Budget Measures 2008-09 - Budget Paper No. 2 - Part 2: Expense Measures

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Whole of Government (continued)

Other measures

Responsible Economic Management — Adjusting the funding for specific health programs

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Medicare Australia	-	0.7	0.3	0.3	0.3
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-113.7	-138.1	-130.3	-123.1
Total	-	-113.0	-137.8	-130.1	-122.9

The Government will adjust the funding for a number of health programs that have a history of lower than anticipated expenditure by aligning future funding more closely with anticipated demand. This measure will not impact on the delivery of these health programs and the Government will review funding levels for individual programs should demand exceed expected take‑up rates in the future.

The efficient allocation of resources is a core element of the Government's health reform initiatives. The adjustments have been made to eight programs primarily focused on providing grants for primary care projects, education and training for health care providers. These programs have total funding of $854.5 million in 2008‑09 and $3.3 billion over the four years 2008‑09 to 2011‑12. The programs are:

Primary Care Financing, Quality and Access;
Primary Care Education and Training;
Primary Care Policy, Innovation and Research;
Pathology Services;
Mental Health;
e‑Health Implementation; and
Diagnostic Imaging.

This measure will provide savings of $503.7 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — After‑hours medical services — streamlining grants funding

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Medicare Australia	-	..	..	..	..
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-3.5	-5.7	-8.7	-8.2
Total	-	-3.6	-5.8	-8.7	-8.2

The Government will rationalise and streamline grants to general practices providing after‑hours medical services. Currently, there are two programs providing grants to support these services, including funding to help establish new facilities and to support the ongoing cost of providing after‑hour services.

Under the new arrangements, grant funding will be available under one program. This will allow for more efficient administration and reduce complexity for general practices accessing the grants funding. This program will continue to provide grants to support the operations of existing and new after‑hour services, but funding to establish new facilities will no longer be available. Funding to establish new after‑hours services will be provided under the Health and Hospitals Reform — GP Super Clinics measure.

See the related expense measure titled GP Super Clinics in the Health and Ageing portfolio.

This measure will provide savings of $26.2 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Alerting the Community to the Links Between Illicit Drugs and Mental Illness — advertising and information campaigns

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-9.0	-0.7	-	-

The Government will not proceed with the final two years of funding for the program COAG Mental Health — alerting the community to the links between illicit drugs and mental illness announced in the 2006‑07 Budget. This program previously provided $21.6 million over four years primarily for media and education campaigns. Messages providing information to help people understand the links between drug use and the development of mental illness will be delivered instead through the National Drugs Strategy as part of broader illicit drug communications programs.

This measure will provide savings of $9.7 million over two years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Apprenticeship Incentives for Agriculture and Horticulture

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-7.7	-12.7	-13.5	-13.9	-0.9

The Government will continue to provide funding for Apprenticeship Incentives for Agriculture and Horticulture. All first and second year Australian Apprentices undertaking a Certificate level II, III or IV qualification in agriculture, and those in rural and regional areas who are undertaking a Certificate level II, III or IV qualification in horticulture, will continue to be eligible for the $500 fee assistance training voucher and the tools for your trade initiative.

Additional funding included in the forward estimates to fund this measure will be withdrawn and the cost of this measure will be met from within existing resources of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

This will provide savings of $48.7 million over five years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Asia‑Pacific forestry skills and capacity building

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry	-2.9	-4.3	-4.3	-4.3	-

The Government will not proceed with additional funding for the Asia‑Pacific forestry skills and capacity building measure announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2007‑08. Funding for this measure will be provided from the existing International Forest Carbon Initiatives program.

This measure will provide savings of $15.7 million and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — AusLink — inland rail — revision of measure

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government	-10.8	-54.2	65.0	-	-

The Government will provide $15.0 million over three years from 2007‑08 to the Australian Rail Track Corporation for a scoping study involving the detailed planning and design work for a potential inland rail corridor. The Government is deferring, until the outcome of the study is clear, the expenditure of $85.0 million for projects on existing sections of the AusLink rail network which could contribute to a future inland rail corridor. This deferred expenditure includes $10.8 million from 2007‑08 and $54.2 million from 2008‑09 which will now be expended in 2009‑10.

The previous measure was announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2007‑08. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.

This measure delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Australia Connected — cancellation of the OPEL contract

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy	-99.1	-634.2	-226.0	-	-

The Government will not proceed with funding for the OPEL Networks (the Optus and Elders joint venture) broadband network. OPEL's Implementation Plan did not satisfy the condition precedent of the funding agreement, and as a result the contract has been terminated.

