Space Centre Australia boss James Palmer (left) says it was a “no brainer” to ensure he and non-executive chairman and former prime minister Scott Morrison were in Weipa for the 2025 Western Cape Futures Symposium on 7-8 May. Photo: Supplied.
Bringing a former prime minister to Weipa to play a part in strategising about the region’s economic growth and sustainability was a “no brainer”, according to the boss of one of the companies aiming to transform Cape York into a space hub.
As planning for the 2025 Western Cape Futures Symposium continues, former PM Scott Morrison has been confirmed as a delegate and will be flying the flag for Space Centre Australia (SCA) in his new role as its non-executive board chairman.
SCA chief executive officer James Palmer told Cape York Weekly he and Mr Morrison would be front and centre at the 7-8 May event as elected leaders, business owners and other key stakeholders seek to plot a long-term path to prosperity for Weipa and western Cape York.
“We’ve both got a very genuine interest in being up there and continuing on with getting integrated with the communities,” he said.
“I walked this past him a few months back now and it was really a no brainer; he was really quite keen on attending – hopefully, it will help with really amplifying it and getting it the attention it deserves.”
Weipa Town Authority Chair Jaime Gane said organisers had welcomed the news Mr Morrison would be among attendees at the symposium, and agreed with Mr Palmer’s assessment of the impact it would have on the event’s profile.
“Having a former prime minister on the guest list definitely raises the profile of the event, and it will hopefully help to draw the attention of government,” she said.
“If the State Government are serious about their commitment to ‘a prosperous future for our regional communities’, we should see good representation from them at the symposium.
“This is the only event of its kind in the region, and it boasts unprecedented collaboration between all of the key stakeholder groups, with a focus on economic opportunities and the sustainability of our communities.”
At the time Cape York Weekly went to press, Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Dale Last, and Cook MP David Kempton were also confirmed attendees.
Minister Last said he recognised the role economic diversification would play in western Cape York’s future.
“The Crisafulli government recognises the significant contribution that western Cape communities deliver to Queensland’s economy, particularly through bauxite mining,” he said.
“Weipa has a strong future ahead, thanks to its skilled workforce and strong global demand for its resources.
“At the same time, we welcome conversations about broader economic development and diversification, and I am committed to ensuring regions like the western Cape are an attractive place for private investment.”
Mr Palmer said he believed the symposium would reinforce the region’s “strategic importance” and said genuine economic opportunities beyond the resources sector would be required to play a role in Weipa’s eventual normalisation.
“I think the Cape, that whole region, Weipa north and south, has a lot of real strategic importance in a lot of industry areas, and I think there needs to be a critical mass up that way,” he said.
“Not just what we’re doing with Space Centre Australia, but for the entire community – it will push the case for normalisation in Weipa.
“For us to be successful and to thrive, we really need to have strong and good capabilities within the entire community up that way, so we’re doing whatever we can to help promote that.”
