Gina Rinehart attends day seven of the Australian National Swimming Championships at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre in Sydney, Australia, on April 9, 2015. Matt King/Getty Images
Australian mining billionaire Gina Rinehart has suggested Queensland could host future SpaceX rocket launches, days after her company announced a $1.4 billion investment in the aerospace firm.
Speaking in Townsville, Rinehart said space industry development could create jobs and attract investment to northern Australia.
Asked what could help drive growth in the region, she pointed to the possibility of SpaceX operating from Queensland.
“All those beautiful deserted islands out there, wouldn’t it look wonderful with Elon arriving after having a few rockets built that launch the satellites, so that we can get connectivity?” she told Sky News.
“Imagine the tourist opportunity, but also imagine so many youngsters leaving uni (and) instead of having to go overseas for high skills, could actually learn and still be near their families.”
In a statement, Rinehart described SpaceX as a company operating in sectors with significant long-term potential.
“SpaceX stands apart as the only company globally building integrated hardware and software across its core segments of space, connectivity, and AI,” she said.
“This is a significant investment for Hancock and we are pleased to have received an allocation in what has been an extremely popular and oversubscribed initial public offering.”
Hancock Prospecting chief executive Gary Korte said the company also saw potential opportunities linked to its critical minerals investments.
“In the future, we also see the possibility of mutually beneficial arrangements between SpaceX and Hancock Prospecting’s significant critical minerals investments, as demand grows for the materials and infrastructure needed to support advanced technology,” he said.
The proposal follows comments by Musk in May indicating he could “possibly” be interested in establishing launch operations from Australian soil.
The billionaire founder and CEO only replied to the idea with a single word, which was put forth by social media commentator Drew Pavlou.
Pavlou had shared a list of international sites certified to meet United States International Traffic in Arms Regulations requirements.
Two Australian sites were included on the list—Cape York’s proposed space centre, and the dormant Arnhem Space Centre in the Northern Territory.
SpaceX also announced in May that it was looking into new locations to undertake launches.
Founded in 2002, SpaceX is an aerospace company that develops and launches reusable rockets to transport satellites and astronauts into space.
It also operates the Starlink satellite network, providing global internet coverage, and supports NASA missions including crew and cargo flights to the International Space Station.
