A public and industry-led campaign had previously been launched to implore the Australian government to partner with the European Space Agency (ESA) in sending Bennell-Pegg on an ESA space mission.
It’s understood that PM Albanese had previously received a formal offer earlier this year, with a deadline of four weeks, from the head of ESA with a cooperative agreement for a flight to space.
“She’s a great Australian and I think that all Australians are inspired by a great South Australian, indeed our Australian of the Year,” PM Albanese said during an Adelaide radio interview on 13 May.
“I think people will get behind it (and) I know there’s some private philanthropy behind it as well.
“What we’re doing as a government through our science minister, but also through foreign affairs, is having a word and more than a word; we are lobbying hard with the Europeans, which would be what it is a part of. And when Ursula von der Leyen was here, the head of the European Union, I certainly lobbied her hard to make sure that we can deliver a good outcome there.
“I want to see a positive outcome. But it’s something as well that had a very large price tag attached to it, and in a difficult budget it being solely Commonwealth-funded was something that would have presented a real challenge. But we’re working on it with the Europeans as well.”
Earlier this month, Bennell-Pegg was confirmed as a headline speaker for the Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference and Exhibition 2026 to be held in Perth, Western Australia.
The astronaut is expected to deliver a conference keynote focusing on the intersection of space and defence opportunities and the future of Australia’s space industry and workforce needs at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre from 26 to 28 May.
In addition, Bennell-Pegg will also address up to 1,000 school students as part of the conference’s Careers Day, sharing insights into her career journey and highlighting opportunities available through science, technology, engineering and mathematics pathways.
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