Madeleine Ogilvie takes off on a space odyssey in a ’new frontier for law’

Space is hot real estate, and Tasmanian lawyer Madeleine Ogilvie is pushing for new treaties to protect the cosmic frontier.

LIFE after Tasmanian politics is expanding for Madeleine Ogilvie – by cosmic magnitudes.

The former Denison MP is using her background in law and technology to lobby for Tasmania to take a leading international role on the complex issue of legal rights in space.

She says space is being rapidly commercialised and international treaties need to be updated to keep pace with current intergalactic activity.

“Space is the new frontier for law,” she said.

The lawyer, who has a background in technology law and a passion for space, is expanding her expertise through a Masters in international law at the University of Tasmania.

“I’m looking at the need for a new international treaty regarding space and the commercial use of space technologies,” she said.

Ms Ogilvie wants Tasmania to take a pivotal role in any future treaty, because of the island’s expertise in terms of space and experience in negotiating similar international covenants concerning Antarctica.

“The international community has been somewhat complacent around the issue of the commercial use of space,” she said.

“But it’s time to grasp the nettle and bring together the key players: China, Russia, America, Japan, Europe and New Zealand.

“We need to have a conversation around space and have it in a safe place.

“Tasmania already has the runs on the board.”

Madeleine Ogilvie says there is complacency around the issue of the commercial use of space. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

The lawyer says Tasmania punches above its weight in terms of astrophysicists and astronomers, and she wants to ensure that wealth of knowledge is put to use by the newly created Australian Space Agency.

Push for Tasmania to get a slice of the action when the Australian Space Agency is set up

The Agency, which started operations last month, is consulting with the states and territories about their capabilities.

Agency head Megan Clark, who wants all states to play a role, met representatives from the Department of State Growth and the University of Tasmania last month.

The Federal Department of Industry, Innovation and Science says the Agency will spend the next three months consulting with states about how the organisation’s responsibilities will be spread around the nation.

“From the discussions to date, it is clear that there is a role to play for all states and territories in supporting Australia’s participation and interests in space,” a department spokesman said

Ms Ogilvie said now was the time for Tasmania to stand up and ensure the state’s capabilities were clearly articulated.

She said Tasmania, would be the perfect “safe place” for nations to discuss joint agreements about space, as the island already takes a leading role in similar discussions about Antarctica.

Hobart is already the host of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, which has 25 international members.

The international “Outer Space Treaty”, ratified in 1967, asserts that space is free for all nations to explore, and no country can claim ownership of space, planets or other celestial bodies. Space activities are also not intended for profit, but rather, the benefit of all people.

“The treaty basically says space travel should be for peaceful purpose and no one can own it,” Ms Ogilvie said.

“That worked very well in the 1960s, but technology has advanced and commercial activity has far outstripped the legal frameworks.”

Ms Ogilvie said countries were already developing the technology for extraterrestrial mining, but the issue of who actually owned the space resources needed discussion.

Indeed, the question of who owns space itself is becoming increasingly relevant as modern telecommunications rely on a plethora of satellites.

She said the SpaceX plan to launch thousands of small satellites into orbit, to create a truly world-wide broadband from space, showed the pressures on Earth’s corner of the galaxy.

Ms Ogilvie, who has worked in telecommunications for Telstra and worked in technology law in Silicon Valley, said the globe’s need for fast internet was making space a sought after territory.

But the law hadn’t kept up with the pace.

Tasmania first started working on space projects in the 1980s and continues to work with organisations such as NASA, SpaceX and the Japanese Space Agency.

Tasmania also has world-leading researchers in the area of space geodesy and improving the accuracy of Global Positioning Systems. Its unique position in the southern hemisphere also means Tasmania can track space activity that other nations can’t see.