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The Commonwealth's Environmental Expenditure

Appendix 1 - Common Measures

Table A1.1: Common Measures - Programme and Tax Expenditure Estimates

This table lists activities in the order that they appear in the following text. `na' denotes that spending cannot be precisely identified and it does not mean that spending is not occurring.

Description	1999-00 $m	2000-01 $m	2001-02 $m	2002-03 $m	2003-04 $m
PROGRAMME AND TAX EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES
Commonwealth Environmental Legislation and Legal Activities
International Environmental Law	na	na	na	na	na
Breaches of Environmental Laws	na	na	na	na	na
Legal Drafting and Services	na	na	na	na	na
Community Environmental Legal Programme	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6
International Activities
Overseas Aid(a)	241.9	281.7	-	-	-
International Relationships	1.0	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2
Community Involvement and Education
Tax and Grant Support	2.0	1.8	1.8	1.8	1.8
Community Environmental Education	na	na	na	na	na
Community Development Employment Projects	na	na	na	na	na
Youth Involvement - Green Corps	21.7	22.0	22.3	22.6	22.9
Expanding the Environmental Knowledge Base
Higher Education Research & Research Training	na	na	na	na	na
CRC Programme	35.9	35.5	-	-	-
Public Inquiries and Research	na	na	na	na	na
Provision and Standardisation of Data	na	na	na	na	na
Integrated Framework for Measuring Sustainable Development	0.1	0.4	na	na	na
AUSLIG	na	na	na	na	na
PM's Science, Engineering & Innovation Council	na	na	na	na	na
National Standards Commission	na	na	na	na	na
Health and the Environment
Community Housing and Infrastructure	na	na	na	na	na
National Environment Health Strategy	1.2	1.5	0.3	-	-
National Tobacco Strategy	na	na	na	na	na
Transport and Health	na	na	na	na	na
World Health Organisation	2.4	2.4	2.4	2.4	2.4
Commonwealth Support for Local Environment Initiatives
Parliamentary Zone Review	na	na	na	na	na
Environmental Resource Officers(b)	0.5	0.5	-	-	-
Local Agenda 21
Environment Australia	0.2	0.2	-	-	-
Dept of Transport and Regional Services	-	0.1	-	-	-

- denotes nil; na denotes not available

(a) Australia's overseas aid programme is administered by the Australian Agency for International Development and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. This environmental expenditure estimate includes projects directly linked to the environment, projects which have environment-related components and contributions to international organisations, including the Global Environment Facility and the Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund.

(b) Figures for 2000-01 include grant payments to local government associations planned to be made in June 2000.

Commonwealth Environmental Legislation and Legal Activities

International Environmental Law

On behalf of the Commonwealth, the Attorney-General's Department performs a number of legal activities relating to the environment, including giving advice on international environmental law and its implementation in Australia. This includes policy and legal advice on the application of Commonwealth administrative law and reviewing decisions made under Commonwealth environmental legislation, and the drafting of regulations and other instruments on environmental matters.

Website: www.law.gov.au
Contact: Attorney-General's Department - 02 6250 6666

Breaches of Environmental Laws

On 21 January 2000 the Attorney-General referred to the Australian Law Reform Commission a review of Commonwealth laws relating to the imposition of administrative and civil penalties, including penalties for breaches of environmental laws. The final report is due on 1 March 2002.

Website: www.alrc.gov.au
Contact: Australian Law Reform Commission - 02 9284 6333

Legal Drafting and Services

The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel provides legislative drafting resources according to government legislative priorities. The Australian Government Solicitor also provides legal services to Commonwealth agencies and departments to assist them in carrying out their work programmes, including environmental work.

Contacts: Office of the Parliamentary Counsel - 02 6270 1400
Australian Government Solicitor - 02 6250 6320

Community Environmental Legal Programme
$0.6 million in 2000-01

The Commonwealth funds a network of Environmental Defenders Offices located around Australia to deliver environmental legal services to the Australian community. Funding is used to provide advice, education, resource materials, promotion and law reform/research activities for the benefit of the general public.

