Bridges SimonOUTER SPACE AND HIGH-ALTITUDE ACTIVITIES BILLSecond ReadingHon SIMON BRIDGES (Minister for Economic Development): I move That the Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Bill be now read a second time. The bill establishes a new law to govern space activities conducted from New Zealand and by New Zealand nationals offshore. It covers the launch of space objects such as rockets and satellites into outer space and regulates space launch facilities. It also engages a regime to govern certain high-altitude activities such as high-altitude balloons.People rely on space for everyday services like telecommunications high-speed internet navigation and place-based information climate monitoring and emergency management. The rapid evolution of space technologies is creating new opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship. Recognising the potential for significant economic and innovation benefits the purpose of the bill is to facilitate the development of a space industry whilst providing the necessary protections to manage the risks associated with space activities and to meet our international obligations.The best example so far of all of this is of course Rocket Lab a highly innovative space enterprise which has recognised that New Zealand is an attractive location for space business. Last month Rocket Lab launched its first test rocket on the Māhia Peninsula which was a major milestone in the development of New Zealand's space industry. It is the first visible sign of a space industry in New Zealand and is an achievement that Rocket Lab and all New Zealanders can be incredibly proud of. New Zealand is now one of 11 countries currently able to launch satellites into space from their own territory and the first to launch from a fully private orbital launch range. However the Government's interest in space is much broader than rocket launches. For example New Zealand has the potential to become a niche player in other parts of the global value chain in this area.On to the bill which establishes a licensing and permitting regime to enable New Zealand to authorise and have ongoing supervision of space activities conducted from New Zealand. The design of the regime has been informed by international space law and practice and by the experiences of other like-minded countries a number of which are in the process of reviewing their own space laws. Significant thought has gone into ensuring that the bill is flexible enough to deal with rapidly evolving technology and market demand. Equal importance has been placed on keeping compliance costs as low as possible. The lesson from overseas experience is that this is necessary to avoid stifling economic and innovative opportunities and to underpin New Zealand's advantage as a location for space activities.The bill achieves these objectives by establishing a decision-making framework that is risk-based and proportionate. It avoids unnecessary prescription by for example allowing the decision maker to tailor the conditions of licences and permits to provide a graduated approach to risk management rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The bill's regulation-making powers provide the necessary scope to deal with future technologies and applications. The bill also keeps compliance costs down by enabling the decision maker to recognise in whole or in part authorisations granted in other jurisdictions.Can I thank the members of the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee for their careful and constructive consideration of the bill. I also wish to thank those who took the time to make a submission on it. The committee's report includes many sensible recommendations that will help ensure that the bill achieves its objectives and will strengthen the functionality of the bill.One of these recommendations is clarifying the rules around the photography of space debris. The committee has recommended changes to the bill to make it clearer that a debris protection area can be declared at sites where a launch termination or accident has occurred but only if the Minister is satisfied that it is necessary to do so to comply with any international agreement in relation to the protection of sensitive space technology. The bill does not prevent the public viewing photographing or filming of space launches. These changes aim to balance the public's freedom of expression with the need to ensure that New Zealand can meet its international obligations to protect sensitive rocket technology. As I have already noted New Zealand has an opportunity to become the location of choice for commercial launch providers servicing a growing demand for small satellite launches.The projected growth in satellites in orbit is accompanied by increased concerns internationally about space debris. We read about that in the newspapers this morning. In recognition of this the bill elevates orbital debris mitigation to a threshold criterion for the granting of a licence giving it the same priority as public safety. This will ensure that the Minister can decline an application if he or she is not satisfied that adequate orbital debris mitigation measures are in place.I am confident that this bill provides a comprehensive basis for regulating space activities and managing risks balanced against the need to enable the development of a New Zealand - based space industry. I commend the bill to the House.