Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
Election Commitments
A Creative Australia — Prime Minister's Literary Award — establishment
| 2007‑08 | 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | - |
The Government will provide $1.2 million over four years to establish the Prime Minister's Literary Award, which will fund annual cash prizes of $100,000 in each of two categories: published fiction book of the year and published non‑fiction book of the year. The Prime Minister's Literary Awards will be exempt from income tax to the extent that it is assessable income, which has zero cost against the forward estimates. The funding will allow for the management of a nomination and assessment process, and an annual awards function.
This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment.
A Creative Australia — Resale Royalty Rights for Visual Artists — implementation
| 2007‑08 | 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | - | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.3 | - |
The Government will provide $1.5 million over three years to implement a resale royalty scheme for visual artists. This measure is designed to assist a collecting agency to set up the necessary infrastructure to collect royalties and return these to the artists. The collecting agency would recover costs from a share of the royalties collected.
This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment.
A Creative Australia — support for Young and Emerging Artists — implementation
| 2007‑08 | 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia Council | - | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $6.6 million over four years to support young and emerging artists and to engage young audiences in the arts. The funding will provide support for: performing arts companies to offset the income that would otherwise be earned from presenting better known or more commercial works; projects that support young and emerging artists in developing professional skills, expertise and professional networking; and projects that engage young artists and audiences, particularly in demonstrating best practice in the areas of youth arts and new technologies.
The cost of this measure ($1.6 million per annum in 2008‑09 and 2009‑10 and $1.7 million per annum in 2010‑11 and 2011‑12) will be met from within the existing resourcing of the Australia Council.
This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment.
Artists in Residence Education Initiative
| 2007‑08 | 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia Council | - | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
The Government will provide $5.2 million over four years to the Australia Council to improve access to quality artistic experiences for students in primary and secondary schools and tertiary institutions. The measure will provide grants of up to $20,000 for individual professional artists, and $100,000 for arts organisations, to develop and deliver arts learning experiences through in‑school residencies.
This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment.
Creative Communities Program — establishment
| 2007‑08 | 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia Council | - | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.8 | - |
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | 1.8 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 1.8 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.8 | - |
The Government will provide $10.0 million over four years to improve opportunities for Australians to participate in community‑based arts and cultural activities.
Funds will be allocated to the Australia Council to enable it to implement initiatives to enhance participation in the arts through strategic investments, partnerships with key stakeholders and/or direct grants for regional community arts organisations and projects.
This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment.
Water for the Future — National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative
| 2007‑08 | 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | - | 19.0 | 38.0 | 59.0 | 60.0 |
The Government will provide $250.0 million over six years (including $50.0 million in 2012‑13 and $24.0 million in 2013‑14) to provide rebates of up to $500 for up to 500,000 homes towards the cost of installing rainwater tanks or new piping for grey water use. This measure will help reduce the impact of drought and climate change on Australia's towns and cities.
The measure also includes $3.0 million in 2008‑09 to provide up to $10,000 to every surf life saving club in Australia for the installation of a rainwater tank, or as a contribution towards a larger water saving project.
This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment.
Water for the Future — National Urban Water and Desalination Plan
| 2007‑08 | 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | - | 14.0 | 129.0 | 195.0 | 315.0 |
| Australian Taxation Office | - | - | 29.0 | 49.0 | 77.0 |
| Total | - | 14.0 | 158.0 | 244.0 | 392.0 |
The Government will provide $1.0 billion over six years (including $192.0 million in 2012‑13) for desalination, water recycling and stormwater harvesting projects in Australian cities with populations of over 50,000.
The private sector, water utilities and State, Territory and local governments will be able to apply for funds, which will be provided through grants and refundable tax offsets of up to 10 per cent of project costs, capped at a maximum of $100.0 million per project.
This measure includes funding for a Centre of Excellence in desalination technology in Perth ($20.0 million), a Centre of Excellence in water recycling in Brisbane ($20.0 million), the Glenelg to Adelaide water recycling project ($30.2 million) and the Geelong Shell water recycling project ($20.0 million).
This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment.
Water for the Future — National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns
| 2007‑08 | 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | 10.0 | 39.8 | 55.0 | 75.0 | 75.0 |
The Government will provide $254.8 million over five years to work with governments and local water authorities to minimise water loss, invest in more efficient water infrastructure, refurbish older pipes and water systems, and fund practical projects to save water. This measure will help reduce the impact of drought and climate change on Australia's towns and cities.
This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment.
Water for the Future — taking early action
| 2007‑08 | 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | 96.2 | 110.0 | 193.8 | - | -400.0 |
The Government will bring forward $400.0 million of funding from 2011‑12 under Water for the Future, to accelerate investment in water savings infrastructure and to purchase water entitlements from willing sellers. This reflects the Government's recognition that urgent action is needed to tackle the water crisis.
This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment.
Water for the Future — Water Efficiency — Western Australia
| 2007‑08 | 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | 35.0 | - | - | - | -35.0 |
The Government will provide $35.0 million in 2007‑08 (brought forward from 2011‑12) under the Water for the Future program, to make an initial contribution to the Harvey Water Piping Project in Western Australia. The project involves upgrading irrigation supply infrastructure to reduce seepage and evaporation, with the water saved to be piped to Perth.
The Government's remaining contribution of $14.0 million is expected to be provided in 2008‑09, from within existing funding for the Program.
This measure delivers on the Government's election commitment.
