While these satellites will be launched overseas, under international law the Australian government bears certain responsibilities. Australia is a signatory to five United Nations space treaties. The government's stated aim is to reflect in law Australia's obligations under the UN treaties, and to provide a legally certain and predictable environment for development and operation of Australian space launch facilities. Far from being inconvenienced by the legislation, some proponents of launch services in Australia also argued its need. Launches from Australia, and the return of any space object to Australia, require a launch permit or exemption certificate.
Australian organisations involved in overseas launches require an overseas launch certificate.
The return to Australia of overseas-launched space objects must also be authorised. Cartoon by Nick Goldie. For a launch, the liability period commences at the time of launch and continues for 30 days. For a return, the period commences with the re-entry maneuver and ends when the object has stopped on Earth. The legislation gives powers to a Launch Safety Officer, and an official investigator if a space object should cause an accident in Australia.