This measure will provide savings of $959.3 million over three years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

See also the related expense measure titled National Broadband Network — rollout in the Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy portfolio.

Responsible Economic Management — Australia‑Japan Free Trade Agreement — commencement of negotiations

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Various Agencies	-	-1.1	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with half of the funding for Australia‑Japan Free Trade Agreement negotiations for 2008‑09 provided to agencies in the measure Australia‑Japan Free Trade Agreement — commencement of negotiations announced in the 2007‑08 Budget. Funding provided in 2007‑08 has been retained by the agencies. Future negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement will draw to a greater extent on the existing resourcing of the relevant agencies. This will not affect the Government's capacity to undertake the negotiations.

This measure will provide savings of $1.1 million in 2008‑09 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Australian Apprenticeship Workforce Skills Development Program

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-	-5.1	-5.1	-5.2	-5.2

The Government will redirect funding from the Australian Apprenticeship Workforce Skills Development Program. The funding was originally allocated to support increased opportunities for school‑based New Apprenticeships in the trades, but has not been achieving this objective efficiently. Increased opportunities for school‑based New Apprenticeships in the trades will now be met through implementation of the Government's Skilling Australia for the Future and Trade Training Centres in Schools plans.

This measure will provide savings of $20.6 million over four years to offset the Government's election commitments, Early Childhood — Strong Quality Standards in Child Care and Early Years Learning Framework.

See also the related expense measures titled Strong Quality Standards in Child Care and Early Years Learning Framework in the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio.

Responsible Economic Management — Australian Apprenticeships State and Territory Incentives Program

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-	-5.3	-15.6	-20.5	-22.2

The Government will not proceed with incentives provided to State and Territory governments under the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program to employ apprentices.

The Government does not provide these incentives to its own agencies and considers that State and Territory governments should accept full responsibility for funding their agencies to employ apprentices. This measure does not affect the eligibility of local government agencies to receive incentives under the program and does not affect payments made to apprentices.

This measure will provide savings of $63.6 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Australian Defence Force — fewer non‑operational overseas postings and exchanges

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Defence	-	-	-	-	-
Related revenue ($m)
Australian Taxation Office	-	0.5	1.6	2.2	2.3

The Government will phase out 89 Department of Defence non‑operational overseas postings and exchanges and will reduce funding for overseas travel by $7.0 million per year. There will be no reduction in Australian Defence Force numbers as a result of this measure.

The measure delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management by providing savings of $86.4 million over four years, which will be reinvested in priority projects within Defence.

The measure is also expected to increase taxation revenue by $6.6 million over four years, as personnel posted on non‑operational deployments are taxed concessionally.

Responsible Economic Management — Australian Federal Police airport liaison officer network

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Australian Federal Police	-	-1.5	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with full funding for the measure National Security — Australian Federal Police airport liaison officer network, announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2003‑04. The network provides an Australian Federal Police coordination point at major airports for national security related issues.

Half of the funding to maintain the liaison officer network will be provided instead from within the existing resourcing of the Australian Federal Police. Separate funding of $1.5 million for the remaining cost of maintaining the network at current levels has been retained in the estimates for 2008‑09. Provision for funding from 2009‑10 to 2011‑12 has been included in the forward estimates, pending a review of the measure in the 2009‑10 Budget.

This measure will provide savings of $1.5 million in 2008‑09 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Australian Federal Police surge capacity

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Australian Federal Police	-	-2.5	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with funding for the measure National Security — Australian Federal Police surge capacity, announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2004‑05.

Funding to maintain a surge capacity at current levels will be provided from within the existing resourcing of the Australian Federal Police.

Provision for funding from 2009‑10 to 2011‑12 has already been included in the forward estimates, pending a review of the measure in the 2009‑10 Budget.

This measure will provide savings of $2.5 million in 2008‑09 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Australian Federal Police — termination of residential and accommodation leases in Papua New Guinea

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Australian Federal Police	-0.7	-	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with funding for residential accommodation leases intended for Australian Federal Police personnel in Papua New Guinea that are unoccupied and no longer required.

This measure will provide savings of $0.7 million in 2007‑08 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Australian National Rugby Academy

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Health and Ageing	-5.0	-10.0	-10.0	-	-

The Government will not proceed with funding for the Australian National Rugby Academy measure announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2007‑08.

