Document
Index
1999-2000 Ministerial Statements
Investing in our Natural and
Cultural Heritage
Chapter 2
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Document
Index |
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New measures announced since the 1998-99 Budget and included in the 1999-2000 Budget
are summarised in Table 2.2
Table 2.2: New Measures
| Title of Measure | 1999-2000 $m |
2000-01 $m |
2001-02 $m |
2002-03 $m |
| The Living Cities Programme | 10.2 | 20.5 | 20.0 | - |
| Oceans Policy Implementation | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | - |
| Shipping Support for Australian Antarctic Programme | na | na | na | na |
| Protecting Australia's forests | 5.8 | - | - | - |
| Environment Protection Programme | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.4 |
| Biodiversity Convention and Strategy Programme | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
| Australian Biological Resources Study | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 |
| Greenhouse Science initiatives | 2.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.1 |
| Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Surveillance | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.2 | - |
| Funding for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to cover increased costs of the Independent Monitor for the Port Hinchinbrook project | 0.2 | - | - | - |
| Flood Damage Repairs Norfolk Island | 3.5 | - | - | - |
| Cultural Heritage Projects Programme | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.3 | - |
| Incentives for Heritage Programme | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Telstra Social Bonus--additional funding for the Natural Heritage Trust | - | - | 250.0 | - |
| Deterring illegal fishing in Australia's sub-Antarctic waters | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
- denotes nil.
na denotes not available.
The Government will provide funds from 1999-2000 to 2001-02 to address urban
environment problems under the Living Cities Programme. The Programme was an election
commitment in Our Living Heritage.
The Programme addresses urban environmental problems and has five main elements:
In December 1998, the Government announced Australia's Oceans Policy, which will set in
place the framework for integrated and ecosystem-based planning and management for all of
Australia's marine jurisdictions. Building on existing arrangements, the Oceans Policy
will promote ecologically sustainable development of the resources of our oceans and
encourage internationally competitive marine industries, while ensuring the protection of
marine biological diversity.
Consistent with the Government's election commitment in Our Living Heritage, an
additional $20 million is to be funded from the Natural Heritage Trust, contingent on
the sale of the second tranche of Telstra.
Further details can be obtained from the Oceans Policy Statement, which was released by
the Minister for the Environment and Heritage in December 1998.
The Government has sought offers, by tender, for a three-year ship charter for the period from 2000-01 to 2002-03. The current charter of the RSV Aurora Australis concludes at the end of the 1999-2000 Antarctic Summer season and new transport arrangements are required to be in place and working by September 2000 to ensure the continuation of Australia's Antarctic programme. The three-year contract will allow time for the evaluation of future air transportation systems as recommended in the Antarctic Science Advisory Committee (ASAC) report Australia's Antarctic Programme Beyond 2000; A Framework for the Future and supported by Government.
The Government will continue to support the Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) process by
seeking to complete all RFAs in woodchip regions by the end of December 1999. This
increased funding honours the Government's election commitment announced in Environment:
Our Living Heritage.
Completion of the RFAs will provide environmental and industrial certainty to communities
for the next 20 years.
The RFA's affected by this measure include those for the south-western region of Western
Australia, Eden in New South Wales; the Southern, Lower Northeast and Upper North East
regions of New South Wales, the Gippsland, Upper Northeast and Western regions of
Victoria, and for the Southeast region of Queensland.
A portion of the Environment Protection Programme was due to lapse in 1999-2000. The Government will continue the current level of funding to address environmental priorities in a number of areas including:
The Government will continue to provide funds for monitoring progress towards the implementation of a National Strategy for the effective identification, conservation and management of Australia's biological diversity.
The Government will continue to fund the Participatory Programme research grant scheme of the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) at current levels to provide the underlying taxonomic knowledge necessary for the conservation and sustainable use of Australia's biological diversity.
The Government will continue to fund Greenhouse Science for the four years from
1999-2000 until 2002-2003 at the current level. Funding for the activity was due to reduce
by $2 million in 1999-2000 and cease thereafter.
This measure supports continued investigation of climate systems, improving climate change
models, detecting regional climate change and supporting international climate change
science.
This initiative is part of Australia's commitment to supporting global research on
greenhouse science under the Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The Government will provide an additional $3.4 million from 1999-2000 to 2001-02 for
improved surveillance and enforcement within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
This measure will ensure the protection, sustainable use and enjoyment of the Great
Barrier Reef.
The reported incidence of illegal fishing activities in the Park is increasing. A targeted
enforcement and surveillance programme is required to contain and reduced this activity.
An increase in the level of fines applicable under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
Act 1975 is proposed to be commensurate with relevant fisheries legislation.
Under the joint Deed of Agreement between the Commonwealth and the State of Queensland
an independent Monitor has been appointed to oversee the construction of marina access
from the resort being developed at Port Hinchinbrook, Queensland to the Hinchinbrook
Channel. The channel is part of an area which is listed under the UNESCO Convention for
the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
Lengthy delays in completing the dredging work on the project have resulted in increased
activity by the independent monitor. This delay has increased the cost to the Commonwealth
from $165,000 to $315,000. The measure will fund the extended monitoring programme through
to the completion of commitments under the Deed of Agreement.
The Government will provide a $3.5 million equity injection in 1999-2000 to repair the main access and other associated roads to Norfolk Island National Park so it can be reopened to the public. Major flood damage in August 1998 forced the permanent closure of the roads.
The Government will implement the new Cultural Heritage Projects Programme (CHPP), to
honour one of its election commitments in Our Living Heritage.
The CHPP will absorb the National Estate Grants Programme (NEGP) and support the
conservation and restoration of places of cultural significance, with a priority for built
works and indigenous heritage.
In addition to the new funds identified in this measure, the current funding to NEGP of
$0.8 million per year will be included in the CHPP.
The Government will convert the former Taxation Incentive for Heritage Conservation
Scheme (TIHC) into a grants programme. Under the new Cultural Heritage Projects Programme
approximately $1 million annually will be allocated for grants to private owners of
heritage-listed buildings and structures to perform conservation work.
The TIHC is administered under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 and provided a
rebate of 20 per cent of heritage conservation works completed to taxpaying
private owners of heritage places.
Translation to a grants programme will not involve any additional impact on the Budget as
the taxation rebates previously available under the TIHC will cease.
The Government made a commitment to provide additional funding of $250 million for the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia in 2001-02. This measure forms part of the Government's social bonus to be funded from the sale of the second tranche of Telstra.
This programme of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio will involve the patrolling of Australia's remote sub-Antarctic waters. Expected outcomes are prevention of illegal fishing in the Australia Fishing Zone (AFZ) and the consequent protection of important fishery resources, especially of the Patagonian toothfish.