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The Commonwealth's Environmental Expenditure

Appendix 5 - Environment Protection

Table A5.1: Environment Protection - New Measures and 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
NEW MEASURES
Product Stewardship Arrangements for Waste Oil
Programme - transitional assistance(a)	-	15.0	15.0	15.0	15.0
Programme - stewardship benefits(b)	-	24.7	24.5	24.2	24.0
Diesel National Environment Protection Measure	-	10.0	10.0	10.0	10.0
National Biotechnology Strategy(c)	-	0.3	-	-	-
Adelaide Airport Noise Amelioration	-	10.3	24.2	23.7	5.5
PROGRAMME AND TAX EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES
Environment Protection
National Environment Protection Council(d)	1.0	0.8	1.0	1.1	1.1
National Pollutant Inventory	5.1	2.2	na	na	na
Environmental Management and Leased Airports	3.0	3.3	3.5	3.7	3.9
Territories and Regional Support	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6
Sydney Airport Noise Amelioration	65.0	64.9	na	na	na
Remediation of Land Formerly Owned by Australian National	3.6	5.0	2.1	-	-
Living Cities Programme
Air Toxics	1.3	1.4	1.5	-	-
Cleaning our Waterways - Industry Partnership	0.1	0.7	0.9	-	-
Urban Stormwater Initiative	0.3	4.0	4.0	-	-
Chemwatch - ChemCollect	0.9	5.1	6.1	-	-
Environment/Industry Initiatives
Business of Sustainable Development	-	4.2	na	na	na
Olympics and Paralympics 2000	0.6	0.3	-	-	-
Environment Industries	1.0	0.9	1.0	1.0	0.4
Best Practice Environmental Management in Mining	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1
Industry and Export Development Strategy	0.3	na	na	na	na
Petroleum Environment Advice	na	na	na	na	na
Waste Minimisation
Eco-efficiency	1.3	1.1	1.3	1.3	0.5
Waste Management Awareness	2.0	1.3	1.1	-	-
Hazardous Materials and the Environment
Control of Hazardous Waste	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.4
Risk Assessment of Chemicals	1.5	1.5	1.6	1.7	1.8
Health Effects of Chemicals	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8
Managing Health Risks of Genetically Modified Organisms	3.8	3.8	na	na	na
Management of Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9
Radioactive and Toxic Waste	6.5	7.5	na	na	na
Remediation Projects	50.8	4.5	-	-	-

Description	1999-00 $m	2000-01 $m	2001-02 $m	2002-03 $m	2003-04 $m
Maralinga Clean-up	0.4	0.1	-	-	-
Protection from Nuclear Installation Hazards	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.8
Development of National Codes of Practice	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5
Transport of Dangerous Goods	na	na	na	na	na
International Activities
International Programme on Chemical Safety	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1
Persistent Organic Pollutants Convention	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1
Prior Informed Consent Convention	na	na	na	na	na
Environmental Assessment
Supervising Scientist(e)	9.9	7.9	na	na	na
Environment Approvals and Assessment	4.7	5.0	2.8	3.0	2.2
Petroleum Exploration and Development	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1
Tax Deduction for Environmental Activities	19.0	18.0	18.0	19.0	20.0
Research
A Strategic Alliance	0.3	0.2	0.2	na	na
Environmental Laboratory Analysis	0.6	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2
Environmental and Urban Impacts of Geohazards	na	na	na	na	na
CSIRO Research (total)	na	8.7	8.7	8.8	na
Sustainable manufacturing	na	4.1	4.1	4.0	na
Managing indoor environmental quality	na	1.9	1.9	2.0	na
Mineral processing with enhanced sustainability	na	1.8	1.8	1.9	na
Disposal of petroleum drilling and production wastes	na	0.9	0.9	0.9	na
Measurement of Solar Ultraviolet Radiation	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3
Field Measurement of Electromagnetic Radiation	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2
Environmental Radioactivity Monitoring	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.4
Effects of Underwater Explosions on Dugongs	0.1	0.1	-	-	-
Greening of Government	na	na	na	na	na

- denotes nil; na denotes not available

(a) Transitional assistance for a stewardship system was appropriated through the Appropriation (Supplementary Measures) Act (No 2) 1999. The measure was identified in the 1999-2000 PAES.

