'Staggeringly stupid': Federal government to cancel $7 billion satellite project

Space Industry Association of Australia former chief executive James Brown claims satellite communications are a "critical capability" of any defence force. The Federal government will cancel a $7 billion satellite communications system which was greenlit 18 months ago. The Australian newspaper has revealed the project will not go ahead due to insufficient defence funding. "This is a staggeringly stupid decision by the government – yet to be announced but all but confirmed," Mr Brown told Sky News Australia. "This is a critical capability for a defence force – without communications, you are not in the fight. "We are spending billions of dollars on a sophisticated data-enabled defence force that can provide security to Australians and now we won't be able to rely on our own satellite communications."