This measure will provide savings of $25.0 million over three years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation	-	-2.1	-1.7	-1.7	-1.7

The Government will reduce the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation's funding in recognition of the need for all agencies to achieve further efficiencies and prioritise resources. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation's funding will remain exempt from the standard annual efficiency dividend.

This measure will provide savings of $7.3 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Australian Political Parties for Democracy Program

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Finance and Deregulation	-	-1.3	-	-	-

The Government will reduce funding for the Australian Political Parties for Democracy Program. This program provides funding to Australia's major political parties for international activities. The program has a history of underspending and the arrangements after 2008‑09 will be reviewed to determine whether the program should be refocused.

This measure will provide savings of $1.3 million in 2008‑09 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Australia Post Special Dividend

Revenue ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy	-	150.0	-	-	-

The Government will receive a special dividend of $150.0 million from Australia Post in 2008‑09. The special dividend reflects the strong financial position of Australia Post.

Responsible Economic Management — Australian Tourism Development Program

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism	-	-6.9	-4.3	-4.3	-

The Government will reduce funding to the Australian Tourism Development Program and will focus the program on projects with greater community benefits. Funding of $6.5 million in 2008‑09, $4.0 million in 2009‑10 and $4.0 million in 2010‑11 will be retained to provide competitive, merit‑based grants to tourism projects across Australia, including election commitments and projects that promote tourism development for Indigenous communities and in drought‑affected areas of regional and rural Australia.

This measure will provide savings of $15.5 million over three years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Better targeting and delivery of Baby Bonus

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs	-	-52.4	-96.5	-101.0	-104.7

The Government will limit eligibility to the Baby Bonus to families with an adjusted taxable income of $75,000 or less in the six months after the birth of a baby (equivalent to an annual income of $150,000) from 1 January 2009. This will ensure that family payments are targeted to families on the basis of need.

The Government will also pay the Baby Bonus in 13 fortnightly instalments from the date of claim, rather than as a lump sum, to all eligible births from 1 January 2009.

The Government will increase the Baby Bonus from $4,258 to $5,000 on 1 July 2008 and will index the payments by the Consumer Price Index each subsequent year on 1 July. In addition, the Baby Bonus will be extended to families with newly adopted children aged from two years to 16 years, from 1 January 2009.

This measure is expected to lead to savings of $377.2 million and to cost $22.6 million to administer, leading to net savings of $354.5 million over four years. The measure delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure includes funding for Centrelink of $6.4 million in 2008‑09, $5.5 million in 2009‑10, $5.3 million in 2010‑11, and $5.0 million in 2011‑12.

Responsible Economic Management — Better targeting and delivery of Family Tax Benefit — $150,000 income test on primary earner for FTB‑B

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs	0.5	-112.8	-132.4	-141.2	-158.0

The Government will limit eligibility for Family Tax Benefit Part B to families where the primary earner has an adjusted taxable income of $150,000 a year or less. Adjusted taxable income includes taxable income, plus other amounts that reflect a person's financial means, such as net rental property losses and tax free pensions or benefits. The income test will be indexed annually by the consumer price index. This measure will ensure that family payments are targeted to families on the basis of need.

This measure is expected to deliver net savings of $543.8 million over five years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure includes funding for Centrelink of $0.5 million in 2007‑08 and savings from Centrelink of $0.1 million in 2008‑09, $1.4 million in 2009‑10, $1.7 million in 2010‑11, and $2.1 million in 2011‑12.

Responsible Economic Management — Better targeting and delivery of Family Tax Benefit — continuous adjustment to reduce over‑payments of Family Tax Benefit

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs	-	1.7	-14.3	-0.5	0.6

The Government will ensure that when families advise during the year that their income estimate has increased, their Family Tax Benefit payments will be adjusted, with the aim of avoiding any overpayment. This 'continuous adjustment' measure will commence from 1 July 2009. This measure is directed at avoiding overpayment and the need for families to pay back Family Tax Benefit debts.

This measure includes funding for Centrelink of $3.6 million. This measure is expected to lead to net savings from Family Tax Benefit of $12.5 million over four years.

This measure delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Better targeting and delivery of Family Tax Benefit — streamlining administration

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs	-	2,139.5	2,171.4	2,210.8	2,250.2
Australian Taxation Office	-	-2,159.3	-2,196.4	-2,238.7	-2,278.7
Total	-	-19.8	-25.0	-27.9	-28.5
Related capital ($m)
Australian Taxation Office	-	1.6	-	-	-

The Government will simplify the delivery of the Family Tax Benefit. From 1 July 2009, the Family Tax Benefit will only be paid and claimed through Centrelink and Medicare, and not through the tax system. This will simplify claiming arrangements for families and reduce administrative costs. Families will still be able to choose between lump sum claims made at the end of the year and fortnightly instalments.

