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Appendixes: Summary of Environmental Activities
The Appendixes aim to show all expenditure directly attributable to environmental objectives. However, expenditure on environmental objectives is not always readily identifiable, for example where it is only one part of a larger project and not able to be separately identified. Consequently, the figures provided underestimate total Commonwealth expenditure. The figures provided for tax expenditures (tax concessions) are the cost to revenue estimated by the Australian Taxation Office and the Treasury.
The expenditure figures do not include general-purpose payments to the states and territories that may then be applied to environmental spending. Nor do figures include general funding to tertiary educational bodies that may be applied to environmental research or training.
This statement provides spending figures and descriptions of all Commonwealth activities and programmes that have an environmental benefit as their primary or secondary goal. Environmental benefit has been defined as:
- the prevention, reduction or elimination of waste, pollution or other degradation of the environment; and/or
- the conservation, rehabilitation, restoration or enhancement of the environment.
Although some programmes may not seem strictly of an environmental nature, the aim of the statement is to show a broad range of programmes that have an identifiable environmental element.
Figures for new measures include inflation consistent with other Budget statements. Other figures are expressed in 2000-01 prices unless otherwise indicated. There are some significant gaps in the figures for future years. Often this reflects the fact that the document is reporting components of larger programmes and that decisions about how these programme funds will be deployed in future years have not yet been made.
Tables of new measures, and programme and tax expenditure estimates, are broken into two sections. The first section includes new measures announced in the current Budget. The second section shows ongoing programme and tax expenditure estimates.
Not all dollar figures in the text are included in the tables of new measures, programmes and tax expenditure estimates. For instance, those dollar figures that are only broadly indicative or are provided as illustrations of particular projects, or are partially funded from Commonwealth outlays, are excluded.
All dollar figures are rounded to the nearest $100,000. This means that figures in tables may not add up to totals given in tables or in the text. Forward estimates from 2001-02 onwards are only estimates and are subject to normal budgetary procedures.
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.