Industry, Tourism and Resources
Automotive assistance package post-2005
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | |
| Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources | 0.5 | 0.9 | 141.6 | 572.3 |
The Government announced on 13 December 2002 a reform package for the automotive industry for the period 2006 to 2015. Key elements of the package include reducing the tariff rate on passenger vehicles and related components to 5 per cent on 1 January 2010 and continuation of the Automotive Competitiveness and Investment Scheme (ACIS) from 2006 to 2015.
Funding provided under ACIS is estimated to be $4.2 billion over the period 2006 to 2015 - comprising approximately $3 billion in capped assistance and an estimated $1.2 billion in uncapped assistance. Capped assistance will be phased down over the 2011 to 2015 period to half of that provided over the 2006 to 2010 period.
As part of the package, the Government also announced a Motor Vehicle Producers' R&D fund totalling $150 million ($50 million per year for three years from 2006-07). This fund will support the development of key motor vehicle producer technologies. An amount of $6.5 million in funding will also be provided over four years commencing 2003-04 for the administration of the new arrangements. Total funding under the package for the four years commencing 2003-04 will be $715.3 million.
See also the related revenue measure titled Passenger motor vehicle and automotive components - reduction in tariff rate in the Attorney-General's portfolio.
Geoscience Australia - Core Petroleum Programme
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | |
| Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources | 8.7 | 8.9 | 9.1 | 9.3 |
The Government will provide funding of $36 million over four years to Geoscience Australia to continue with the existing pre-competitive oil exploration programme. The programme provides geological information to organisations wishing to explore for petroleum and so increases opportunities for Australian production.
As the existing programme relies on previously acquired data, the Government has also decided to fund a programme of new data acquisition.
See also the related expense measure Geoscience Australia - seismic data acquisition and preservation in the Industry, Tourism and Resources portfolio.
Geoscience Australia - seismic data acquisition and preservation
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | |
| Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources | 2.5 | 5.0 | 7.5 | 10.0 |
The Government will provide funding of $25 million over four years to fund the collection of new seismic data and the preservation of existing data.
The collection of new seismic data by Geoscience Australia will add to the existing pool of data available for release to organisations wishing to explore for petroleum.
The preservation of deteriorating seismic data tapes held by Geoscience Australia, which store valuable geological information, will ensure that the data is available for future use.
See also the related expense measure Geoscience Australia - Core Petroleum Programme in the Industry, Tourism and Resources portfolio.
ISONET/SAMP - extension of funding
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | |
| Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources | - | 1.0 | - | - |
The Government will provide an additional $1 million in 2004-05 to continue the Supplier Access to Major Projects programme, and for ISONET Limited to continue to coordinate the activities of the State Industrial Supplies Offices. Existing funding is already in place for 2003-04. It is intended that the programmes operate on a cost recovery basis from 2005-06.
National Measurement Institute - establishment
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | |
| Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources | - | - | - | - |
The Government has decided to amalgamate the Australian Government Analytical Laboratories, the National Standards Commission (both currently located in the Industry, Tourism and Resources portfolio) and the National Measurement Laboratory (currently located within the Education, Science and Training portfolio) to form the National Measurement Institute. The cost of the amalgamation will be $2 million in 2003-04 and $1 million in 2004-05 and will be absorbed within the existing resources of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources.
The functions of the existing agencies will be amalgamated to provide more efficient and effective support for Australia's physical, chemical and biological measurement capabilities and its legal metrology system. The National Measurement Institute will be located within the Industry, Tourism and Resources portfolio.
Pharmaceuticals Partnerships Program
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | |
| Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources | - | 15.0 | 18.7 | 30.0 |
The Government will provide $150 million over five years for a grants programme to encourage additional research and development by pharmaceutical companies in Australia. The new scheme will commence on 1 July 2004 and will provide $41.3 million in 2007-08 and $45 million in 2008-09.
New pharmaceuticals research and development undertaken in Australia by biotechnology, originator and generics medicine companies, as well as associated research companies will be eligible for support under this programme. It will replace the Pharmaceutical Industry Investment Programme, which expires on 30 June 2004.
R&D Start - extension of funding for 2006-07
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | |
| Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources | - | - | - | 41.0 |
The Government will provide new funding of $41 million for R&D Start in 2006-07. This will bring total R&D Start funding to $597 million over the four years 2003-04 to 2006-07.
R&D Start is a competitive grants and loans programme that assists businesses to undertake and commercialise research and development with a high potential for commercialisation. Provision of the additional funding will allow three-year grants to be provided that extend over the period 2003-04 to 2006-07.
R&D Start - programme flexibility
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | |
| Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources | - | - | - | - |
The Government has decided to provide some flexibility for the operation of R&D Start to maintain the effective operation of this programme. The Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources will have the capacity to commit limited funds with the overall aim of delivering this programme within the current 2003-04 estimate. This measure has been developed in response to past lags between planned and actual research and development activity which can result in the programme underspending. Provision for this in 2003-04 has been made in the Contingency Reserve.
Tourism promotion in the Australian Capital Territory
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | |
| Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources | - | - | - | - |
The Commonwealth is providing a one-off payment of $0.5 million in 2002-03 to the Australian Capital Territory Government for a tourism promotion initiative to assist recovery from the January 2003 bushfire. The cost is being absorbed within the existing resources of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources.