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Portfolio budget statements

Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2005–06

Environment and Heritage Portfolio
Explanation of Additional Estimates 2005-06
ISSN 1448-9058 (Online)

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Agency Additional Estimates Statements: Department of the Environment and Heritage (continued)

SECTION 2: REVISIONS TO AGENCY OUTCOMES

Outcomes, Administered Items and Departmental Outputs

OUTCOME 1

The environment, especially those aspects that are matters of national environmental significance, is protected and conserved.

OUTPUT COST ATTRIBUTION

Direct costs incurred by the Department of the Environment and Heritage (DEH), including salaries, suppliers and grants, are coded directly to appropriate activities within DEH's financial management information system. The individual activities are subsequently attributed to agency outputs based upon established and regularly reviewed parameters, which match the activities of individual cost centres to relevant outputs.

DEH’s overheads and activities that cut across all outputs, such as State of the Environment Reporting, are attributed to outputs in accordance with the most appropriate and sound basis of allocation that can be consistently and logically applied. In implementing the Budget Estimates and Framework Review, DEH changed the method for the allocation of corporate overheads. For Outcome 1 (Environment), corporate overheads are allocated to outputs based on the number of ‘work points’ (essentially work stations) occupied by staff and for Outcome 2 (Antarctic) by activity.

EXPLANATION OF VARIATIONS

Variations to Departmental Output Appropriation

T he departmental outputs appropriation has been increased through Appropriation Bill (No.3) 2005–06 by $6.593m represented by the following:

Additional funding of $8.841m over four years has been provided for the implementation of the 2004 Government Election Policy – A Sustainable Future for Tasmania to add 43,200 hectares of private forest to the current Tasmanian reserve system.  The Departmental output forward estimates have been increased by $2.222m in 2005-06, $2.635 in 2006-07, $2.539 in 2007-08 and $1.445m in 2008-09.

The Government will provide DEH with additional funding of $1.966m in 2005-06 for administrative costs associated with the management of the package including for relationship and financial counselling services to be delivered by the Department of Family and Community Services and the Regional Partnerships Programme delivered by the Department of Transport and Regional Services. $28.460m will be provided through the administered appropriations in 2005-06.

Additional funding of $2m over two years has been provided for the implementation of the 2004 Government Election Policy – A Sustainable Future for Tasmania to help accelerate research to find a cure for Tasmanian Devil facial tumour disease. The Departmental output forward estimates have been increased by $1.005m in 2005-06 and $0.995 in 2006-07.

Additional funding of $1m over two years has been provided for the implementation of the 2004 Government Election Policy – A Sustainable Future for Tasmania to study the chemical residues from farming and forestry practices in Tasmanian river catchments. The Departmental output forward estimates have been increased by $0.507m in 2005-06 and $0.493m in 2006-07.

Additional funding of $1m over two years has been provided for the implementation of the 2004 Government Election Policy – A Sustainable Future for Tasmania to assist the development of the Tarkine bush walk and enhance access to the Tarkine area. The Departmental output forward estimates have been increased by $0.505m in 2005-06 and $0.495m in 2006-07.

In 2004-05, funds relating to wildlife protection import and export fees were collected and paid into the Official Public Account. The outputs appropriation increase in 2005-06 of $0.208m retrospectively reimburses DEH for the fees collected in 2004-05.

Additional funding of $0.092m over two years has been provided for the implementation of the 2004 Government Election Policy – A Sustainable Future for Tasmania to improve visitor facilities in forest areas of Tasmania, focusing on the new reserves created as part of the Regional Forest Agreement Supplementary Agreement. The Departmental output forward estimates have been increased by $0.046m in both 2005-06 and 2006-07.

Additional funding of $0.357m over three years has been provided for the costs of delivering the 2004 Government Election Policy – A Sustainable Future for Tasmania to preserve approximately 2,400 hectares of private forest at Mole Creek. The departmental output forward estimates have been increased by $0.134min 2005–06, $0.140m in 2006–07, and $0.083m in 2007–08.

Variations to Administered grant programmes

The administered expenses appropriation has been increased through Appropriation Bill (No.3) 2005–06 by $23.058m represented by the following:

An increase of $28.460m in 2005-06 largely representing increases to Business Restructuring Assistance, Business Exit (Fishery Related Business) Assistance and Business Advice Assistance.