(b) In 1999 the Government approved a stewardship system involving the collection of levy revenue (to be identified in the ATO budget statements) and associated benefit payments to recyclers (identified here). The measure will be included in the 2000-01 PBS and is budget neutral as stewardship benefits are fully offset by the levy revenue.

(c) This measure has been funded internally through reprioritisation.

(d) This includes the Commonwealth's contribution to the National Environment Protection Council Service Corporation for its operational budget. The amount was $0.4 million in 1999-2000.

(e) The difference between 1999-2000 and 2000-01 figures is predominantly due to a reduction in the cost of corporate overheads attributed to the Supervising Scientist.

New Measures

Product Stewardship Arrangements for Waste Oil
$39.7 million in 2000-01

This programme aims to develop and implement product stewardship arrangements for the management of waste oil. These arrangements, supported by legislation, will provide economic incentives to encourage the environmentally responsible recycling and reuse of waste oil.

Website: www.environment.gov.au/epg/oilrecycling
Publication: Comprehensive Product Stewardship System for Waste Oil - A Discussion Paper
Contact: Environment Australia, Environment Protection Group - 02 6274 1064

Diesel National Environment Protection Measure
$10.0 million in 2000-01

The diesel National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) will address the issue of emissions from all diesel vehicles currently in use in Australia (the in-service fleet) by establishing in-service emission standards. This funding will also be used to establish vehicle emissions testing facilities. This will ensure that vehicles meet acceptable standards throughout their service life, and thereby reduce overall pollutant emissions from the vehicle fleet. Priority will be given to diesel vehicles.

Contact: Environment Australia, Environment Protection Group - 02 6274 1581

National Biotechnology Strategy
$0.3 million in 2000-01

An environmental risk programme for genetically modified organisms is a component of the National Biotechnology Strategy. As part of the programme the Minister for the Environment and Heritage and the Minister for Health and Aged Care will collaborate with CSIRO on an initial project to improve the knowledge base and monitor risks in the field to address some of the most immediate environmental risk priorities.

Contact: Environment Australia, Environment Protection Group - 02 6250 0751

Adelaide Airport Noise Amelioration
$10.3 million in 2000-01

The Government will implement a noise amelioration programme at Adelaide Airport at a cost of around $60 million over four years. Under the programme, residences and certain public buildings around Adelaide Airport will be offered insulation against the effects of aircraft noise. The programme will offer similar benefits to those available in areas around Sydney Airport suffering similar levels of aircraft noise exposure. It will be funded from a levy on jet aircraft landings in the same way as the Sydney programme.

Website: www.dotrs.gov.au/airports/index.htm
Contact: Department of Transport and Regional Services, Airports Division - 1800 992 986

Environment Protection

National Environment Protection Council
$0.8 million in 2000-01

The main purpose of the National Environment Protection Council is to identify National Environment Protection Measures (broad framework-setting statutory instruments negotiated between state/territory governments and the Commonwealth Government). National Environment Protection Measures, set out in the Council's enabling legislation, relate to air quality; ambient marine, estuarine and fresh water quality; the protection of amenity in relation to noise; assessment of site contamination; hazardous wastes; the reuse and recycling of used materials; and motor vehicle noise and emissions.

Website: www.nepc.gov.au
Contact: Environment Australia, Environment Protection Group - 02 6274 1175

National Pollutant Inventory
$2.2 million in 2000-01

The National Pollutant Inventory is an Internet database providing information on pollutants emitted into the air, water and land anywhere in Australia. It provides the information base to assist governments in environmental decision making, promotes improved environmental performance by industry and fulfils a community right-to-know obligation in relation to pollution emissions.

