The Australian Space Agency is set to receive A$41m ($30m) of initial funding from the country’s federal government.

The fund has been allocated in the new 2018-19 federal budget. It includes A$26m ($19m) for the establishment of a national space agency, as well as A$15m ($11m) for strategic space projects that will generate employment and business opportunities for Australian citizens.

Australian Space Agency is responsible for developing the country’s space industry, with operations scheduled to begin in July this year.