Additional funding of $3.243m over three years has been provided for the voluntary sale or covenanting of approximately 2,400 hectares of private forest at Mole Creek. The administered expense forward estimates have been increased by $1.302m in 2005-06, $1.301m in 2006-07 and $0.640m in 2007-08 for these measures.

Additional funding of $1.300m has been provided to assist in conducting the first phase of the search for HMAS Sydney II.

The payment of $1.0m for this grant programme has been re-classified from Appropriation Bill (No. 4) to Appropriation Bill (No. 3). This change reflects that direct payments to local government councils in Tasmania are not considered payments to the states under s.96 of the Constitution.

Additional funding of $0.954m in 2005-06 and $0.954m in 2006-07 has been provided for the implementation of the 2004 Government Election Policy – A Sustainable Future for Tasmania to improve visitor facilities in forest areas of Tasmania, focusing on the new reserves created as part of the RFA Supplementary Agreement.

An increase of $0.197m has been provided to fund contractual commitments existing at 30 June 2005 and to provide funding for the continuing development of Shared Responsibility Agreements in 2005-06 with Indigenous communities for the identification, conservation and promotion of Indigenous heritage.

An increase of $0.108m in 2005-06 and $0.034m in 2006-07 to fund contractual commitments existing at 30 June 2005 under the Sisters Beach Waterways Improvement Strategy project. Funds will enable contractual stormwater and infrastructure works to be completed over a period of 18 months. The project has experienced delays due mainly to land availability and procurement issues which have now been resolved.

A reduction of $4.600m due to stakeholder feedback and a larger than expected number of submissions received, an extension of time was given for proponents to submit expressions of interest. This will result in substantial grant payments now being made in 2007-08.

A reduction of $3.350m in 2005-06 and $1.0m in 2006-07 to fund grant payments expected to be made in 2008-09. The policy framework and guidelines were finalised in September 2005. Expressions of interest were called in October 2005 and following technical and financial assessments, initial payments are expected to be made in late 2006-07. Funding will now be required in 2008-09 to fund successful projects.

A reduction of $2.501m to enable payments to be made in 2006-07 for key milestones under the Geosequestration Enhanced Monitoring and Verification research project following minor delays due to the complex nature of the project.

A reduction of $1.185m for this rebate programme has been re-classified from Appropriation Bill (No. 3) to Appropriation Bill (No. 4). The method of payments made under this grant programme has changed as a result of the changes to the Photovoltaic Rebate Programme guidelines.

A reduction of $0.500m to enable payments in 2006-07 for the planning and conservation works expected to be completed by 30 June 2006. Funding agreements for these projects were finalised in October 2005 following extensive consultations with heritage bodies.

A reduction of $0.127m in annual administered Appropriation Bill (No. 3) following advice from the Australian National Audit Office that funding for this programme comprises primarily capital funds. A corresponding increase has been made to Appropriation Bill (No. 4). A small administrative component remains in administered expenses.

The administered expenses appropriation has been increased through Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2005-06 by $5.676m represented by the following:

An increase of $5.314m in 2005-06,$3.934min 2006-07 and $2.908m in 2007-08 to enable contractual commitments to be paid in 2005-06. Payments under the programme are based on partnership agreements with the states and territories. In August 2005, the Queensland Government received many applications for the Renewable Energy Diesel Replacement Scheme (a sub-programme of the Renewable Remote Power Generation Programme) as industry became aware that funds were due to expire in 2006. This led to RRPGP funds in Queensland being oversubscribed necessitating the bringing forward of funds to meet payments as applications are approved.

The payment of $1.185m for this rebate programme has been re-classified from Appropriation Bill (No. 3) to Appropriation Bill (No. 4). The method of payments made under this grant programme has changed as a result of the changes to the Photovoltaic Rebate Programme guidelines.

An increase of $0.127m in annual administered Appropriation Bill (No. 4) following advice from the Australian National Audit Office that funding for this programme comprises primarily capital funds. A corresponding decrease has been made to Appropriation Bill (No. 3).

An increase of $0.050m to enable the Tasmanian Department of Tourism, Parks, Heritage and the Arts to undertake capital improvements as part of the 2004 Government Election Policy - Strengthening Tasmania’s Economy and Building a Better Community.

A reduction of $1m to reflect a movement of appropriation from Appropriation Bill (No.4) to Appropriation Bill (No.3). This change is necessary as direct payments to local government councils in Tasmania are not considered payments to the states under s.96 of the Constitution.