Website: www.npi.ea.gov.au
Publication: National Pollutant Inventory Update
Contact: Environment Australia, Environment Protection Group - 02 6274 1488

Environmental Management at Leased Airports
$3.3 million in 2000-01

The Government funds the statutory roles of the Airport Environment Officers at most of the leased airports. These officers are responsible for overseeing environmental regulation, cleaning up and pollution prosecution actions. The Commonwealth is providing $3 million for employment of both Airport Environment Officers and Airport Building Controllers in 2000-01. This cost is recovered through charges on airport owners and, where appropriate, airport users.

Website: www.dotrs.gov.au/airports
Contact: Department of Transport and Regional Services - 02 6274 7390

Territories and Regional Support
$0.6 million in 2000-01

The Department of Transport and Regional Services supports state-level environmental services for the Indian Ocean Territories and Jervis Bay. These activities include environmental monitoring, environmental impact assessment, pollution licensing, and water quality control.

Website: www.dotrs.gov.au/terr/index.htm
Contact: Department of Transport and Regional Services, Territories and Regional Support - 02 6274 8088

Sydney Airport Noise Amelioration
$64.9 million in 2000-01

The Commonwealth will spend $64.9 million in 2000-01 towards the insulation of aircraft noise affected residences and eligible public buildings under the Sydney Airport Noise Amelioration Programme.

Website: www.dotrs.gov.au/airports/index.htm
Contact: Department of Transport and Regional Services, Airports Division - 1800 992 986

Remediation of Land Formerly Owned by Australian National
$5.0 million in 2000-01

The Commonwealth is committed to its obligations under agreements signed with South Australia and Tasmania in 1997 (the Railways Agreements) to remediate land in conjunction with the sale of Australian National's businesses. The programme extends to all states and territories except Queensland and has the objective of remediating former Australian National land to the environmental standards applicable in the relevant jurisdiction in 1997 and having regard to the purpose for which the land was used at that time.

Contact: Department of Transport and Regional Services, Rail Industry Branch - 02 6274 7664

Living Cities Programme

Air Toxics
$1.4 million in 2000-01

A core element of the Living Cities Programme, the Air Toxics Programme, will develop a national strategy to monitor, establish the levels of community exposure to, and manage emissions of selected air toxics. The Government will also consider whether to include air toxics in a future National Environment Protection Measure.

Air toxics are gaseous, aerosol or particulate pollutants (other than oxides of nitrogen, particles, ozone, carbon monoxide, oxides of sulfur and airborne lead) that are present in the air in low concentrations with characteristics such as toxicity or persistence that make them a hazard to human, plant or animal life.

Website: www.environment.gov.au/airtoxics
Contact: Environment Australia, Environment Protection Group - 02 6274 1841

Cleaning Our Waterways - Industry Partnership
$0.7 million in 2000-01

The Cleaning Our Waterways - Industry Partnership Programme is funded under the Living Cities Programme. It targets industrial sources of water pollution to improve the quality, amenity and health of waterways in Australia's capital and major cities. The programme supports industries that adopt best practice techniques and technologies to maximise water efficiency and water reuse, and to reduce effluent production and run-off.

Contact: Environment Australia, Environment Protection Group - 02 6274 1870

Urban Stormwater Initiative
$4.0 million in 2000-01

Under the Living Cities Programme, the Government aims to improve the health of urban waterways in major coastal cities. The Urban Stormwater Initiative will encourage improved stormwater management through assisting projects that promote integrated catchment management approaches based on capital works incorporating source control, water sensitive urban design and, where possible, stormwater reuse.

Website: www.environment.gov.au/usi
Publication: Urban Stormwater Initiative Guidelines
Contact: Environment Australia, Marine Group - 02 6274 1684

Chemwatch - ChemCollect
$5.1 million in 2000-01

ChemCollect is a Commonwealth/state initiative to collect and safely dispose of unwanted agricultural and veterinary chemicals (particularly persistent organochlorine pesticides) from rural areas. These chemicals, if left on farms, pose a risk to human health, the environment and international markets for Australian produce. States will match Commonwealth funding.

