Environment Budget Overview 2005-06
Environment and Heritage Portfolio
New environment-related spending 2005-06 Budget
- Environment and Heritage portfolio expenditure
- Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio environment-related expenditure
- Other environment-related expenditure
The new environment-related spending in the Howard Government's 2005-06 Budget is outlined in Table 1.3. These amounts build upon previous environment expenditure levels, and continue the Government's practical and focused approach to sustainability.
Environment and Heritage portfolio expenditure
- Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities
- Regional marine planning
- Hydrogen fuel depots and buses
- Launceston's air quality
- Used oil recycling
- National recycling telephone hotline
- Green Stamp programme
- Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme
- National Pollutant Inventory
- Wildlife Programme and Biodiversity Conservation Responsibilities
- St Mary's Cathedral and the Church of St Mary's Star of the Sea
- National Heritage Investment Initiative
- Photovoltaic Rebate Programme
- Australia-Antarctic Airlink
- Townsville Aquarium Reef Headquarters
Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities (CERF)
Sound policy must be based on sound science, and the 2005-06 Budget includes $100 million from 2005-06 to 2009-10 inclusive to improve Australia's capacity to understand and respond to priority environment concerns. The CERF will support research to inform environmental public policy objectives in a range of critical areas and draw on multiple disciplines, professional partnerships and existing research efforts.
Under this programme, $40 million will be provided over five years for a Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility for research relating to the Great Barrier Reef, tropical rainforests and coastal issues. Sixty million dollars will be allocated through national funding rounds from July 2006 for high quality research.
Regional marine planning - extension of funding
Australia's marine industries generate more than $30 billion annually. The development of regional marine plans helps improve our understanding of the biodiversity of the marine environment and the economic potential of Australia's oceans. Marine planning has already made great contributions to science and vastly increased our knowledge of the marine environment.
In 2005–06, the Government will continue to provide annual funding of $9.4 million for the implementation of regional marine planning, while reviewing this programme to determine future funding. This will enable DEH to progress the regional marine plan for Northern Australia, including the Torres Strait, initiate the gathering of marine science information in South-Western Australia, and to continue implementation of the South-East Regional Marine Plan.
Hydrogen fuel depots and buses - scoping study
The Government will provide $1 million over three years for a scoping study into developing hydrogen fuel depots and buses in Australian capital cities. This measure will involve funding of $300,000 in 2005-06, $400,000 in 200607 and $300,000 in 2007-08. The costs will be funded through a reprioritisation of existing resources in the Alternative Fuels Conversion Programme.
Subject to the findings of the scoping study, the Government will provide funding of up to $66 million between 2007-08 and 2011-12 as a contribution to the costs of developing hydrogen fuel transport and infrastructure. The cost of this component of the measure will be met from existing resources within the Environment and Heritage portfolio.
Launceston's air quality
As indicated in its election statement Strengthening Tasmania's Economy and Building a Better Community , the Australian Government will provide $1 million over three years to improve air quality in Launceston. Air quality in the Tamar Valley region of Tasmania continues to fail the national air quality standard for particles by a substantial margin, and there is strong evidence that links exposure to wood-smoke particles with serious health effects, including increased mortality and respiratory illnesses.
The measure will aim for industry agreement to invest in cleaner technologies through such financial incentives as co-funding to replace polluting wood-fired technologies with cleaner-burning alternatives, maintaining the momentum of the highly successful Launceston Wood-Heater Replacement Programme.
Used oil recycling - uptake of technologies
The Government will provide $2 million (including $700,000 in 2004-05) over three years to develop and promote the uptake of technologies to ensure the recycling of used oil. This measure delivers the Australian Government's 2004 election commitment to develop and promote the uptake of technologies such as hydrogenation to ensure used oil can be reused as lubricant rather than burned as alternative fuel for industry.
This will provide the used oil collection and recycling industry with a sustained outlet for collected used oil, ensure that Australia diversifies its re-refining capacity for lubricating oil from a single plant to two plants, and add significantly to the volume of re-refined oil.
National recycling telephone hotline
In its 2004 election statement A Sustainable Australia - Recycling Rewards , the Australian Government committed to fund the development of a national recycling telephone hotline to enable the public to find information on the types of waste that can be recycled in their local areas. In the 2005-06 Budget the Government will provide $300,000 over three years to deliver this commitment by working with Planet Ark (building on their ‘Recycling Near You' web based service), local government and recyclers.
The hotline will complement a range of national programmes concerning the recovery and recycling of consumer goods and packaging, such as the National Packaging Covenant and proposed schemes to recycle tyres and televisions.
