Sustaining our productive natural resources and environment
Prevention
The Commonwealth continues to provide national leadership, coordination and funding for the eradication of major plant pest, disease and weed incursions across a range of primary industry sectors, including agriculture and forestry, in conjunction with State Governments and industry. Eradication programme costs are currently shared with the Federal Government and State Governments, each funding 50 per cent of nationally agreed eradication programmes.
Government and Livestock Industry Cost Sharing Deed in Respect of Emergency Animal Diseases
The new Government and Livestock Industry Cost Sharing Deed in Respect of Emergency Animal Diseases provides a certainty of funding for 63 emergency animal disease threats to Australia and facilitates a rapid and effective response. This will minimise the socio-economic consequences of the disease to Australia, in production losses, trade disruption, and public health or environmental consequences.
The deed provides for the sharing of eligible costs of an emergency animal disease response by governments and affected livestock industries. Eligible costs include the salaries and wages, operating costs and capital costs of the combat agencies above the cost of their normal level of animal health services. Costs eligible for cost sharing also include compensation to the owner of livestock or property that has been destroyed for the purpose of eradication or prevention of the spread of an emergency animal disease.
Emergency animal disease incidences cannot be forecast, so financial implications cannot be accurately determined. There are no immediate financial implications upon industry becoming a signatory to the new agreement. Financial implications are only incurred when, and if, cost sharing is invoked for an emergency animal disease in Category 2, 3 or 4 (Governments fully fund responses to emergency animal disease responses in Category 1). In recognising the need for a rapid response, the Federal Government has agreed to underwrite industry contributions in the event of a disease outbreak, preventing funding delays that could severely hamper a response.
Building a National Approach to Animal and Plant Health
The Government is providing $6.2 million in 2002-03 for the Building a National Approach to Animal and Plant Health initiative. This initiative helps to develop programmes to improve Australia's animal and plant health infrastructure and to improve pest and disease prevention and emergency response capacities. The measures will minimise the impact of exotic pest and disease incursions on animal, aquatic animal and plant production and assist in maintaining and improving domestic and international markets.
Enhancing animal health infrastructure
Funding of $10 million over four years from 2001-02 will enable the Federal Government to better prepare for a major national animal disease emergency and to better deploy its human and related resources for such events. A major foot and mouth disease outbreak in Australia would have a significant impact on the Australian economy, particularly in rural and regional areas. The overall economic cost in terms of lost trade is estimated to be more than $10 billion and would cause significant job losses in livestock and associated industries. Exports of many animal and animal products would cease in the event of an outbreak and the trade aspect is particularly important to rural and regional Australia given its significant reliance on these exports.
While it is the responsibility of State and Territory Governments to combat the on-ground aspects of such a disease outbreak, the Federal Government has a major role to play in regaining trade and the national coordination of response strategies. The funding will be used to enhance the Federal Government's epidemiological resources and diagnostic capability as well as an associated higher level of emergency preparedness by way of improved communication, planning, training and information management systems.
Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Programme
The Federal Government is contributing 50 per cent of the costs of the containment and eradication of the exotic, invasive pest, the red imported fire ant, with funding of $15.5 million in 2002-03. This species - a significant pest of plant and animal industries, a potentially calamitous environmental threat, and a serious public nuisance - has been confined to two areas in south-east Queensland. It is the target of an intensive, nationally coordinated eradication and surveillance programme. If the ant were to have spread to rural and regional areas eradication would not have been possible and ongoing control costs would have become a local responsibility. The total cost to Australia of a widespread fire ant invasion has been estimated at around $6.7 billion over 30 years.
Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy
The Government is providing $16.9 million over four years to continue the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy, which undertakes the identification of quarantine risks to northern Australia and provides early warning of quarantine risks and pest incursions.
This continues protection of Australia's animal, plant and human health, and the environment through a programme of monitoring, surveillance and public awareness across northern Australia and in neighbouring areas of Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and East Timor.
Australia's response to foot and mouth disease and other quarantine risks
The Government is providing $592.8 million over five years from 2000-01 to provide additional resourcing and infrastructure to strengthen Australia's defence against the introduction of exotic pests and diseases, including foot and mouth disease.
The funding is being used to implement a heightened quarantine inspection regime to cover 100 per cent of all goods and mail entering Australia. It will also cover approximately 80 per cent of all passenger baggage entering Australia via airports except for some passengers arriving at peak times from certain low risk countries such as New Zealand. Monitoring of airline and ship waste disposal is also being increased.