This measure will lead to net savings of $99.7 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure includes funding for Centrelink of $3.5 million in 2008‑09, $6.0 million in 2009‑10, $6.1 million in 2010‑11, and $6.1 million in 2011‑12.

Responsible Economic Management — Bimbimbie Wildlife Park

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts	-	-	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with funding towards the infrastructure costs of establishing the Community Wildlife Centre in the Bimbimbie Wildlife Park, Victoria. This funding was not subject to a competitive selection process.

The $2.5 million contribution in 2007‑08, as announced in the 2007 Pre‑Election Economic and Fiscal Outlook, was to be met from within the existing resourcing of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. The funding has been reallocated by the Department to other priorities.

This measure delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Biodiversity Hotspots — reduction in funding

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts	-6.0	-	-	-	-

The Government will reduce funding for the Biodiversity Hotspots program in 2007‑08. There were insufficient suitable projects identified under the program to utilise all the available funding.

This measure will provide savings of $6.0 million in 2007‑08 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — BroadbandNow

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy	-2.4	-	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with funding for BroadbandNow, which was designed to provide information to help consumers understand the broadband options available to them and how to get connected. This function duplicated initiatives provided by industry and the Broadband Service Locator, available on the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy website.

This measure will provide savings of $2.4 million and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Capability Technology Demonstrator Program

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Defence	-	-	-4.3	-13.0	-13.0

The Government will reduce funding for the Capability Technology Demonstrator Program. The program provides funds to subsidise the defence industry's development of demonstration technologies that may enhance Australian Defence Force capability.

Base funding for the program will be set at $13.0 million per annum for the four years 2008‑09 to 2011‑12, with additional funding of $13.0 million in 2008‑09 and $8.7 million in 2009‑10 to meet existing commitments.

The program has a low rate of successful transition to Australian Defence Forces service. The program's efficiency will be enhanced by focusing resources on projects that target development of the Australian Defence Force's priority technologies. The Defence White Paper, due for completion in 2008, will examine more effective approaches to working with defence industry.

This measure will provide savings of $30.3 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Career Advice Australia

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-	-2.9	-2.9	-2.9	-2.9

The Government will redirect residual funding from the Career Advice Australia program to two new programs: Mentors for Our Students and Enterprise and Career Education — School Business Linkages. The Mentors for Our Students program will pilot a volunteer mentoring program involving recently retired tradespeople and professionals sharing their knowledge and skills with younger Australians. The Enterprise and Career Education — School Business Linkages program will strengthen partnerships between schools and businesses and develop innovative, high quality, relevant work and training programs for vocational education and training in schools.

This measure will provide savings of $11.4 million over four years to offset the Government's election commitments Mentors for Our Students and Labor's Education Revolution: New Directions for Vocational Education and Training.

The Government will also provide $51.2 million over two years (including $33.9 million in 2008‑09 and $17.3 million in 2009‑10) to extend the Career Advice Australia program. Career Advice Australia provides access to career information and advice, meaningful work experience and quality information about industry opportunities to help young people make informed decisions about their future. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.

See also the related expense measures titled Mentors for Our Students and Enterprise and Career Education — School Business Linkages in the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio.

Responsible Economic Management — Centrelink — further call centre supplementation

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs	-3.3	-	-	-	-
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-1.7	-	-	-	-
Total	-5.0	-	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with funding for the Centrelink — further call centre supplementation — continuation announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Year Outlook 2007‑08.

Centrelink was able to meet call centre demand for the 2007‑08 financial year within existing funding.

This measure will provide savings of $5.0 million and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Additional funding for call centres has been provided for the 2008‑09 financial year.

See also the related measure titled Centrelink call centre supplementation — continuation in the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs portfolio.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Chamber Music Australia

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts	-0.1	-	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with a one‑off contribution to Chamber Music Australia. Chamber Music Australia is supported by the corporate sector and a number of public sector agencies in Victoria, reducing the need for support from the Australian Government.

This measure will provide savings of $0.1 million in 2007‑08 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Chemical, biological and radiological incident response — provision of deployable mortuaries

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Attorney-General's Department	-	-0.8	-0.8	-	-

The Government will not proceed with funding for the purchase of deployable mortuaries announced in the 2006‑07 Budget. The Attorney‑General's Department has determined that deployable mortuaries could be more effectively delivered through a service agreement with a commercial provider.