Green Stamp programme - extension
Green Stamp is a programme to encourage recycling by businesses involved in the automotive trades. It has been in place for nearly three years and funding supports staff in the Western Australia Motor Traders Association to undertake environmental audits of individual businesses, develop improvement plans and accredit businesses.
The Government will provide $900,000 over three years to deliver its 2004 election commitment to extend the Green Stamp programme nationally to encourage recycling in the automotive retail industry, while reducing its resource and energy use and the use of toxic materials.
Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme
In the 2005-06 Budget the Government has decided to implement a five-yearly Water Efficiency Labelling Standards (WELS) Scheme registration fee. This fee will be raised by DEH to provide a viable long-term funding platform for the regulatory oversight and administration of the WELS scheme. The scheme requires a range of water-using appliances to carry an efficiency label and covers domestic washing machines, dishwashers, showers, toilets, certain types of taps, and urinals.
Consumers are expected to reap cost savings of approximately $600 million by 2021 due to the energy and water savings delivered through the WELS scheme. Water consumption could be reduced by around 87 million litres (ML) per annum by 2021, with water savings over the interim period totalling about 610,000 ML - greater than the volume of Sydney Harbour.
National Pollutant Inventory - continuation
The Government will provide $5.2 million over four years to upgrade and continue the operation of the National Pollutant Inventory (NPI), an Internet database that maintains information on the types and amounts of pollutants emitted and the possible health and environmental effects of these emissions. The NPI aims to protect the atmosphere and improve the sustainability of human settlements by providing information to improve environmental planning and management practices.
Under the National Environment Protection Council Act 1994 , the Commonwealth has a statutory obligation to implement the National Environment Protection Measure for the National Pollutant Inventory. The NPI also provides essential information for State of the Environment reporting, as required under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
Wildlife Programme and Biodiversity Conservation Responsibilities
Invasive species can have devastating impacts on our native flora and fauna. In the 2005-06 Budget the Government will provide $2.4 million over four years to extend existing activities that build expertise and capability both within Australia and with Australia's near neighbours to recognise and deal with introduced and native wildlife at the border.
The programme implements the Government's commitment to stronger border protection to minimise establishment of invasive species, and supports its objective of building regional partnerships. It aims to regulate the import and export of wildlife and wildlife products in accordance with Australia's obligations under international conventions and legislative obligations, and implements risk assessment requirements for the import of live species in accordance with the EPBC Act.
St Mary's Cathedral and the Church of St Mary's Star of the Sea - restoration
Churches and cathedrals have long been at the centre of community life in Australia. In 2005-06 the Government will provide $3 million to St Mary's Cathedral in Perth and $2 million to St Mary's Star of the Sea Church in Melbourne to undertake conservation and restoration works.
National Heritage Investment Initiative
In the last Parliament, the Government amended the EPBC Act to strengthen protection of the nation's heritage. Included in the amendments was the establishment of a National Heritage List of places that have outstanding heritage value to the nation.
Over 2005-06 and 2008-09 $10.5 million will be provided under a new National Heritage Investment Initiative. The Initiative will provide financial incentives to restore and conserve Australia's most important historic heritage. Priority will be given to places included in the National Heritage List.
Photovoltaic Rebate Programme - extension
Photovoltaic (PV) technology is an important element in meeting the increasing electricity demands of future housing while lowering the greenhouse intensity of our economy. PV technology is already commercial in a growing number of niche markets. Market barriers must be overcome and costs reduced to bring about widespread uptake of PV technology in grid-connected residential systems.
The Government has committed supplementation of $11.4 million over the next two years to extend the PV Rebate Programme to support smaller manufacturers, distributors and installers of PV systems and continue developing the PV market until the Solar Cities and Advanced Energy Storage Technology initiatives impact on the removal of PV market barriers.
Australia-Antarctic Airlink
The Australian Government is committed to an efficient and effective research programme in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. The Government will provide $46.3 million over the next four years to lease a long-range Bombardier Global Express intercontinental jet aircraft and provide additional resourcing for an Australian inter-continental air link. This service, which will be based in Hobart, will provide air passenger access to and from Antarctica in support of Australia's Antarctic programme, and also has the potential to provide a surveillance platform for the protection of Australia's assets in the Southern Ocean.
Townsville Aquarium Reef Headquarters - continuation
The Townsville Aquarium is the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's (GBRMPA) principal education tool, facilitating community understanding of the Marine Park and critical issues affecting the health and status of the Great Barrier Reef. The aquarium houses the world's largest living coral reef aquarium and is widely recognised as an important asset for North Queensland tourism.