Website: www.edo.org.au
Contact: Attorney-General's Department - 02 6250 5575

International Activities

Overseas Aid
$281.7 million in 2000-01

The objective of Australia's overseas aid programme is to advance Australia's national interest by assisting developing countries to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development. The aid programme focusses on the Asia-Pacific region, with significant assistance also provided to Africa, South Asia and international development institutions.

A portion of Australia's aid supports activities that directly address environmental issues in developing countries in sectors including natural resource management, renewable energy, waste management, water resource planning and management, sustainable agriculture, conservation and capacity building. In addition, many other aid activities have indirect environmental benefits.

Websites: www.ausaid.gov.au
www.aciar.gov.au
Contacts: AusAID, Rural Development, Infrastructure and Environment Group - 02 6206 4055
ACIAR, Deputy Director R&D - 02 6217 0559

International Relationships
$1.2 million in 2000-01

Commonwealth ministers and agencies represent Australia in a range of regional and global multilateral institutions and ongoing negotiations that work to influence protection of the environment. Organisations range from the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development to the World Trade Organisation and the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme. Australia seeks to ensure that these bodies work systematically to improve global and regional environmental outcomes as either a primary or secondary objective.

The Commonwealth cultivates bilateral relationships with its counterpart agencies in key countries to improve mutual understanding of approaches to the environment and where desirable to work on joint approaches.

Website: www.dfat.gov.au/environment
Contacts: Environment Australia, Portfolio Strategies Group - 02 6274 1388
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Environment Branch - 02 6261 1885

Community Involvement and Education

Tax and Grant Support
$1.8 million in 2000-01

Donations to non-profit environmental organisations listed on the Commonwealth's Register of Environmental Organisations are tax deductible. In 1998-99 these tax deductible donations amounted to approximately $25.2 million.

Grants to voluntary environment and heritage organisations are available to assist community-supported organisations to cover administrative costs associated with their environmental work. Funds of $1.65 million were awarded in 1999-2000.

Contact: Environment Australia, Portfolio Strategies Group - 02 6274 1388

Community Environmental Education

Environment Australia undertakes environmental education activities to raise awareness and understanding of environmental issues and influence community attitudes and behaviour. Measures to improve national coordination and promote national best practice in environmental education will be implemented in 2000-01 as set out in the publication Today Shapes Tomorrow: Environmental Education for a Sustainable Future.

Website: www.environment.gov.au/education/education.html
Publication: Today Shapes Tomorrow: Environmental Education for a Sustainable Future, 1999
Contact: Environment Australia, Portfolio Strategies Group - 02 6274 1019

Community Development Employment Projects

The Community Development Employment Projects scheme provides employment and training opportunities in remote regions whilst contributing to the economic and social development needs of indigenous communities. A number of projects in the scheme involve activities that are directly environmentally related, including the development and support of joint management regimes for areas of high conservation value.

Website: www.atsic.gov.au
Publication: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Annual Report 1998-99
Contact: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission - 02 6121 4404

Youth Involvement - Green Corps
$22.0 million in 2000-01

Green Corps (Young Australians for the Environment) provides young people aged 17-20 years with a full-time training position for at least six months on community-based environmental and heritage projects located throughout Australia but primarily in rural and remote areas. Green Corps projects include landcare, eco-tourism and restoration activities, and survey and data collection work. Green Corps is delivered nationally by the Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers.

Website: greencorps.ballarat.net.au
Contact: Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs - 02 6240 9495

Expanding the Environmental Knowledge Base

A number of Commonwealth research organisations conduct research relevant to the environment including the CSIRO, the Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation, the Australian Geological Survey Organisation, the Bureau of Rural Sciences, the Bureau of Meteorology, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation. More detail is provided about their activities in following sections.