This measure will provide savings of $1.6 million over two years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Chemotherapy Drugs — more efficient arrangements

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Health and Ageing	-	4.4	-31.9	-33.6	-35.8
Medicare Australia	-	0.6	0.1	..	..
Department of Veterans' Affairs	-	-	-3.3	-3.2	-3.4
Total	-	4.9	-35.0	-36.8	-39.2
Related capital ($m)
Medicare Australia	-	0.8	-	-	-

The Government will implement more efficient arrangements for funding chemotherapy drugs on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and under the Chemotherapy Pharmaceutical Access Program. Under the new arrangements, to commence from 1 July 2009, chemotherapy drugs will be funded on the amount of active ingredient used, rather than by the number of vials used. In addition to meeting the cost of the drug, the Government will also pay a mixing fee of $40 per prescription to assist in the cost of preparing the drugs for infusion. This fee will replace the current wholesaler mark‑up and pharmacy dispensing fee provided for prescriptions of these medicines. These changes will not increase the co‑payment paid by patients of up to $31.30 for general patients and $5.00 for concessional patients.

This measure will provide savings of $105.4 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Child Care Benefit — remove the minimum rate

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	1.8	-43.8	-51.1	-61.1	-68.1

The Government will strengthen the income testing arrangements for Child Care Benefit, and improve the targeting of Government assistance, by abolishing the Child Care Benefit minimum rate from the first Monday in July 2008.

Families currently using approved care have the hourly rate of Child Care Benefit reduced over certain income ranges down to a minimum rate of Child Care Benefit. This measure will have the effect of reducing the minimum rate of Child Care Benefit to zero. As a result families with higher incomes (over $110,000 per annum) will no longer receive any Child Care Benefit. However, this measure is being introduced at the same time as the Child Care Tax Rebate is being increased from 30 per cent to 50 per cent and this change to the Child Care Tax Rebate will give families significantly more assistance than will be removed via the abolition of the minimum rate of Child Care Benefit.

This measure will not affect Child Care Benefit for registered care.

This measure will provide net savings of $222.2 million over five years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure includes funding for Centrelink of $1.7 million in 2007‑08, $4.3 million in 2008‑09, $4.0 million in 2009‑10, $1.0 million in 2010‑11, and $1.0 million in 2011‑12.

Responsible Economic Management — Child Support Reforms — revised advertising campaign

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Human Services	-4.9	-	-	-	-

The Government will reduce funding for the Child Support Reforms — communication strategy announced in the 2006‑07 Budget. The Government has revised the planned communications campaign activities for the Child Support Reforms to use shorter and more accessible methods of delivering information such as newsletters and online information.

This will ensure that parents affected by the reforms are properly informed, but at a lower cost.

This measure will provide savings of $4.9 million in 2007‑08 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Choice of Superannuation Fund

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Australian Securities and Investments Commission	-	-	-1.1	-2.3	-2.3
Australian Taxation Office	-	-6.6	-13.8	-13.8	-13.8
Total	-	-6.6	-14.9	-16.1	-16.1
Related revenue ($m)
Australian Prudential Regulation Authority	-	-	-1.1	-1.1	-1.1

The Government reduce funding for the Choice of Superannuation Fund measure.

The successful implementation of the Choice of Superannuation Fund means that additional implementation funding is not required beyond 30 June 2009 for the Australian Taxation Office and the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal. Funding at a reduced level of $7.2 million for the Australian Taxation Office in 2008‑09 will support residual implementation issues. Funding for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission will continue at a reduced level of $2.7 million per annum from 2010‑11, to support the Commission in superannuation related enforcement and compliance issues.

The termination of additional funding for the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal will be matched by a reduction in levies collected by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority through the financial sector supervisory levy on superannuation funds. The Tribunal receives its resources from Government via the Australian Securities and Investments Commission's appropriation.

This measure will provide savings of $50.5 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Citizenship Test — advertising

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Immigration and Citizenship	-10.0	-5.6	-2.1	-2.1	-

The Government will reduce funding for Citizenship Test advertising provided as part of the Citizenship Test measure announced in the 2007‑08 Budget.

Funding of $1.2 million remains to allow for a range of public relations activities to promote the citizenship test over the next three years.