Although the Aquarium operates on a primarily commercial basis, recovering over 80 per cent of its operating costs from self-generated revenue, ongoing funding is required to meet any operating cost shortfalls.
The Government will re-allocate $550,000 per annum to meet these costs and ensure that community service obligations are met.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio environment-related expenditure
- Southern Blue-fin Tuna
- Protection of Australia's Southern Ocean waters and resources
- Joint Government Enterprise - 'Water for Rivers'
Southern Blue-fin Tuna
Australia is committed to the long-term sustainable management of the global southern blue-fin tuna stock. The Government will provide $3 million from 2005-06 to 2007-08 as Australia's contribution to membership of the Commission for the Conservation of Southern Blue-fin Tuna (CCSBT) and to CCSBT's Scientific Research Programme. These funds will assist the CCSBT to ensure the conservation and optimum utilisation of Southern Blue-fin Tuna.
Protection of Australia's Southern Ocean waters and resources
The Government will provide the Australian Fisheries Management Authority with supplementation of $10.1 million from 2006-07 to 2008-09 to continue its efforts, in conjunction with armed patrols conducted by the Australian Customs Service, to protect Australia's Southern Ocean waters and resources. This programme is designed to protect Australia's sovereign interests, including our exclusive economic zone, in the Southern Ocean.
Joint Government Enterprise - 'Water for Rivers'
In the 2004-05 Budget, the Government provided $7.5 million per annum to DAFF to fund the establishment and operation of a joint government enterprise, 'Water for Rivers'. This joint enterprise of the Australian, New South Wales and Victorian Governments seeks to achieve environmental flows of up to 212 gigalitres in the Snowy River and up to 70 gigalitres in the River Murray by 2012. The joint enterprise will fund a range of measures to recover water for environmental flows.
Other environment-related expenditure
- Continued funding for the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
- National return and disposal of unwanted medicines
- Additional funding for Southern Oceans Surveillance
- New Survey of Natural Resource Management
Continued funding for the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
(Department of Health and Ageing - OGTR)
The Australian Government will continue to meet the challenges of protecting human health and the environment from the risks that may be posed by gene technology by providing $32 million over four years to fund the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator.
The Gene Technology Regulator is responsible for assessing the applications from organisations within Australia to use gene technology in everything from research projects through to commercial applications. Approvals are only granted after a thorough scientific assessment by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator to identify the risks of the proposal and whether they can be managed.
Gene technology is a controversial new technology and one that requires a strong and effective regulatory system that has the community's confidence.
There are currently 147 organisations across Australia that have been accredited to use gene technology. Some of these organisations are conducting leading edge medical research. Although much of this work has no immediate commercial application, it contributes to maintaining an internationally competitive scientific knowledge base that will ultimately benefit the Australian community.
National return and disposal of unwanted medicines
(Department of Health and Ageing)
The Government has provided funding to National Return of Unwanted Medicines Limited to conduct the National Medicines Disposal Program. This important initiative aims to reduce accidental poisoning of children, medication misuse and release of toxins into the environment, by collecting and disposing of expired and unwanted medicines. The programme will receive $6.3 million over four years, an increase of $1.5 million.
Additional funding for Southern Oceans Surveillance
(Australian Customs Service)
The Government is providing supplementation of $120.9 million from 2006–07 to 2008–09 to continue surveillance of Australia's Southern Oceans to protect the integrity of Australia's national border. Specifically, the establishment of a surveillance and enforcement capability against illegal fishing activity in Australia's (EEZ) at Heard Island and the McDonald Islands (HIMI) will protect Australian sovereignty and environmental values in the region and the continued operation of a sustainable Australian fishing industry. The proposal provides a visible deterrent against illegal fishers entering and operating in the HIMI EEZ.
New Survey of Natural Resource Management
(Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS))
The ABS will be given $3.3 million over four years to conduct a new biennial Natural Resource Management Survey (NRM Survey). The NRM Survey will provide regional (statistical division) estimates of the main land and water management activities undertaken by Australia's farmers. Topics planned for the survey include: weed management; use of efficient irrigation techniques; the management of native vegetation and degraded areas; as well as the factors that affect the ability of farmers to manage the environment. The information from the survey will enable improved monitoring and evaluation of investments made under the Natural Heritage Trust, the National Action Plan and the National Water Initiative as well as supporting State of the Environment reporting.
Budget statements
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