ChemCollect
ChemCollect is a national programme providing farmers with the opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted agricultural and veterinary chemicals. The programme has a particular focus on hazardous farm chemicals that are no longer registered for use.
Collections have been completed in the Northern Territory, but will continue in the States until late in 2002.
The Federal Government is contributing approximately $13.5 million to the programme, to be matched on a dollar for dollar basis by State and Northern Territory Governments. This one-off government funded collection scheme will be followed by ongoing chemicals collections funded by the agricultural chemicals industry.
Conservation
Incentives for Environmental Management Systems in Agriculture
The Government will provide funding of $25 million over five years for the Incentives for Environmental Management Systems (EMS) in Agriculture Programme, to support primary producers in adopting an environmental management system. Fifty per cent of the costs of eligible EMS expenditure, up to a maximum of $3,000 per primary producer on taxable incomes up to $35,000 per annum, will be reimbursed. The programme will be funded from within the Natural Heritage Trust.
This measure will help rural-based industries address changing market expectations of food and fibre products and widespread adoption may assist rural regions to promote their sustainability.
Conservation covenants
This measure provides an incentive for landholders to maintain the value of the natural Australian environment. It allows deductions for those who enter into perpetual conservation covenants with a deductible gift recipient, without consideration. Eligible perpetual conservation covenants are those that restrict or prohibit activities that degrade the environmental value of the land and are approved by the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. The measure will apply from 1 July 2002.
Corporatisation of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Authority: Commonwealth funding for implementation of environmental flows
The Federal Government will provide $75 million over 10 years to deliver a significant increase in environmental flows down the Snowy River.
The Federal Government and the New South Wales and Victorian Governments will provide a total of $375 million to implement water efficiency projects and carry out riverine works. This will benefit the environmental condition of the River Murray and Snowy River and key alpine rivers. Significant environmental and economic benefits include:
- enhancement of water security arrangements in the Murray-Darling Basin;
- increased salinity dilution;
- water for environmental purposes;
- increased water security for irrigators;
- increased quality and volume of water for South Australia;
- improved environmental condition of the river;
- increased employment; and
- ecotourism in the area, especially in regard to recreational fishing and boating.
Management of Australia's land and inland water resources
Two of the most critical issues confronting Australia's environment, rural industries, and regional communities, are salinity and deteriorating water quality. The National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality is a $1.4 billion joint investment from the Federal Government and the State and Territory Governments to address these water quality and salinity issues.
A core element of the National Action Plan is the development of integrated regional plans. Governments will support this approach through substantial funding for strategic actions specified in regional plans and through the provision of technical assistance, skills training, information and data. Support will also involve the development of pilot programmes for market-based instruments to encourage best practice management to ensure that actions have long-lasting benefits. In 2001-02, the Government expended $2.2 million to implement regional plans.
Natural Heritage Trust
The Natural Heritage Trust was established by the Federal Government in 1996 to repair and replenish Australia's natural capital infrastructure.
The Government will provide more than a further $1 billion to extend the Natural Heritage Trust for a further five years from 2002-03, bringing total funding since 1996 to more than $2.7 billion. This represents more than 11 years commitment to funding on-ground actions to conserve and repair Australia's unique environment.
Coupled with funds rolled over from previous years and income from interest, the $1 billion new funding will bring budgeted spending to $250 million per year in 2002-03 and 2003-04, rising to $310 million per year in 2004-05 and 2005-06, and to $300 million in 2006-07. The Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act (1997) requires that a minimum balance of $300 million remains in the Trust Reserve from 2001-02 onwards, with interest generated by this balance allocated towards the purposes of the trust.
From its inception in 1996-97, the trust was funded from the proceeds of the partial sale of Telstra. The $1 billion extension of the trust will, however, be fully funded from consolidated revenue. The Commonwealth will seek matching funding from the States and Territories for investments it makes under the trust.
The trust has been instrumental in raising the awareness and understanding within the Australian community of environmental issues. More than $1.4 billion of trust and related programme funding has already been approved for more than 11,800 projects around Australia since 1996, involving almost 400,000 Australians. Funding has been targeted at on-ground environmental and natural resource management projects.