Other measures
A Creative Australia — Regional Arts Fund — continuation
| 2007‑08 | 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | - | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $11.8 million over four years to continue the Regional Arts Fund program, which supports sustainable cultural development in regional and remote Australia and assists the professional skills development of regional artists. The program also facilitates the formation of partnerships and networks, co‑funds regional arts worker positions and supports strategic initiatives that address disadvantage in remote, isolated and Indigenous communities.
This measure involves funding of $2.8 million in 2008‑09, $2.9 million in 2009‑10, and $3.0 million per annum in 2010‑11 and 2011‑12. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
A Creative Australia — Sydney Dance Company — contribution
| 2007‑08 | 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia Council | - | - | - | - | - |
The Government provided $1.5 million in 2007‑08 to the Australia Council so the Sydney Dance Company will no longer be required to repay funding advances made to it by the Australia Council. This is a one‑off contribution to provide the working capital to enable the Sydney Dance Company to help rebuild its financial position.
Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Anti‑whaling action — aerial monitoring
| 2007‑08 | 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | 0.7 | - | - | - | - |
The Government provided $0.7 million in 2007‑08 for the use of an A319 aircraft, operated by the Australian Antarctic Division, to conduct surveillance flights to monitor and collect information on Japanese whaling fleet activities in the Southern Ocean during the 2007‑08 whaling season.
Further information can be found in the press release of 19 December 2007 issued by the Ministers for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts and Foreign Affairs.
Bureau of Meteorology — Emerald weather radar station
| 2007‑08 | 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bureau of Meteorology | - | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Related capital ($m) | |||||
| Bureau of Meteorology | - | 1.4 | 1.8 | - | - |
The Government will provide $5.0 million over four years to install and maintain a weather radar near Emerald, Queensland. The new radar will fill a current gap in radar coverage in the region.
This measure includes $3.2 million in capital funding for the purchase and installation of the weather radar and associated infrastructure.
Information captured by the radar will be used by the Bureau of Meteorology to upgrade its weather and hydrological services to the Emerald region, which will improve community preparedness for severe weather and flood events.
This measure was announced by the Prime Minister in Parliament on 20 February 2008.
Caring for our Country
| 2007‑08 | 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | - | -2.5 | -2.5 | -0.5 | 2.0 |
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | - | -12.5 | -10.5 | 0.5 | 5.0 |
| Total | - | -15.0 | -13.0 | - | 7.0 |
The Government will provide $2.2 billion over five years for the Caring for our Country program, which brings an integrated approach to the conservation and rehabilitation of the environment. This measure involves funding of $428.2 million in 2008‑09, $440.1 million in 2009‑10, $465.7 million in 2010‑11, $453.5 million in 2011‑12 and $459.3 million in 2012‑13.
Caring for our Country will invest in six areas of national priority: Australia's national reserve system; biodiversity and natural icons (including weeds, feral animals and threatened species); coasts and aquatic habitats; sustainable farm practices and Landcare; natural resource management in remote and northern Australia; and community skills, knowledge and engagement. Regional bodies will receive guaranteed funding of at least 60 per cent of historical average funding to secure their operations.
As part of Caring for our Country, the Government will fund its election commitments to rescue the Great Barrier Reef ($200.0 million over five years) and the endangered Tasmanian Devil ($10.0 million over five years), to protect and repair Australia's fragile coastal ecosystems ($100.0 million over five years), to improve water quality in the Gippsland Lakes ($5.3 million over three years), to fight the Cane Toad menace ($2.0 million over two years), to implement the Tuggerah Lakes Estuary Management Plan ($20.0 million over five years), to employ additional Indigenous Rangers ($90.0 million over five years), to expand the Indigenous Protected Areas network ($50.0 million over five years), and to assist Indigenous Australians enter the carbon trading market ($10.0 million over five years).
This measure will provide savings of $15.0 million in 2008‑09 and $13.0 million in 2009‑10 from the amalgamation of previous programs, and will provide additional funding of $7.0 million in 2011‑12 and $12.0 million in 2012‑13 for the program. Net savings of $9.0 million have been identified over the five years from 2008‑09 to 2012‑13.
Provision for Caring for our Country has already been included in the forward estimates under the existing Natural Heritage Trust, National Landcare Program, Environmental Stewardship Program and Working on Country program.
Director of National Parks — extension
| 2007‑08 | 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | - | 4.4 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $4.4 million in 2008‑09 to extend for one year the supplementation provided to the Director of National Parks, following the removal of Kakadu National Park entry fees from 1 January 2005.
The Government will consider alternative income stream options for Kakadu National Park, to be introduced from 2009‑10.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Structural Adjustment Package — additional funding
| 2007‑08 | 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | - | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide an additional $50.8 million in 2007‑08 for grants under the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Structural Adjustment Package to further assist eligible commercial fishers and other businesses adversely affected by the increase in the size of 'no take' fishing areas in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.
Kokoda Track — assistance to Papua New Guinea for management of the Kokoda Track and the Owen Stanley Ranges
| 2007‑08 | 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | - | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $15.8 million over four years to work with the Government of Papua New Guinea towards achieving effective management arrangements so that the Kokoda Track is protected and delivers increasing benefits to the local people. These funds will also be used to conduct a feasibility study into a World Heritage nomination for the Owen Stanley Ranges, including the Kokoda Track.
The measure includes funding:
- to establish a Kokoda Unit in the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts to support the World Heritage process;
- for a seconded officer to work with Papua New Guinea's Kokoda Track Authority; and
- for the Department of Veterans' Affairs to commission a website and a documentary on the Kokoda Track and educational material for schools on Australia's wartime history and the cultural and heritage importance of the Track.
Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates. The funding includes $3.0 million in 2007‑08 to be met from within the existing resourcing of AusAID.
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