Website: www.environment.gov.au/epg/swm/safe.pdf
Publication: Safe Handling of Organochlorine Pesticides on Farms
Contact: Environment Australia, Environment Protection Group - 02 6250 0214

Environment / Industry Initiatives

Business of Sustainable Development Strategy
$4.2 million in 2000-01

The Business of Sustainable Development Strategy is aimed at accelerating the move of business and industry towards sustainability. It includes a number of programme areas, focussing particularly on improving eco-efficiency (environmental and economic improvement) in business. Programmes will be undertaken in partnership with industry, to provide a framework which encourages business to become more sustainable and to provide the ability for business to do so.

Contact: Environment Australian, Environment Protection Group - 02 6274 1622

Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games
$0.3 million in 2000-01

The Sydney Green Games are an opportunity to showcase Australia's environmental achievements and industry capabilities to the Australian public and the world, and to make Australia's environmental management of the Games the international benchmark for similar events and other major projects.

Contact: Environment Australia, Environment Protection Group - 02 6274 1330

Environment Industries
$0.9 million in 2000-01

To achieve sustainable development and on-ground environmental change, the Government is promoting Australia's environmental products and services. These products and services are provided by industry and government and are being promoted domestically and overseas. Activities include environmental industry promotion, identification of Australian environmental technologies in mining, identification of leading edge environmental technologies, capacity building in China and Indonesia, and updating Australia's EnviroNet.

Websites: www.environment.gov.au/net/environet.html
www.environment.gov.au/epg/eifu
Contact: Environment Australia, Environment Protection Group - 02 6274 1423

Best Practice Environmental Management in Mining
$0.1 million in 2000-01

Best Practice Environmental Management in Mining is a successful partnership programme between Environment Australia and the Australian mining industry. The programme encourages best practice principles in mining, from exploration through to construction, operation and eventual mine closure. A number of companies such as Alcoa of Australia, BHP, North Ltd, Pasminco, Rio Tinto, Western Mining and others have contributed to case studies showcasing best practice.

Publication: Best Practice Environmental Management in Mining booklets
Contact: Environment Australia, Environment Protection Group - 02 6274 1423

Industry and Export Development Strategy

To develop the Australian environmental industry, the Government is preparing an Environmental Management Industries Development Strategy. The strategy will assess market opportunities and evaluate potential for Australian environmental industries with a particular emphasis on capturing export market opportunities.

Website: www.isr.gov.au
Contact: Department of Industry, Science and Resources - 02 6213 7580

Petroleum Environment Advice

The Australian Geological Survey Organisation provides geoscientific advice about the effects of various offshore petroleum industry operations on the nature and quality of offshore marine environments. The work aims to improve resource management and environmental protection.

Website: www.agso.gov.au/
Contact: Australian Geological Survey Organisation, Petroleum and Marine Division - 02 6249 9450

Waste Minimisation

Eco-efficiency
$1.1 million in 2000-01

The Government is promoting eco-efficiency - the efficiency with which environmental resources are used to meet people's needs - by educating business and identifying activities that can improve their environmental performance. These activities include public environmental reporting, environmental accounting, environmental management systems, life cycle assessment and supply chain management.

Website: www.environment.gov.au/epg/environet/eecp/
Publication: Profiting from Environmental Improvement in Business: An Eco-efficiency Information Kit for Australian Industry
Contact: Environment Australia, Environment Protection Group - 02 6274 1671

Waste Management Awareness
$1.3 million in 2000-01

The Waste Management Awareness Programme, under the Natural Heritage Trust, provides funding for waste reduction and resource recovery issues of national strategic benefit. The focus of the programme is to work with business and communities to improve the environmental performance of resource use, reuse and recovery. Activities aim to reduce the quantity of materials entering waste streams; promote greater uptake of reuse and recovery initiatives by business and the community; and develop markets for recovered materials.