The extension of the trust will be enhanced by the important lessons learnt during its first six years. The programme structure will be simplified, with future investment made through four overarching programmes against 10 areas of activity. The programmes are:
Landcare - reversing land degradation and promoting sustainable agriculture;
Bushcare - conserving and restoring habitat for our unique native flora and fauna which underpin the health of our landscapes;
Rivercare - improving water quality and environmental condition in our river systems and wetlands; and
Coastcare - protecting our coastal catchments, ecosystems and the marine environment.
Under the extension of the trust, funding will be invested at three levels - national, regional and local.
At the local level, the trust will continue to fund individuals and small community groups through the Australian Government Envirofund. The Envirofund was launched in early April and applications close on World Environment Day - 5 June. Through grants of up to $30,000 it will help groups to undertake important work at a local scale, as well as increase their capacity to participate more fully in regional natural resource management planning processes.
The main focus of investment under the trust will occur at the regional level. Investment in a wide range of conservation and sustainable resource use projects will continue, but will be guided by accredited regional natural resource management plans.
To help the community move towards regional natural resource management, the Commonwealth will ensure that funds are available in 2002-03 for at least 650 facilitator and coordinator positions. This will ensure that the investment in skills development over the first phase of the trust is not lost, and that the community is actively supported in using the Envirofund and in working with regional bodies to develop and implement regional plans. This network will complement the State and Territory Governments' natural resource management responsibilities.
With $1 billion in new funding over the period 2002-03 to 2006-07, the trust will have the capacity to provide funding on a three year rolling basis to regional bodies to assist in implementing their natural resource management plans.
At the national level, the trust will continue to invest in activities that cross over regional boundaries, and in matters of direct Commonwealth responsibility such as Commonwealth waters.
The new arrangements for the trust will take effect from 1 July 2002.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Care and development of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) is the Commonwealth Statutory Authority responsible for the care and development of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The Federal Government is providing $31.2 million in funding during 2002-03 (excluding the measures below). The Authority works in partnership with Commonwealth Government and Queensland Government agencies to ensure that the conservation and world heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef are preserved for future generations.
Conservation of the Great Barrier Reef is the Authority's primary obligation. The challenge is to ensure that valuable regional tourist and commercial fishing industries worth directly and indirectly more than $1 billion per annum and other important uses such as adjacent land use, shipping and recreational activities continue to operate on an ecologically sustainable basis.
Management of aquaculture impacts
The Government is providing $1.8 million over four years from 2001-02 (nearly $0.5 million in 2002-03), to the Authority to enhance management of aquaculture adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Coastal aquaculture, particularly prawn farming, is a fast-growing industry on the Queensland coast. This measure will serve to ensure that aquaculture developments do not affect the environmental values of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Townsville Aquarium - Reef Headquarters
The Government is providing $6.4 million over four years from 2001-02, ($0.5 million in 2002-03) to support the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority during refurbishment of the Townsville Aquarium - Reef Headquarters. The funding will enable the development of a business plan and allow the Authority to meet operational expenses for this major regional tourism facility and education centre. This additional funding will enhance the facility for visitors and ensure that health and safety standards are maintained. Additional work generated by the measure will generate employment opportunities in the region.
Energy and greenhouse
Launceston Woodheater Replacement Programme
The Federal Government is providing $2.1 million over two years to address severe air quality problems in Launceston. The Federal Government, in conjunction with State and local governments, has implemented a package of actions to reduce air pollution from woodheaters, a major problem in the region. The core component of the programme is a Natural Heritage Trust-funded financial incentive scheme to encourage householders to switch to cleaner burning heating appliances.
The programme also aims to foster and complement action by State and local governments, and suppliers and installers of heating equipment; and to increase public awareness of woodsmoke, its health effects and the role the community can play in reducing woodheater emissions.
The programme is being administered by Environment Australia and the Launceston City Council, in collaboration with the Tasmanian State Department of Primary Industries, Water and the Environment.
It is expected that this programme will deliver significant long-term benefits as a result of improved regional air quality and associated health savings. Additional benefits include the development of a woodheater replacement model that can be replicated in other woodsmoke-affected regions.
Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme
Funding of $2.2 million in 2002-03 for the Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme will assist industry at a sectoral level to become sustainable and competitive through the stimulation of continuous and big-step improvements in the efficient use of energy through a range of information, advisory services and management tools. This will help to reduce business costs, increase competitiveness and contributes to the abatement of greenhouse gas emissions.
