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

NATURAL HERITAGE TRUST PROGRESS

The Natural Heritage Trust is entering its fourth year. Contingent upon the sale of the second tranche of Telstra, the Government will provide an additional $250 million to extend the Trust beyond the term of the original package, with an assured level of funding over the next three years to 2001-02. The extension reaffirms the Government's commitment to the Trust as the largest and most significant environment initiative in the country's history. Another three years of funding will ensure that the Trust programmes continue to stimulate activities in the national interest to achieve the conservation, sustainable use and repair of Australia's unique and diverse natural environment. The estimates for Trust programmes have been revised as shown in Table 2.3. The Natural Heritage Trust programmes are now fully underway and significant achievements have been made. The year 1999-2000 will be an opportunity to build on the successes that have been achieved, with many projects now well advanced. The Government continues to be committed to ensuring that the Natural Heritage Trust meets the most pressing environmental challenges facing the nation and to ensuring that our environment and natural resources are managed in an ecologically sustainable way.

The Trust provides additional funding to some already existing programmes which will continue to exist with the Trust programme structure. When the funds attached to these programmes are added to those from the Trust, the total funds for these programme areas are as shown in Table 2.4.

Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997 (Natural Heritage Trust Act) was proclaimed on 18 June 1997. The Act establishes the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Reserve to conserve, repair and replenish Australia's natural capital infrastructure. It also establishes the Natural Heritage Ministerial Board, which comprises the Minister for the Environment and Heritage and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The Natural Heritage Trust Advisory Committee is an expert committee established by the Natural Heritage Trust Act to advise the Ministerial Board on the integration of the Trust's objectives and the effectiveness of the Partnership Agreements.

Partnership Agreements, which implement the requirements of the Natural Heritage Trust Act, have been put in place with each State and Territory to establish the terms and conditions under which financial assistance is provided from the Trust and to establish a framework for cooperation in environmental protection, natural resource management and sustainable agriculture. Partnership Agreements are the central means of integration and delivery of the Natural Heritage Trust. The Commonwealth is working through the Partnership Agreements to ensure that policies and guidelines for environmental protection and sustainable development are consistent with national strategies and priorities. Partnership Agreements generally have been signed by the Prime Minister and each State Premier and the Territories' Chief Ministers, and are endorsed by the State and Territory Cabinets.

Many of the Trust programmes are delivered through a 'one-stop-shop' which involves local communities and regional organisations in the Natural Heritage Trust and incorporates relevant Commonwealth and State and Territory programmes. More than $260 million has been approved so far in 1998-99 for well over 3,000 Natural Heritage Trust and related projects. This represents more than a 20 per cent increase in funding to projects seeking solutions to environmental and natural resource problems faced across Australia. Australia's coastal and marine environment has seen a boost in approved funding for environmental projects of more than a third, and Commonwealth efforts in the National Reserve System Programme have more than doubled. Approved funding on Natural Heritage Trust and related projects has increased in almost every programme of the Natural Heritage Trust.

Table 2.3: Natural Heritage Trust Funding

- denotes nil.
Due to rounding some columns and rows may not add exactly to totals.
The Natural Heritage Trust estimates may vary in the future within overall totals.

1. Includes $39.8 million carryover from 1997-98.
2. 2001-2002 figures for Natural Heritage Trust programmes are contingent on the second tranche sale of Telstra.

To implement the Commonwealth's aim of a 'one-stop-shop', the Guidelines for 1999-2000 consolidate ten programmes (amounting to 80 per cent of Trust funds) into one readily accessible Guideline booklet. The closing date for applications for 1999-2000 was 26 February 1999 and processing of applications is underway.

The procedures established in the partnership agreements for selecting members of State and Regional Assessment Panels recognise the broadening of the Natural Heritage Trust processes to better reflect a partnership between the Commonwealth and the States in delivering biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture objectives. The Commonwealth and the States have worked together to put in place assessment panels which encompass a broad constituency with appropriate skills or experience to provide advice to State and Territory Ministers who then recommend proposals for funding to the Natural Heritage Ministerial Board.

Table 2.4: Total Expenditure Estimates for Natural Heritage Trust & Trust-related Programmes

1. Includes $39.8 million carryover from 1997-98.

Coasts and Clean Seas programmes funded from the Natural Heritage Trust are being delivered through trilateral Coasts and Clean Seas Memoranda of Understanding between the Commonwealth, States and Territories, and local government. The MOUs are consistent with the partnership agreements. The National Land and Water Resources Audit, the World Heritage Area Management and Upkeep, the Air Pollution in Major Cities and the Waste Management Awareness programmes are not covered under the partnership agreements. These programmes are delivered through discrete arrangements and are not part of the Natural Heritage Trust 'one-stop-shop'. More detail about the programmes of the Trust can be found in Chapters 3 to 9.