This measure will provide savings of $19.8 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Citizenship Test — values statement component

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Immigration and Citizenship	-1.8	-4.1	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with departmental funding for administering the values statement provided as part of the Citizenship Test measure announced in the 2007‑08 Budget and the Citizenship Test — administration measure announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2007‑08.

From 15 October 2007, visa applicants aged 18 years and over have been required to sign a values statement when applying for selected visas. The values statement requires applicants to confirm that they will respect the Australian way of life and obey the laws of Australia before being granted a visa. The existing values statement will continue, but with costs to be met from within the existing resourcing of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

This measure will provide savings of $5.9 million over two years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Clean Energy Target

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator	-0.5	-1.3	-1.7	-2.2	-2.2
Related capital ($m)
Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator	-	-3.3	-1.1	-	-

The Government will not proceed with the introduction of the Clean Energy Target announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2007‑08. The Clean Energy Target of 30,000 gigawatt hours of electricity a year generated from low emissions sources by 2020 will be replaced with the expanded Renewable Energy Target of 45,000 gigawatt hours of electricity a year to be generated from renewable sources by 2020.

This measure will provide savings of $12.3 million over five years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

See also the related expense measure titled Renewable Energy Target — expansion in the Climate Change portfolio.

Responsible Economic Management — Climate Change — Asia‑Pacific Network for Energy Technology

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism	-1.9	-3.1	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with funding to the Asia‑Pacific Network for Energy Technology announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2007‑08.

This measure will provide savings of $5.0 million and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Commercial Ready

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research	-	-70.0	-200.2	-213.8	-223.2

The Government will discontinue the Commercial Ready program, a grants program for small to medium enterprises that subsidises innovation and its commercialisation. A 2007 report by the Productivity Commission (Public Support for Science and Innovation) found that there is robust evidence that the Commercial Ready program supports too many projects that would have proceeded without public support, and that the national benefits from the program are, at best, uncertain.

Pending the outcomes of the National Innovation System Review, innovation will continue to be supported through the Research and Development Tax Concession Program, including access to the Research and Development tax offset for small and medium sized companies. In addition, support will be provided through a number of new initiatives including: Enterprise Connect Innovation Centres, the Business Enterprise Centres, the Renewable Energy Fund, the Energy Innovation Fund, the Green Car Innovation Fund and Clean Business Australia.

This measure will provide savings of $707.2 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management. $160.0 million over three years from these savings will provide offsets for the Government's Clean Business Australia election commitments.

See also the expense measures Tackling Climate Change — Clean Business Australia — Climate Ready Program, Tackling Climate Change — Clean Business Australia — Green Building Fund and Tackling Climate Change — Clean Business Australia — Retooling for Climate Change in the Innovation, Industry, Science and Research portfolio.

Responsible Economic Management — Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation dividend

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation	-	-9.5	-9.8	-10.2	-10.3

The Government will reduce the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation's funding in recognition of the need for all agencies to achieve further efficiencies and prioritise resources.

This measure will provide savings of $39.8 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Commonwealth Seniors Health Card — adjusted taxable income test

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs	-	11.6	-9.7	-12.2	-13.0
Department of Veterans' Affairs	-	0.6	-0.1	-0.1	-0.1
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-	-20.5	-20.1	-21.6
Total	-	12.2	-30.2	-32.4	-34.6
Related capital ($m)
Department of Veterans' Affairs	-	0.2	-	-	-

The Government will change the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card income test to include gross income from superannuation income streams from a taxed source and include income that is salary sacrificed to superannuation in the income assessment.

The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card provides a range of benefits to people who do not qualify for the Age Pension but have an adjusted taxable income of less than $50,000 (for singles) or $80,000 (for couples combined).

This measure will increase fairness by ensuring that, in applying the existing income test, all income received by seniors — whether from superannuation or another source such as a managed fund or interest from a bank account, is treated in the same way.

This measure will cost $19.4 million over four years to administer and includes funding for Centrelink of $11.3 million in 2008‑09, $3.3 million in 2009‑10, $1.6 million in 2010‑11 and $1.6 million in 2011‑12. This measure includes $0.2 million in 2008‑09 for capital funding for IT system enhancements.

This measure is expected to result in net savings of $84.8 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Community Water Grants

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts	-	-41.5	-26.5	-1.9	-3.7

The Government will not proceed with funding for the Community Water Grants program from 2008‑09.

Households will be provided assistance for water and energy saving projects under new measures being introduced by the Government, including the National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative, and Green Loans.