Commencing in 1998, it is an important element of the Australian Government's package of measures to address climate change and was allocated $10.3 million over five years to support its development and implementation. These services are provided to industries engaged in the programme, irrespective of their location. Rural industries specifically engaged with the programme include the dairy processing, wine, resource processing and the pulp and paper sectors.
Australia Greenhouse Office
The Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO) is the world's only national agency dedicated to tackling greenhouse gas emissions. The AGO administers a broad range of programmes that are, in many instances, world-leading in supporting the broad uptake of cost-effective greenhouse gas abatement across industry and community, including the growth of the renewable energy industry. Programmes with a direct impact on regional Australia include:
Renewable Remote Power Generation Programme
For eligible projects, the Renewable Remote Power Generation Programme (RRPGP) provides rebates of up to 50 per cent of the cost of installing renewable energy generation equipment that reduces diesel use for off-grid electricity supply. The RRPGP is funded from excise paid on diesel used to generate electricity by public generators. States and Territories will be allocated funding on the basis of the relevant diesel fuel excise paid in that State or Territory. The Federal Government will provide $17.7 million in 2002-03.
Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme
The Government is providing $400 million from 2000-01 under the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme ($50.4 million in 2002-03) to reduce Australia's net greenhouse gas emissions. The programme supports activities that are likely to result in substantial emission reduction or substantial sink enhancement. To date, approximately $150 million has been offered to successful proponents, to support projects with a total value of $1.1 billion. These projects include Regional Partnership in the Douglas Shire on Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas Abatement; Energy Efficient Calcination in Queensland Alumina in Gladstone; Lignite Predrying using Mechanical Thermal Expression by Latrobe Valley generators; and CargoSprinter - a new concept in moving freight by rail in regional Victoria.
Diesel and Alternative Fuel Grant Scheme
This scheme maintains the price relativities between diesel and alternative transport fuels by allowing on-road transport operators, who are eligible for the diesel grant, to be eligible for alternative fuel grants. The maintenance of the price relativities between diesel and alternative fuels encourages wider use of alternative fuels, which may reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. Eligible users of CNG, LPG, ethanol and canola oil qualify for alternative fuel grants. With some exceptions, the scheme generally applies to eligible operators of vehicles with a gross vehicle mass of more than 4.5 tonnes outside of metropolitan areas or 20 tonnes in metropolitan areas. The scheme is administered by the Australian Taxation Office and the Chief Executive of the Australian Greenhouse Office may certify additional alternative fuels.
Bush for Greenhouse
The Government has allocated a total of $5.5 million to Bush for Greenhouse ($1 million for 2002-03). The programme is encouraging investment in revegetation for environmental and greenhouse benefits, and is delivering valuable benefits to Australia by building our expertise and capacity in carbon sequestration. A series of tools has been developed relating to project scale carbon accounting and verification and legal and administrative arrangements, including tools for pool management and regional brokering.
Natural disasters
Regional Flood Mitigation Programme
In 2002-03 the Government will allocate $10 million under the Regional Flood Mitigation Programme, designed to assist State and Territory Governments and local agencies to reduce the substantial economic and social costs of flooding in rural, regional and outer metropolitan areas of Australia.
Funding is directed to priority, cost effective flood mitigation works and measures. Eligible projects include flood control dams, retarding basins, levees, channel improvements, voluntary purchase of flood prone properties, house raising, community awareness programmes and flood warning systems. The Government meets one third of the cost of all approved projects.
Since the programme was established in 1999, a number of significant flood mitigation measures have been undertaken and more than $20 million in Government funding has already been provided.
Natural Disaster Relief Arrangements
The Federal Government partly reimburses State and Territory expenditure for natural disaster relief payments and infrastructure restoration. Funding is provided once their expenditure exceeds a certain threshold.
Natural disasters covered by these arrangements include bushfires, cyclones, earthquakes, floods, storms/storm surge and landslides (consequential upon an eligible event). Budget allocation under this programme is notional due to the unpredictability of the incidence and severity of natural disasters.
Natural Disaster Risk Management Studies Programme
The Government provides up to $3 million per annum toward the cost of the studies under this programme. State and Territory Governments and local governments meet at least two-thirds of the costs of the studies, with the State at least matching the Commonwealth's contribution.
Risk management studies identify risks and potential mitigation measures leading to the wider adoption of preventative measures. The studies also assist emergency management agencies to further develop strategies to minimise the impact of natural disaster and to enhance the response capacity of those agencies.
