Investing in Our Natural and Cultural Heritage - COMMONWEALTH ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITIES

	Document Index 1999-2000 Ministerial Statements Investing in our Natural and Cultural Heritage Chapter 2

COMMONWEALTH ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITIES

The Commonwealth's environmental activities go well beyond programmes targeted directly at environmental issues. Commonwealth programmes concerned with resource and industry sectors, economic growth, microeconomic reform, social goals and international cooperation and development aim to integrate environmental considerations with economic and social considerations. Also, internal management practices in areas such as government administration and Defence are moving to environmental best practice (see Table 2.5).

Table 2.5: Environmental Activities by Portfolio

Portfolios	Major environmental activities
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry	Primarily responsible for natural resource management policy integrating environmental considerations, with a broad range of environment-related programmes.
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service	Responsible for quarantine services to prevent entry of exotic pests and diseases and for inspecting and certifying export goods prescribed under the Export Control Act.
Attorney-General's	Funding of Community-based environmental legal services and provision of environment-related legal advice.
Australian Customs Service	Border operations to control potentially environmentally damaging imports and exports.
Communications, Information Technology and the Arts	Responsible for radiofrequency and electromagnetic energy research and information.
Defence	Management of the environmental and heritage attributes of the defence estate, particularly training areas.
Education, Training and Youth Affairs	Green corps and other programmes which provide youth training, skills and work experience in environmental conservation and heritage activities. Provision of environmental education materials and professional development to teachers.
Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business	Administers the national industrial chemicals notification and assessment scheme;
Environment and Heritage	Primarily responsible for environmental policy, with a broad range of environmental programmes.
Antarctic Division	Research on matters of oceans and marine life, atmosphere, climate change and protection of the Antarctic environment.
Bureau of Meteorology	Atmospheric, oceanographic and hydrological monitoring, research and service provision.
Finance and Administration	Monitors Commonwealth environmental spending and contributes to environment policy.
Foreign Affairs and Trade	Seeks to promote solutions to international environmental issues consistent with Australia's economic and environmental interests.
AusAID	Overseas aid programme supporting Australia's national interests through environmental activities in developing countries.
Health and Aged Care	Undertakes a range of environmental health activities and contributes to chemical assessments.
Industry, Science and Resources	Primarily responsible for industry development policies and programmes covering research and development, innovation, technology diffusion and business networks. Major funder of environmental research particularly through CSIRO, CRCs, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation. Renewable energy industry assistance. Energy efficiency programmes. Monitoring, protecting and enhancing the environment in relation to tourism through policy advice on tourism in World Heritage Areas and funding support for projects.
Prime Minister and Cabinet	Provision of general environmental advice; coordination of the Government's programme of Regional Forest Agreements.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission	Land management and Aboriginal heritage programmes.
Transport and Regional Services	Primarily responsible for transport policy integrating environmental considerations; protection of the marine and coastal environment through the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

Table 2.5: Environmental Activities by Portfolio

Portfolios	Major environmental activities
Treasury	Contributes to the development of environment policy.
Australian Bureau of Statistics	Development of environmental accounts and reporting of environment statistics.
Productivity Commission	Addresses environmental issues in its public inquiries and research.
Australian Taxation Office	Administers a range of environment-related taxes, levies, deductions and rebates.