Figure 2: New outcome and output structure for Outcome 1
Total
Price of
Outputs
$'000		 Administered
appropriation
$'000		 Departmental
outputs
appropriation
$'000
TOTAL ENVIRONMENT AND HERITAGE
(= A + B)		 367,151 521,238 328,031
Outcome 1 The environment, especially those aspects that are matters of national environmental significance, is protected and conserved
Output 1.1 Response to Climate Change 63,083 - 61,854
   Sub-Output 1.1.1 International engagement 3,880 - 3,809
   Sub-Output 1.1.2 Emissions management 36,552 - 35,800
   Sub-Output 1.1.3 Understanding of Climate Change 22,651 - 22,245
Output 1.2 Conservation of the land and inland waters 93,155 - 75,708
   Sub-Output 1.2.1 Wildlife protection 11,032 - 9,577
   Sub-Output 1.2.2 Land and water strategies 15,926 - 12,164
   Sub-Output 1.2.3 Land and water investments 16,495 - 6,930
   Sub-Output 1.2.4 Terrestrial parks and reserves 49,006 - 47,037
   Sub-Output 1.2.5 Tropical wetlands research 696 - -
Output 1.3 Conservation of the coasts and oceans 28,972 - 22,908
   Sub-Output 1.3.1 Coastal strategies 5,183 - 3,910
   Sub-Output 1.3.2 Coastal investments 1,821 - 543
   Sub-Output 1.3.3 Marine conservation 21,968 - 18,455
Output 1.4 Conservation of natural, indigenous and historic heritage 23,064 22,210
Output 1.5 Conservation of the coasts and oceans 63,321 - 50,788
   Sub-Output 1.5.1 Environmental assessments 14,139 - 12,688
   Sub-Output 1.5.2 Pollution prevention strategies 40,693 - 31,979
   Sub-Output 1.5.3 Supervision of uranium mines 8,489 - 6,121
(A) TOTAL OUTCOME 1 271,595 - 233,468
Outcome 2 Australia's interests in Antarctica are advanced
Output 2.1 Antarctic policy 31,987 - 31,679
Output 2.2 Antarctic science 63,569 - 62,884
(B) TOTAL OUTCOME 2 95,556 - 94,563

REVISED PERFORMANCE INFORMATION - 2005-06

Performance Indicators forAdministered Items
Administered Items related to land and inland waters Performance Indicator
A sustainable future for Tasmania Effect Proportion of Forest Conservation Fund reservation target met. Improved access to forest areas for tourists.
Quality Level of landholder involvement in voluntary forest reservation programme. Increased private tourism investment initiated through tourism funding.
Quantity Area of private land reserved under the Forest Conservation Fund.
Administered Items related to Heritage
HMAS Sydney - II
Search		 Effect Contribution to the implementation and completion of sonar search.
Quality Percentage of payments that are consistent with the terms and conditions of the funding agreement (target:100%).
Quantity All required payments made.
Table 2.1: Performance information for outputs affected by additional estimates for Outcome 1
Output Performance Indicator
(A) Performance indicators for individual outputs

For each output

(see Table 1.1 and Figure 2)

Quality

Price advisory role
The Minister is satisfied with the timeliness and accuracy of briefs and draft ministerial correspondence provided by the department.

Provider role (s)
 Percentage of payments that are Consistent with the terms and conditions of funding (Target: 100%).

Regulator role
Percentage of statutory timeframes triggered that are met

(Target: >90%) (t)
Price 2005-06 Budget* 1.1 - Response to climate change $62.907m
1.2 - Conservation of the land and inland
waters		 $87.183m
1.3 - Conservation of the coasts and oceans $26.160m
1.4 - Conservation of natural, indigenous and
historic heritage		 $22.912m
1.5 - Response to the impacts of human
settlement		 $58.336m
Price 2005-06 Revised 1.1 - Response to climate change $63.083m
1.2 - Conservation of the land and inland
waters		 $93,155m
1.3 - Conservation of the coasts and oceans $28.972m
1.4 - Conservation of natural, indigenous
and historic heritage		 $23.064m
1.5 - Response to the impacts of human
settlement		 $63,321m

(s) This indicator only applies to the administration of grants programmes funded entirely from DEH's appropriation for the output.
(t) Includes explicit reporting on timeframes triggered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 for Output 1.5.
*Refer to 2005-06 Portfolio Budget Statements.
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