CSIRO Research

CSIRO is Australia's largest single performer of environmental and sustainability-related research. It spends about $110 million of its direct government funding on environment-related research, and about $50 million of additional contract funding from competitive grant schemes and industry sources. CSIRO's research directions and priorities are set with the assistance of Sector Advisory Committees containing high level representatives of client and stakeholder groups, including government agencies.

Contact: CSIRO Office of Deputy Chief Executive, Environment - 02 6246 4557

Higher Education Research and Research Training

The Education, Training and Youth Affairs portfolio provides support for a diverse range of environmental research performed in universities through grants from the Australian Research Council and through operating grants which contribute towards the costs of university teaching, research and infrastructure.

Cooperative Research Centres
$35.5 million in 2000-01

Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) are selected in competitive rounds that are conducted every two years. CRCs are usually funded for seven years. A total of 15 CRCs undertake projects that will have significant environmental and community benefits in their research outcomes over and above any commercial potential. These CRCs are: Waste Management and Pollution Control; Antarctica and the Southern Ocean; Catchment Hydrology; Biological Control of Pest Animals; Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area; Freshwater Ecology; Southern Hemisphere Meteorology; Tropical Rainforest Ecology and Management; Sustainable Development of Tropical Savannas; Conservation and Management of Marsupials; Water Quality and Treatment; Weed Management Systems; Sustainable Tourism; Coastal Zone, Estuary and Waterway Management; and Greenhouse Accounting.

Website: www.isr.gov.au/crc
Contact: Department of Industry, Science and Resources - 02 6213 6429

Public Inquiries and Research

The Productivity Commission conducts independent public inquiries and research into a broad range of economic and social issues, including environmental matters that affect the welfare of Australians. The Commission's statutory policy guidelines require it to ensure that industry develops in a way that is ecologically sustainable.

Website: www.pc.gov.au
Contact: Productivity Commission, Media and Publications Unit - 02 6240 3239
/ 03 9653 2244

Provision and Standardisation of Data

The Australian Bureau of Statistics' environment programme provides data to all sectors, including academic, government (local, state and federal), industry and private enterprise. It also helps coordinate and standardise data relating to the environment. Activities include developing physical accounts (energy and water to be released in 2000); conducting the environment protection expenditure collection; household surveys on water, energy, waste and transport; and producing an annual compendium publication.

Website: www.abs.gov.au
Contact: Australian Bureau of Statistics - 02 6252 5000

Integrated Framework for Measuring Sustainable Development
$0.4 million in 2000-01

The Bureau of Rural Sciences is developing a framework for harmonising existing sectoral approaches to measuring sustainable development of primary industries. This will enable reporting at different spatial scales and across different jurisdictional units.

Website: www.brs.gov.au
Publication: Chesson J and Clayton H, 1998. A Framework for Assessing Fisheries with Respect to Ecologically Sustainable Development. Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra
Contact: Bureau of Rural Sciences - 02 6272 5893

Australian Surveying and Land Information Group (AUSLIG)

AUSLIG's spatial data collection, production and coordination activities ensure the availability of fundamental geographic information for the Australian community. AUSLIG's map and satellite image data are particularly useful for environmental monitoring and natural resource management.

Website: www.auslig.gov.au
Contact: Australian Surveying and Land Information Group - 02 6201 4201

Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council

The Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council is examining the potential for Australian industry to promote the development and commercialisation of new technologies in areas such as greenhouse science and dryland salinity.

Contact: Department of Industry, Science and Resources - 02 6213 6348

National Standards Commission

The National Standards Commission has responsibilities under the National Measurement Act 1960 to ensure national and international consistency of measurements used for regulatory purposes through its membership of the International Organisations of Legal Metrology. It participates in the development of international standards for a wide range of environmental measuring instruments.

Contact: National Standards Commission - 02 9888 3922

Health and the Environment

Community Housing and Infrastructure

The Community Housing and Infrastructure Programme funds projects that contribute to improving environmental health outcomes for indigenous communities by providing housing, infrastructure and municipal services. Programme funding may be used to address landscaping, dust control, sewage, water supplies and other community infrastructure needs.