Publications: WasteWise Construction Handbook
WasteWise Construction Programme Review: A Report to ANZECC
Contact: Environment Australia, Environment Protection Group - 02 6274 1622

Hazardous Materials and the Environment

Control of Hazardous Waste
$0.8 million in 2000-01

The Commonwealth implements and administers the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989. The main purpose of the Act is to regulate the export and import of hazardous waste to ensure that it is disposed of safely so that human beings and the environment are protected from the harmful effects of the waste. The Act enables Australia to comply with specific obligations under the Basel Convention and other international instruments.

Website: www.environment.gov.au/epg/hwa.html
Publication: Information Paper No. 1 A Guide to Australia's Laws on Importing and Exporting Hazardous Waste
Contact: Environment Australia, Environment Protection Group - 02 6250 0243

Risk Assessment of Chemicals
$1.5 million in 2000-01

Environmental impacts of new industrial, agricultural and veterinary chemicals are assessed prior to their introduction to Australia. Selected existing chemicals are also assessed. Assessments are conducted on a fully cost-recovered basis (from industry) for the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment and the National Registration schemes respectively.

Contact: Environment Australia, Environment Protection Group - 02 6250 7519

Health Effects of Chemicals
$0.8 million in 2000-01

The Department of Health and Aged Care provides advice on the potential health effects of chemicals in the environment, including activities which relate to policies for national management of chemicals, international harmonisation of chemical risk assessment and information exchange.

Website: www.health.gov.au/tga
Contact: Department of Health and Aged Care - 02 6270 4301

Managing Health Risks of Genetically Modified Organisms
$3.8 million in 2000-01

The Commonwealth is working with states and territories to develop a national system to regulate public health and environmental risks associated with genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Governments are also administering interim arrangements for the control of GMOs pending the implementation of the new legislation. Both the current interim and new regulating arrangements focus on identifying and managing risk to the community (health risks) and environment associated with GMOs.

Website: www.health.gov.au/tga/genetech.htm
Contact: Department of Health and Aged Care - 02 6270 4386

Management of Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals
$0.9 million in 2000-01

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry-Australia develops policies and advice on the environmental, health, and trade risks that may arise from the use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals.

Publication: Management of Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals: A National Strategy
Contact: Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry-Australia - 02 6272 5686

Radioactive and Toxic Waste
$7.5 million in 2000-01

The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation develops environmentally sensitive and cost - effective technologies for the treatment and management of radioactive and other toxic wastes, particularly from the nuclear, mining and resource processing industries.

Website: www.ansto.gov.au/ansto/environment1/research/radio01.html
Contact: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Materials Division - 02 9717 3265

Remediation Projects
$4.5 million in 2000-01

The Department of Defence is undertaking major projects to remediate Mary's Creek, Jervis Bay and Albion Explosives Factory site at Deer Park, Melbourne. Mary's Creek remediation works are expected to commence in 2001. The project at Albion Explosives Factory covers the remediation and release of about 460 hectares of land in the western suburbs of Melbourne, including site management and land use planning for release on best terms.

Contact: Defence Estate Organisation - 02 6265 3895 / 02 6265 4134

Maralinga Clean-up
$0.1 million in 2000-01

The Commonwealth is managing the clean-up of residual radiation contamination from atomic weapons tests at Maralinga, South Australia, to delineate the contaminated areas and to verify that the rehabilitation criteria have been met. In addition, the Commonwealth provides a health physics auditing and lung monitoring service for the workers involved in the project. Much of the clean-up work has been completed and the Commonwealth is assessing the risks posed by the remaining residue.

