NEW MEASURES
The Table 1.2 below describes new Budget measures and outlines actual resourcing applied to each measure. The Government’s total environment-related expenditure in these activities exceeds the amounts shown in the table below.
Table 1.2: Howard Government environment-related new measures, 2004-05 to 2007‑08
| Title of Initiative | 2004-05 $m | 2005-06 $m | 2006-07 $m | 2007-08 $m | 4 Year total | |
| Environment and Heritage Portfolio | ||||||
| Extension of the Natural Heritage Trust | - | - | - | 300.0 | 300.0 | |
| Great Barrier Reef Representative Areas Programme | 8.6 | 1.6 | - | - | 10.2 | |
| Water Quality Monitoring Programme for the Great Barrier Reef | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | - | 6.0 | |
| Assistance to Tourism Operators to Implement a Control Programme to Address Crown of Thorns Starfish Outbreaks in the GBR | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | - | 0.9 | |
| Education About the New Zoning Plan for the GBR | 2.2 | 1.9 | 0.3 | - | 4.4 | |
| Enforcement and Compliance Activities Within Boundaries of the 'No-Take' Zones Flowing from the Representative Areas Programme | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.0 | - | 8.8 | |
| Restoration of St Paul's (Melb) and St George's (Perth) Cathedrals (a) | - | - | - | - | 0.0 | |
| Our Climate (AGO & ORER) (b) | 57.0 | 60.6 | 70.9 | 71.5 | 260.0 | |
| Total for E&H | 73.0 | 69.3 | 76.5 | 371.5 | 590.3 | |
| Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | ||||||
| Extension of the National Landcare Programme (c) | - | - | 40.0 | 40.0 | 80.0 | |
| Marine Pests | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.0 | - | 3.7 | |
| Extension of Artesian Basin Rehabilitation | 8.2 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 8.7 | 33.8 | |
| Murray Darling Basin Commission Contribution (d) | 5.9 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 8.5 | 33.5 | |
| Avian Influenza - protecting our birds and wildlife | 6.2 | na | na | na | 6.2 | |
| Industry, Tourism and Resources | ||||||
| National Biotechnology Strategy (e) | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.5 | |
| Customs/DAFF | ||||||
| Surveillance and Enforcement Programme - to provide for the protection of Australia's Southern Ocean Waters | 47.9 | 41.4 | - | - | 89.3 | |
| Total for all | 143.6 | 130.5 | 136.0 | 429.2 | 839.3 | |
- The Australian Government will provide $5.5 million in the 2003-04 Supplementary Additional Estimates for the restoration of the Cathedrals in 2003-04.
- This comprises funding for new measures of $248.3 million plus existing $11.7 million for the associated measures.
- The details of existing funding for NLP in 2004-05 and 2005-06 are shown at Appendix 1.
- The figures shown here account for 50% of the Government's contribution. The other 50% is included in the total NHT.
- The amounts shown here are the allocations to the Department of the Environment and Heritage from the total funding of $20 million provided through the Budget to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources
NB: This budget reaffirms the landmark $200 million for a Basin-wide strategic approach to water over-allocation in the Murray-Darling Basin agreed at COAG in August 2003, and announced in the 2003-04 Additional Estimates. There is also a new measure to protect biodiversity in Australia which is not shown in Table 1.2.
Natural Heritage Trust extended
This Budget will provide an extra $300 million to continue the Natural Heritage Trust (the Trust), the largest and most successful environmental rescue effort ever undertaken in Australia’s history, into 2007-08. This new funding will build on the unprecedented level of investment in our environment adding a twelfth year to the Trust and bringing total investment in the Trust to $3.0 billion. Introduced by the Howard Government in 1996-97, the Trust will continue to provide the foundation for a sustainable Australia with funding for practical, strategic and results oriented actions by the Australian people and all levels of government.
Investment through the Trust will exceed $1.2 billion over the next four years as a result of this year’s Budget initiative.
The Trust funds Australians to tackle our key environmental challenges and deliver improved water quality, more sustainable agricultural practices, cleaner beaches, cleaner air and better protection for threatened ecosystems.
Overseen jointly by the Minister for the Environment and Heritage and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Natural Heritage Trust aims to harness the knowledge and enthusiasm of individuals and communities and assist them to meet the challenges facing a sustainable Australia.
National Landcare Programme extended
With over 4000 Landcare groups including about 120,000 volunteers across Australia, the Landcare programme is a model for community involvement in natural resource management. It is estimated that 75 per cent of all farmers have benefited from Landcare information.
This Budget extends the National Landcare Programme by two years by providing an additional $80 million ($40 million in both 2006-07 and 2007-08). This brings the Howard Government’s total investment in this programme to $159.5 million over the next four years.
The Great Barrier Reef – protecting the Reef for future generations
The Australian Government will commit $30.3 million over the next three years towards the protection and rehabilitation of the Great Barrier Reef through its new Zoning Plan, creating the largest network of protected marine areas in the world. This includes the $176.4 million that the Government will invest for the protection of the Great Barrier Reef over the next four years.
Coming into effect on 1 July 2004, the new Zoning Plan will significantly increase the area of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park included as Green Zones, where extractive activity is banned, from 4.5 per cent to 33.3 per cent, a seven-fold increase. Protection of 70 bioregions will help marine species recover and lead to an increase in both the number and size of marine species, ensuring the long-term future of the Reef.
The rezoning includes a structural adjustment package for affected commercial fishers and their communities that may be adversely impacted by the implementation of the new zones. The 2004-05 Budget allocates $10.2 million for this package over the next two years. Communities along the coast will be informed about the newly protected areas of the Reef through public and industry education programmes.