Website: www.atsic.gov.au
Publication: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Annual Report 1998-99
Contact: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission - 02 6121 4635

National Environmental Health Strategy
$1.5 million in 2000-01

The Department of Health and Aged Care provides leadership in environmental health policies that aim to reduce community exposure, particularly in disadvantaged populations, to environmental hazards.

Website: hna.ffh.vic.gov.au/nphp/envforum/index.htm
Contact: Department of Health and Aged Care - 02 6289 3700

National Tobacco Strategy

The National Tobacco Strategy 1999 to 2003 includes in its aims a reduction in exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. This includes establishing smoke-free public places as the norm. The National Tobacco Strategy is also working with other levels of government to facilitate a nationally consistent approach to passive smoking protection.

Website: www.health.gov.au:80/pubhlth/publicat/document/metadata/tobccstrat.htm
Contact: Department of Health and Aged Care - 02 6289 7688

Transport and Health

The Department of Health and Aged Care is preparing the collection of national data and indicators on bicycle use to measure and monitor the contribution cycling makes to transport, health and the environment throughout Australia. This supports other research on transport, health protection and the promotion of physical activity.

Websites: www.health.gov.au
www.ausport.gov.au
Publications: Australian Cycling The National Strategy 1999-2004
Developing an Active Australia: A Framework for Physical Activity and Health, 1998
Contact: Department of Health and Aged Care - 02 6289 1555

World Health Organisation
$2.4 million in 2000-01

Australia supports environmental health activities undertaken by the World Health Organisation (WHO) through an annual contribution. WHO's Protection of the Human Environment Programme undertakes research, risk assessment and standard setting work in relation to issues such as food safety, water supply and sanitation, chemical safety and environmental health. The Health in Sustainable Development Programme aims to ensure that health and environment issues are an integral part of national development policies.

Website: www.who.org/home/map_ht.html#Environment%20and20Lifestyle
Contact: Department of Health and Aged Care - 02 6289 8848

Commonwealth Support for Local Environment Initiatives

Parliamentary Zone Review

The Parliamentary Zone Review provides an opportunity to incorporate environmental and heritage conservation values and the commitment to creating a better environment in the parliamentary zone in Canberra. One of the initiatives of the review is creating a comprehensive pedestrian and cycle way system. Central to the system of paths is the proposal for a walking track that will be laid out according to indigenous cultural precepts. The review also seeks to rationalise and manage the amount of parking in the parliamentary zone. Allied to this is the introduction of a shuttle bus, allowing people to leave their cars in one place and still move easily and conveniently around the zone. Conservation Management Plans are also being undertaken for significant places and buildings in the parliamentary zone.

Website: nationalcapital.gov.au/fs_nca.html
Contact: National Capital Authority - 02 6271 2852

Environmental Resource Officers
$0.5 million in 2000-01

The Environmental Resource Officer Scheme places an officer in peak local government associations in each of the states and the Northern Territory. These officers provide a one-stop-shop for information and advice.

Website: www.environment.gov.au/igu
Contact: Environment Australia, Portfolio Strategies Group - 02 6274 1018

Local Agenda 21
$0.3 million in 2000-01

Environment Australia is collaborating with the National Office of Local Government to promote Local Agenda 21, a framework for local government to integrate environmental, economic and social objectives. Australia has committed to an APEC target of doubling the number of Local Agenda 21 councils by 2003.

The Department of Transport and Regional Services also funds a variety of Local Agenda 21 related activities.

Websites: www.environment.gov.au/igu
www.environment.gov.au/anzecc
www.dotrs.gov.au/nolg/lgip/index.htm
Publication: Cotter B and Hannan K (Environs Australia), 1999. Our Community, Our Future: A Guide to Local Agenda 21. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra
Contacts: Environment Australia, Portfolio Strategies Group - 02 6274 1018
Department of Transport and Regional Services - 02 6274 8118