Website: www.arpansa.gov.au
Publication: Annual Report of the Chief Executive Officer of ARPANSA 1998-99
Contact: Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, Environmental Health and Radiation Branch - 03 9433 2211

Protection from Nuclear Installation Hazards
$0.9 million in 2000-01

The Government sets regulatory requirements to ensure that the amount of airborne and liquid radioactive discharges from the Commonwealth's nuclear installations are as low as reasonably achievable, and that the risk of accidental releases of radioactive materials is within international standards. Monitoring of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation's installations confirms that the radioactive discharges are maintained at levels that are comparable to those of similar facilities elsewhere, and that the radiation doses that could arise from those discharges are a small fraction of the national and international limits.

Website: www.arpansa.gov.au
Publication: Annual Report of the Chief Executive Officer of ARPANSA 1998-99
Contact: Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, Regulatory Branch - 02 9545 8333

Development of National Codes of Practice
$0.5 million in 2000-01

The national code of practice will provide national uniformity in radiation protection practices, including the mining and milling of radioactive ores and the safe disposal of radioactive wastes.

Website: www.arpansa.gov.au
Publication: Annual Report of the Chief Executive Officer of ARPANSA 1998-99
Contact: Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, Policy and Corporate Support Branch - 03 9433 2211

Transport of Dangerous Goods

The Commonwealth, in cooperation with the states and territories, has put in place a national uniform regulatory regime for the transport of dangerous goods by road and rail. This legislation aims to ensure the protection of the environment, people and property during land transport of dangerous goods. The same uniform safe transport requirements now apply in each state and territory.

Website: www.dotrs.gov.au/dgoods
Publication: The Australian Dangerous Goods Code (6^th ed.)
The Australian Explosives Code (2^nd ed.)
Contact: Department of Transport and Regional Services, Land Policy Branch - 02 6274 7016

International Activities

International Programme on Chemical Safety
$0.1 million in 2000-01

The United Nations International Programme on Chemical Safety provides internationally evaluated scientific bases on which countries may develop their own chemical safety measures. The overall objective of the programme is to improve international and national management of chemicals.

Website: www.who.int/pcs/index.htm
Contact: Department of Health and Aged Care - 02 6298 8848

Persistent Organic Pollutants Convention
$0.1 million in 2000-01

The Government participates in the intergovernmental negotiations for a convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to control the production and release into the environment of persistent organic pollutants. The negotiations will cover 12 agreed POPs and will address possible expansion of this list.

Website: www.dfat.gov.au/environment
Contact: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Environment Branch - 02 6261 2335

Prior Informed Consent Convention

The Government will continue to participate in the interim arrangements of the Prior Informed Consent Convention (for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade). The interim procedure has operated since September 1998 and will continue to do so until 50 governments have ratified the Rotterdam Convention, thus bringing it into force.

Website: www.dfat.gov.au/environment
Contact: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Environment Branch - 02 6261 2335

Environmental Assessment

Supervising Scientist
$7.9 million in 2000-01

The Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist undertakes environmental research and reviews the environmental performance of uranium mines in the Alligator Rivers Region in the Northern Territory to ensure the protection of Kakadu National Park from the potential impacts of uranium mining. The Supervising Scientist also undertakes scientific research for the protection and management of the wetlands of northern Australia.

Website: www.environment.gov.au/science/index.html
Publication: Supervising Scientist for the Alligator Rivers Region Annual Report 1998-99
Contact: Environment Australia, Supervising Scientist - 08 8979 9711

Environmental Approvals and Assessment
$5.0 million in 2000-01

The Approvals and Legislation Division of Environment Australia is responsible for the administration of referrals, assessment and approval processes under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act), the Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974 (the EPIP Act) and the Telecommunications Act 1997. Implementation of the EPBC Act in 2000-01 will significantly change and strengthen the Commonwealth's role in the regulation of actions that may impact significantly on matters of national environmental significance. Approval, compliance and enforcement powers under the EPBC Act are new activities. The Act also provides for the accreditation of state assessments and, in limited circumstances, state environmental approvals.