This measure will provide savings of $73.6 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Concession Cards — retention while overseas

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Veterans' Affairs	-	0.2	..	..	-
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs	-	-4.9	-4.9	-4.9	-5.0
Total	-	-4.6	-4.9	-4.9	-5.0
Related capital ($m)
Department of Veterans' Affairs	-	0.1	-	-	-

The Government will cease the automatic cancellation of concession cards for temporary absences from Australia. This will reduce administration costs. Under this measure, concession cards will remain current during a cardholder's temporary absence from Australia of 13 weeks or less.

This measure is expected to result in net savings through administrative efficiency of $17.2 million over five years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure includes funding for Centrelink of $2.2 million in 2007‑08, and savings of $4.9 million in 2008‑09, $4.9 million in 2009‑10, $4.9 million in 2010‑11 and $5.0 million in 2011‑12. This measure includes $0.1 million in capital funding in 2008‑09 for the Department of Veterans' Affairs for Information Technology system changes.

Responsible Economic Management — Continence Management Strategy — advertising campaign

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-1.5	-1.5	-	-

The Government will not proceed with the final two years of the adverstising campaign associated with the Continence Management Strategy. The Strategy will continue to fund continence management educational activities provided through a range of existing projects.

This measure will provide savings of $3.0 million over two years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Corporations Payments to the States — termination

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of the Treasury	-	-179.8	-184.3	-188.9	-193.6

The Government will no longer provide payments to the States and the Northern Territory relating to the transfer of companies regulation to the Commonwealth in 1991. These payments are no longer relevant, given the broader reform to the financial framework of the Commonwealth‑State relations.

This measure will provide savings of $746.6 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Department of Immigration and Citizenship — efficiency improvements

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Immigration and Citizenship	-	-8.0	-9.9	-12.1	-13.5

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship will implement a range of efficiency initiatives to provide savings of $43.6 million over four years.

Efficiencies will be achieved by: making greater use of lower cost processing locations to reduce overhead costs and achieve more efficient visa processing; reprioritising activities within the National Office; encouraging employers to use online systems to check the employment eligibility of temporary residents; encouraging clients to utilise the automated Visa Entitlement Verification Online system to reduce manual visa evidencing (stamping); streamlining permanent partner visa assessment arrangements; automating name matching in the movement alert list database; and enhancing global health processing.

This measure delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Department of Immigration and Citizenship's overseas posts — reduced Australia‑based staffing

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Immigration and Citizenship	-	-5.9	-5.9	-6.0	-6.0

The Government will redeploy Department of Immigration and Citizenship Australia‑based operational staff to achieve operational efficiencies.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has a presence in 68 posts, where it engages around 163 Australia‑based and 869 locally engaged employees. This measure will result in an ongoing reduction of 16 Australia‑based officers.

This measure will provide savings of $23.8 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Document Verification Service — Lost and Stolen Document Register

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Australian Crime Commission	-0.5	-	-	-	-
Related capital ($m)
Australian Crime Commission	-0.2	-	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with funding for the pilot national register of lost and stolen proof of identity documents announced in the 2006‑07 Budget.

A more efficient and effective approach is being developed to make information on lost and stolen identity documents available to appropriate agencies through the Document Verification Service. This will be achieved by working collaboratively with commonwealth, state and territory document issuing agencies to develop common protocols for managing lost and stolen document information.

This measure will provide savings of $0.7 million in 2007‑08 (including capital of $0.2 million) and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Drought Package 2006 — revised communications campaign

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Human Services	-0.9	-	-	-	-

The Government will reduce communications and advertising funding for drought assistance announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2006‑07.

Research findings indicate there is already a high level of awareness about drought assistance in affected areas. On‑the‑ground outreach and associated public relations for drought‑affected communities will continue to be delivered by Centrelink through its program of drought buses and media promotion activities.

This measure will provide savings of $0.9 million in 2007‑08 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minster for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Drought Package 2007 — assistance to rural research and development corporations and companies

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry	-2.0	-8.0	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with the Drought Package 2007 — assistance to rural research and development corporations and companies measure announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2007‑08. Additional funding for rural research and development corporations and companies will be available under the new Climate Change and Productivity Research Program.

This measure will provide savings of $10.0 million and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

See also the related expense measure titled Climate Change and Productivity Research Program in the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Drought Package 2007 — communications

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry	-	-5.5	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with funding for media advertising in 2008‑09 for the measure titled Drought Package 2007 — communications announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2007‑08.

