Chapter 1: Whole-of-Government Environment Expenditure and New Measures
WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENT EXPENDITURE
Effective environmental policies require a whole-of-government approach and the active involvement of all sectors of the community. Achieving Australia’s sustainable future requires resources, backed by a concerted and coordinated approach across the Australian Government.
Following the lead of the Prime Minister in the Sustainable Environment Committee of Cabinet, the Department of the Environment and Heritage, working with other portfolios, in particular the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, is at the forefront of delivering the Australian Government’s environment and sustainability policies. The work of other portfolios including the Departments of Education, Science and Training; Industry, Tourism and Resources; Transport and Regional Services; Defence; Foreign Affairs and Trade; Family and Community Services; the Treasury and Attorney General’s is essential to meeting our national priorities, one of which is a sustainable Australia.
This whole of government approach has lifted environmental spending to record levels — see Chart 1.1 and Table 1.1.
Chart 1.1 Whole-of-Government environment-related estimated expenditure
The Australian Government’s environmental spending supports a broad range of initiatives, from on-ground environmental protection and repair, research and development, collation and provision of data, to taxation concessions and incentives, and overseas development assistance.
Chart 1.2 Major portfolio contributions to environment expenditure, 2004-05
Australian Government environment and natural resource management agencies are at the forefront of cooperative approaches. Two key agencies, the Australian Greenhouse Office and the National Oceans Office, report to more than one portfolio Minister, which helps to ensure that their work encompasses interests and actions across the sustainability agenda.
The Government’s flagship natural resource management programmes — the Natural Heritage Trust and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality — are delivered jointly by the Department of the Environment and Heritage and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry — see Table 1.1. This reflects the Government’s view that environmental protection, sustainable agricultural production and natural resource management are complementary, rather than conflicting goals. Chart 1.3 illustrates the significant contribution made by these two portfolios and the overall growth in their total environment expenditure since 1996.
Table 1.1 Major portfolio contributions to environmental expenditure, 2003-04 to 2007-08
Chart 1.3 Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry and Environment and Heritage portfolios, environment funding, 1995-96 to 2004-05