Website: www.environment.gov.au/net/eianet.html
Contact: Environment Australia, Environment Protection Group - 02 6274 1444

Petroleum Exploration and Development
$0.1 million in 2000-01

The Government develops policy, provides advice and maintains regulatory arrangements under the Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1967 for the environmental assessment and approvals of petroleum exploration and development. These activities will be covered by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Publication: Guidelines for Preparation and Submission of an Environment Plan
Contact: Department of Industry, Science and Resources - 02 6213 7934

Tax Deduction for Environmental Activities
$18.0 million in 2000-01

Tax deductions can be claimed over ten years or the life of a project, whichever is the least, for expenditure on an eligible environmental impact study. Immediate tax deductions can be claimed for expenditure on preventing, combating or rectifying pollution, or treating, cleaning up, removing or storing waste, where the waste or pollution was produced by, or is on the site of, the taxpayer's income-producing activities.

Publication: MM7 and MM8 Tax Expenditures Statement 1998-99
Contact: Australian Tax Office - 02 6216 5781

Research

A Strategic Alliance
$0.2 million in 2000-01

The Commonwealth is funding an alliance between three Australian and two German research organisations to help solve water contamination problems in Australia and overseas, under the Australia-Germany Collaboration on Water and Environment Research and Development. The project targets a major national and international concern in relation to managing contaminated sediments.

Contact: Department of Industry, Science and Resources - 02 6213 6615

Environmental Laboratory Analysis
$1.2 million in 2000-01

Australian Government Analytical Laboratories is the Commonwealth's crisis response laboratory providing a capability for the analysis of environmental pollutants and contaminants. It is currently developing a pilot facility for ultra-trace dioxin analysis, and methods for testing food and crop samples for the presence of genetically modified organisms.

Contact: Australian Government Analytical Laboratories - 02 6213 6102

Environmental and Urban Impacts of Geohazards

The Australian Geological Survey Organisation provides research and information about earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis and storm tides, floods, volcanic eruptions, and magnetic storms. These natural hazards can damage the environment directly, for example, coastal erosion from tsunamis and storm tides, or indirectly through pollution following earthquake damage to pipelines, transportation systems, or waste storage facilities. The Australian Geological Survey Organisation also monitors nuclear tests throughout the world.

Website: www.agso.gov.au/
Contact: Australian Geological Survey Organisation - 02 6249 9611

CSIRO Research
$8.7 million in 2000-01

CSIRO undertakes production-orientated research. The research focusses on the key outcome of sustainability in all uses of environmental resources. Some major examples of such activity include: sustainable manufacturing, managing indoor environmental quality, mineral processing with enhanced sustainability, and disposal of petroleum drilling and production wastes.

Website: www.csiro.au
Contact: CSIRO - 02 6246 4557

Measurement of Solar Ultraviolet Radiation
$0.3 million in 2000-01

The Commonwealth maintains a solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) monitoring network covering the Australian capital cities, some major population centres, and the Australian stations in Antarctica. The monitoring network determines the character of the UVR environment and assesses the impact of depletion of the ozone layer on UVR layers and its consequences for public health.

Website: www.arpansa.gov.au
Publication: Annual Report of the Chief Executive Officer of ARPANSA 1998-99
Contact: Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, Non-ionizing Radiation - 03 9433 2211

Field Measurement of Electromagnetic Radiation
$0.2 million in 2000-01

The Commonwealth conducts an environmental surveillance programme of electromagnetic radiations (EMR) in Australian cities. The purpose of this monitoring is to determine the levels of radiofrequency EMR from all sources in populated areas and to assess the impact of increasing numbers of mobile phone base stations on the population's exposure to EMR.

Website: www.arpansa.gov.au
Contact: Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, Non-Ionizing Radiation - 03 9433 2211

Environmental Radioactivity Monitoring
$0.3 million in 2000-01

The Commonwealth conducts an environmental surveillance programme involving an Australia-wide network of air and rainfall sampling stations for monitoring radioactive fallout. This network enables the detection of very low levels of radioactive contamination should they arise in the Australian environment from any local or overseas source. Releases of radioactivity to the environment by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation facility are monitored, audited and reported annually, and annual inspections and environmental monitoring are conducted at the radioactive waste storage facilities in the Woomera. The Commonwealth also researches radon and the behaviour of radioactive aerosols in the environment.

