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The Commonwealth's Environmental Expenditure

Chapter 1: Introduction

This statement is an account of the Commonwealth's spending on environment and environment-related objectives.

First, the Strategic Directions and Budget Overview chapter summarises the environmental Budget for 2000-01, describes each new measure, and outlines the Government's strategic priorities.

Second, the Government in Partnership chapter uses case studies to show how the Government is working in partnership with industry and the community to address these priorities.

Finally, the Summary of Activities appendix is a description of all Commonwealth environmental activities. Activities are organised by sectors, such as oceans or inland waters, rather than by departmental responsibility.

Environmental activities are not limited to the Environment and Heritage portfolio. Sustainable development requires the application of environmental considerations across all Commonwealth policies and programmes. Commonwealth programmes concerned with resource and industry sectors, economic growth, microeconomic reform, social goals and international cooperation and development integrate environmental considerations with economic and social considerations. As well as managing programmes relevant to the environment, many agencies are improving the environmental management of their operations, such as recycling and energy efficiency.

A summary of environmental activities undertaken by each portfolio is presented in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1: Environmental Activities by Portfolio

Portfolios	Major environmental responsibilities
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry	Natural resource management policy, integrating environmental considerations with a broad range of environment-related programmes.
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service	Quarantine services to prevent entry of exotic pests and diseases, and for inspecting and certifying export goods prescribed under the Export Control Act 1982.
Attorney-General's	Community-based environmental legal services and environment-related legal advice.
Australian Customs Service	Border operations to control potentially environmentally damaging imports and exports.
Communications, Information Technology and the Arts	Radio frequency 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.

Portfolios	Major environmental responsibilities
Environment and Heritage	Primarily responsible for environmental policy, with a broad range of environmental programmes.
Antarctic Division	Research on 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.
Australian Greenhouse Office	Coordinates domestic climate change policy and manages the delivery of major new and existing Commonwealth greenhouse programmes.
Finance and Administration	Monitors Commonwealth environmental spending and contributes to environment policy.
Foreign Affairs and Trade	Promotes solutions to international environmental issues consistent with Australia's economic and environmental interests.
Australian Agency for International Development and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research	Overseas aid programme supporting Australia's national interests through sustainable development activities in developing countries.
Health and Aged Care	A range of environmental health activities and contributes to chemical assessments.
Industry, Science and Resources	Industry development policies and programmes covering research and development, innovation, technology diffusion and business networks. Major funder of environmental research particularly through CSIRO, Cooperative Research Centres, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation. Renewable energy industry assistance, energy efficiency programmes, policy advice on tourism in World Heritage areas.
Prime Minister and Cabinet	Provision of general environmental policy advice.
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.
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.

Unless otherwise indicated, all financial information presented in this document represents the net cost to the Commonwealth; the figures are exclusive of any GST which may be payable by the Commonwealth and which is recoverable as an input tax credit.