GRAEME GOODINGS: There's no question South Australia boasts a rich history. At the forefront of Australia's national and in fact, international space efforts dates back to the nation's first rocket launches back in the 1950s. In more recent times, it's now home to the Australian Space Agency, the Australian Space Discovery Centre, the Australian Mission Control Centre, a forthcoming assembly, integration and test facility, and the Southern Hemisphere's largest commercial rocket testing site. And we have major innovation precincts like Lot Fourteen, et cetera, et cetera. Well, now a major investment by the Federal Government to tell us about it is Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic. Minister, good morning to you.

ED HUSIC, MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY AND SCIENCE: Hi, Graeme. How are you?

GRAEME GOODINGS: Look really well. Thanks. Good on you. Yeah. $25 million. How's it going to be spent?

ED HUSIC: Well, I'm here actually at Lot Fourteen as we speak. At Myriota's headquarters, they've done some phenomenal work in the development of technology supporting nano-satellites and on-ground sensors that's really useful for farmers or miners or defence personnel keeping tabs on people and equipment. Through the National Reconstruction Fund, we're backing Myriota's advanced manufacturing capability with a $25 million investment. And so what that'll mean is that they can expand their production of all the material that goes into those nano-satellites, improve the production of the chips that really drive effectively the beating heart and brains of a lot of this equipment. And especially important for South Australia, they're going to grow 100 extra jobs, which is really important, but for what it does for the country's advanced manufacturing capabilities, it speaks volumes. And it's really good to be able to back Myriota in this way.

GRAEME GOODINGS: South Australia is certainly at the forefront, as I said, of space and technology. Why do you think that's so?

ED HUSIC: Well, I think there's just a really good intersection of, in terms of research and the universities here, the way the industry has set up, the geography and the ability for, in some cases, launch activity, the heritage with Woomera. There's a whole mix of great ingredients and the key for us is to make sure that the capital is there, that we can have things like the National Reconstruction Fund attract other sources of private capital, which has happened in this case because it's joining 25 million of private capital as well, and to be able to make sure that great ideas can be developed onshore and that they don't have to leave Australia to get ahead. So, if you can have all those factors that I mentioned earlier in response to your question, plus the capital to help things grow, you can continue to see that happening well into the future.

GRAEME GOODINGS: This investment in Myriota creates significant benefits for regional Australians, but does it have any international significance?

ED HUSIC: I think it's got great export opportunity as well, because the type of things that Myriota is helping Australians with can be helped and put to work in similar circumstances on any other country on the planet. For example, if you've got one of those nano-satellites that is able to connect with a water sensor or a water sensor, for instance, in a remote location, you can ensure that your equipment is still working the way it is. Or if it looks like it might be heading to a malfunction, you're able to, instead of physically continually having to inspect, you can do that stuff remotely. And the other big thing that Myriota is doing is do it at less cost. Myriota has been able to drastically reduce the cost of being able to access satellite communication. So, for again, for farmers that want to be able to have sensors or miners that don't want to be forking out huge amounts of money for satellite communications and get their job done much more easier without physically having to do inspections, or be present to keep tabs on equipment. I mean, this is really hugely important for a lot of people, both here, but also in other countries that can use the technology in a similar way.

GRAEME GOODINGS: The investment seems really well placed when you consider how important it is. We have a vast country, remote areas, and something like this, you know, couldn't have come at a better time.

ED HUSIC: Yeah, I think so. And I think the thing that I'm often worried about or concerned about, Graeme, is Australians feeling like they're just not getting backing for their ideas and their know-how and that the only way that they can get ahead is to leave our country. We don't want that. We've got to be able to build our advanced manufacturing capability. Countries that make things are really important because they also make really solid, well paying jobs in the process. And for us, as the world depends a lot more on digital communications and technology more broadly, the Australians are developing this in our country, creating jobs and export opportunity. This is a phenomenally good thing for our nation longer term. And with the National Reconstruction Fund, it's doing exactly what it should be doing, making that money available to back Australian know-how. Ultimately, I think if I can just end on this point, we've got to be able to back our own ideas better. We don't have to think that someone else's idea from some other part of the world is better than our own. We have Australians that are doing phenomenal things. I've seen it here in Myriota in Adelaide and I think we can do more of it on a national scale.

GRAEME GOODINGS: It's great news that 100 highly skilled jobs will be created. But do we have the IQ, the intellect, do we have the people with the training or do they need to be trained up?

ED HUSIC: Yes, well, I think that's a good question because that is a constant thing you've got to work on in our case, obviously. You asked me earlier about why South Australia is doing so well in space activity. It's because it's got people that are trained up here and it's attracting others as well from different parts of the country. And so I've visited different firms here that have had people from my neck of the woods in Sydney turn up here in Adelaide because they're attracted to the work. So, developing the skills through universities, also through TAFEs as well, will be important. We've also reformed our National Innovation Visa. Just recently we announced changes to it to make it easier for firms that are chasing global talent to help them become even stronger here in Australia. Being able to - I think the two ingredients, Graeme, that are crucial for firms like this are being able to have access to the money when they're ready to grow and have access to skilled people that will drive that growth as well. You can have the money, but if you haven't got people to do the work, it's an issue. So, being able to reform the way we train people up and the way we bring people in to work with them and to have the money to develop the technology, those are crucial ingredients.

GRAEME GOODINGS: Well, Minister, great to have you in town. Enjoy your Christmas and New Year.

ED HUSIC: Thank you to you. Same to you, Graeme, and to all the listeners as well.

GRAEME GOODINGS: Ed Husic. Minister for Industry and Science, on a $25 million benefit for the South Australian company Myriota. Delivering intelligence on the real world field based conditions through remote sensing all over my head like a hairnet. But it sounds good, doesn't it, that it's being done here in South Australia. We have the critical mass now, there's no question about that. We lead the nation when it comes to science and technology in that respect and that's why the money is coming here and that's why the jobs will be critical.