Additional resources will be provided to ensure enforcement and compliance, a water quality monitoring programme (as part of the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan) and assistance to tourism operators to continue their efforts to mitigate Crown of Thorns Starfish outbreaks.
The Living Murray
This budget reaffirms the landmark $200 million for a Basin-wide strategic approach to water over-allocation in the Murray-Darling Basin agreed at COAG in August 2003, announced in the 2003-04 Additional Estimates.
This $200 million contribution is proof of the Howard Government's commitment to partnerships with the State and Territory Governments to improve the health of one of our biggest natural icons, the Murray River system. It is subject to satisfactory agreement between the partners on the introduction of the National Water Initiative.
The investment will deliver extra water to six key environmental areas in the Basin and begin to turn around the problems of poor water quality, loss of native plants, animals, fish, forests and wetlands, and to address the increase in pests such as carp. The Living Murray Initiative will assist our irrigation and rural industries, our native plants and animals, and our communities.
In 2004-05 the Howard Government investment in the Basin will reach close to $1 billion, including funding from the Trust, NAP and financial support for the Murray-Darling Basin Commission.
The Government will provide an additional $67.0 million over four years to the Murray-Darling Basin Commission to fund capital works administration and education activities and to establish a “renewals annuity” for capital replacement and major cyclical maintenance.
Climate
The 2004-05 Budget delivers a climate change strategy to keep Australia at the forefront of the global response to climate change. Climate change is an important global challenge that requires long-term effective action at the domestic and international level. In this Budget, the Australian Government undertakes a significant strengthening of its actions to respond to climate change by allocating $463.6 million over four years including $260.0 million for 11 new measures, refocussing and refining Australia’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while maintaining a strong and competitive economy. This increases the Australian Government’s investment in climate change by $70.3 million in new funding. The total commitment by the Australian Government to this issue exceeds $1 billion.
Biodiversity Hotspots
This Budget contains a new measure to protect biodiversity hotspots in Australia. Biodiversity hotspots are areas rich in species diversity and also facing immediate threat. Taking action in these areas, we will be able to save more species for every dollar we spend. Details of the new measure will be announced after the Budget.
Southern Oceans
In this Budget, the Government will provide $89.3 million over two years to the Australian Customs Service and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to enhance Australia’s patrol capability in the Southern Ocean. The waters of the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica are a treasure-house of biodiversity and essential to our national fishing industry, security and sovereignty. Australia is responsible for the environmental protection of our sub-Antarctic islands. Illegal fishing in Australia’s Fishing Zone at Heard Island and McDonald Islands threatens the sustainability of fisheries in the area, a prime target being the endangered but highly valuable Patagonian Toothfish.
Increased surveillance and enforcement activities in Australia’s Fishing Zone at Heard Island and McDonald Islands have already resulted in the apprehension of vessels fishing illegally in Australia’s sovereign waters.
Biotechnology
The $20.0 million National Biotechnology Strategy, administered by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources, ensures communities, industries and the environment will benefit from biotechnology.
The 2004-05 Budget provides $2.5 million over the next four years to the Department of the Environment and Heritage to implement a nationally consistent approach to the access and use of genetic resources and undertake environmental risk studies. Identification and careful management of environmental risks will be essential for advice to the Gene Technology Regulator under the Gene Technology Act 2000.
Keeping our coasts free from marine pests
The 2004-05 Budget provides $3.7 million over three years to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to implement a national system to manage introduced marine pests, a serious threat to our fishing and aquaculture industries and the marine environment. For example, the Northern Pacific Seastar has significant impacts on native marine communities and commercial shellfish farming operations. The Seastar is believed to have come from Japan 20 years ago and is a voracious predator.
The Australian Government and State and Territory governments will develop a coordinated response to deal with this serious and growing problem under the National System for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions.
Some parts of the National System, including international ballast-water management arrangements, are in place. The 2004 Budget will ensure the development of the rest, such as best management practices for aquaculture, and aquarium trade regulations.
Rehabilitating the Artesian Basin
The Great Artesian Basin is one of the largest artesian groundwater basins in the world. It underlies approximately one-fifth of Australia and extends beneath arid and semi-arid regions of Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Since 1998 the Government has provided $32.0 million to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to restore artesian pressure in the Basin by capping old, free-flowing bores and replacing earth bores with pipes. About 300 priority bores have been rehabilitated, leaving another 850 to be treated.
The 2004-05 Budget provides $42.7 million over five years to extend this initiative. This year’s Budget allocation includes $1.4 million to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to complete work on the Carnarvon Artesian Basin in Western Australia.
Protecting birds and wild life
Avian influenza viruses can infect a wide variety of birds including domestic poultry and wild birds. The 2004-05 Budget provides $6.2 million to the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) for 2004-05 to enhance border protection at airports and seaports and to strengthen protection against a viral epidemic such as avian influenza.
The funding will be injected into a number of measures, including the employment of additional staff and a targeted awareness campaign. AQIS will also implement an awareness campaign to alert travellers to the risks of bringing in avian influenza through poultry products, feathers and eggs.
Protecting our built heritage
The Australian Government continues its investment in restoring cultural heritage places. The Government in this Budget will provide $5.5 million in 2003-04 for the restoration of St George’s Cathedral in Perth and St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne. This funding will support efforts to repair and preserve these heritage buildings. Funding for St Paul’s Cathedral is in addition to funding of $2.5 million provided in 2001-02.