas Island Act 1958 (‘the Act’) provides that the Governor-General may make Ordinances for the peace, order and good government of Christmas Island.
The purpose of this Ordinance is to repeal the Christmas Island Space Centre (APSC Proposal) Ordinance 2001 (‘the 2001 Ordinance’).
The 2001 Ordinance arises from an approach to the Commonwealth from Soft Star Aerospace Pty Ltd (SSA - formerly Asia Pacific Space Centre Pty Ltd) in 1998 to establish a commercial space facility (‘the facility’) on Christmas Island. The purpose of the 2001 Ordinance is to enable SSA to make a proposal to the Minister responsible for Territories for the establishment of the facility.
Since the 2001 Ordinance came into effect, SSA have not provided a compliant proposal. Nor have SSA provided evidence of availability of funding or provision of security to establish the facility. In 2001 the Commonwealth offered a $100 million strategic investment incentive to assist the establishment of the facility. SSA were unable to meet the milestones required to access these funds resulting in the withdrawal of the offer in 2006.
The facility is not viable in its current form as cost estimates from SSA are well below that of comparable projects and there are major technology security issues.
Repealing the 2001 Ordinance provides certainty to the status of the facility and allows land proposed for the facility to be developed for alternative uses.
Details of the Ordinance are set out in the Attachment.
The Ordinance commenced on the day after it was registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.
The Ordinance is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
ATTACHMENT
Details of the Christmas Island Space Centre (APSC Proposal) Repeal Ordinance 2009
Section 1 – Name of Ordinance
Section 1 provides that the title of the Ordinance is the Christmas Island Space Centre (APSC Proposal) Repeal Ordinance 2009.
Section 2 – Commencement
Section 2 provides that the Ordinance will commence the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.
Section 3 – Repeal
Section 3 provides that the Christmas Island Space Centre (APSC Proposal) Ordinance 2001 is repealed.