Website: www.arpansa.gov.au
Contact: Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, Health and Radiation - 03 9433 2211

Effects of Underwater Explosions on Dugongs
$0.1 million in 2000-01

The Department of Defence funds research to assess the effects of underwater explosions on dugong populations.

Contact: Defence Estate Organisation - 02 6266 7498

Greening of Government

Most Commonwealth portfolios have policies and programmes aimed at reducing environmental impacts of their operations and activities (Table A5.2).

Table A5.2: Summary of Environmental Management in Commonwealth Portfolios

Portfolio	Recycling of Paper and Other Wastes	Energy/ Water Saving	Environmental Management Plan and/or Audits	Environmental Building Design
Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry - Australia
Attorney-General's
Bureau of Statistics
Communication, Information Technology and the Arts
Defence
Education, Training and Youth Affairs
Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business
Environment and Heritage
Family and Community Services
Finance and Administration
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Health and Aged Care
Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
Industry, Science and Resources
Prime Minister and Cabinet
Transport and Regional Services
Treasury
Veterans' Affairs

In addition to these standard measures, many agencies have adopted other measures that have resulted in improved environmental outcomes. Some examples are:

• The Department of Family and Community Services national office recently signed a two-year contract with a local bus company to provide transport for staff travelling between two main office areas in Canberra. Initially introduced for a trial period of 12 months, this service is a low-cost and energy-efficient alternative to using private motor vehicles and taxis.



• Centrelink is installing new energy management equipment and software in its national office complex to enable more energy efficient operation of building plant and equipment. Centrelink estimates that the savings from reduced electricity and gas consumption will exceed initial capital outlays within two years. Centrelink is also expanding its waste minimisation and recycling programme at its national office to produce savings of $520,000 per annum.



• Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) embarked on a building upgrade programme where they used paint colours that would decrease the need for lighting, and carpet made partly from recycled products. The SBS energy efficiency programme has resulted in a 25 per cent improvement in building efficiency since 1992-93.



• Australia Post has joined the Greenhouse Challenge programme (see Appendix 6 - Greenhouse and Atmosphere) and in its first reporting year reduced total greenhouse gas emissions by 14.9 per cent (50,000 tonnes) of CO₂ equivalent, well in excess of the anticipated 1.8 per cent saving. It is anticipated that an annual saving of 20 per cent will be achievable by the year 2005.



• The Department of the Treasury has entered into a purchasing contract with the Australian Capital Territory Electricity and Water Corporation to purchase 10 per cent green energy for the financial year 1999-2000.



• The Department of Environment and Heritage, a member of the Greenhouse Challenge programme (see Appendix 6 - Greenhouse and Atmosphere), has an Environment Management System (EMS) which has achieved certification to the international environmental management standard ISO 14001. The EMS includes no waste bins at desks and the separation of wastes into five different bins. Since inception the EMS has reduced wastes sent to landfill by over 95 per cent; collected over 30 tonnes of organic material since 1996; collected almost 13 tonnes of co-mingled material for recycling since 1997; collected over 180 tonnes of paper/cardboard for recycling since 1997; reduced direct greenhouse emissions by over 40 per cent per staff member per annum since 1997 (including energy efficiency initiatives).



• The Department of Defence is developing an environmental management system to standardise environmental management across the portfolio. Environment management plans will cover most facilities and training areas by the end of this financial year. A geographic information system will support and guide effective environmental management across the Defence estate.

Training activity is conducted in an environmentally responsible manner, to ensure sustainability of Defence training areas and to minimise damage to non-Defence land. The next major combined Australian Defence Force/ US Defence Force exercise will be held in 2001 and will be subject to rigorous environmental assessment and monitoring.