This measure will provide savings of $5.5 million and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Drought Package 2007 — re‑establishment assistance

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry	-26.0	-72.8	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with part of the funding for the measure titled Drought Package 2007 — re‑establishment assistance announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2007‑08.

The revised funding recognises that the rate of take up by primary producers has been significantly lower than expected. There has been no change to the eligibility criteria of the program and no limit placed on the number of re‑establishment grants available.

This measure will provide savings of $98.9 million over two years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — ECLIPSE System — discontinue development

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Medicare Australia	-	-2.9	-5.7	-5.8	-5.8

The Government will not proceed with funding for further development of the ECLIPSE system. A review has indicated there is little value in adding to existing ECLIPSE functions.

The Government will maintain the present ECLIPSE system that allows private health funds or Medicare Australia to advise private patients seeking treatment in hospital to establish, prior to treatment, how much they are likely to be out of pocket on the basis of quotes from Medicare Australia and private health funds.

This measure will provide savings of $20.3 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Employment Entry Payment — Abolish from 1 July 2008

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs	0.1	-4.2	-4.3	-4.2	-4.2
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	0.9	-10.7	-11.5	-11.4	-11.3
Total	1.0	-14.9	-15.8	-15.6	-15.5

The Government will abolish the Employment Entry Payment from 1 July 2008. The assistance provided by the payment has been largely duplicated by the Working Credit and, for those with connections to the Job Network, through Job Seeker Accounts and/or the Special Employment Advance.

This measure will provide net savings of $60.8 million over five years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

The measure includes funding for Centrelink of $1.0 million in 2007‑08 and $0.7 million in 2008‑09.

Responsible Economic Management — Employment Services for 2009‑10 to 2011‑12

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-	54.5	-38.9	-148.4	-157.7
Department of Human Services	-	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3
Department of Finance and Deregulation	..	0.4	-	-	-
Total	0.0	56.2	-37.6	-147.1	-156.4
Related capital ($m)
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-	2.2	2.9	-	-

The Government will implement a reformed employment services system from 1 July 2009 with total funding of $3.7 billion over three years. The reformed system will better target assistance to the most disadvantaged job seekers, improve linkages with education and training, create greater flexibility for employment services providers to deliver assistance tailored to job seeker needs and encourage greater engagement with employers.

Under the reformed system, employment services providers will be encouraged to refer job seekers to education or training opportunities, including the additional training places (including apprenticeships) available for job seekers under the Government's Skilling Australia for the Future policy. Improving the skills of job seekers will boost their opportunity to gain sustainable employment.

As part of the new approach to employment services $41.0 million will be provided over three years to establish a fund for innovative initiatives that will address barriers to gaining employment experienced by disadvantaged job seekers including those who are homeless or who have a mental illness.

Under the reformed system, separate contracts will be replaced with a single contract. The better targeted and efficient employment services arrangements will deliver savings of $370.2 million over three years. Many registered providers are also Registered Training Organisations and will be eligible to provide the extra training places available under the Skilling Australia for the Future policy.

This measure includes $8.2 million over two years for a tender to select suitable providers of new employment services. A further $83.0 million will be provided over five years (including $5.1 million in capital) for: transitioning existing job seekers into the new employment service and legislative changes; IT systems upgrades to underpin the delivery of employment services; and a longitudinal study to evaluate the experiences, pathways and outcomes of job seekers once they leave income support.

This measure includes funding for Centrelink of $30.2 million in 2008‑09, $11.8 million in 2009‑10, $9.7 million in 2010‑11 and $3.4 million in 2011‑12.

See also the related expense measure titled Skilling Australia for the Future in the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio.

Responsible Economic Management — Ethanol Distribution Program

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism	-5.0	-	-	-	-

The Government has reduced funding to the Ethanol Distribution Program in 2007‑08 to better align funding under the program with the demand for grants. The Ethanol Distribution Program provides grants of up to $20,000 for retail service stations, reducing the cost of installing or converting the infrastructure necessary to supply ethanol blended petrol, and encouraging the take‑up of those fuels. Funding of $11.0 million in 2008‑09 and $2.3 million in 2009‑10 will be maintained, providing continued assistance to encourage development of facilities at service stations.

This measure will provide savings of $5.0 million in 2007‑08 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Ethanol Production Grants

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism	-10.8	-	-	-	-

The Government has reduced funding to the Ethanol Production Grants Program in 2007‑08 to better align funding available with the demand for grants, ongoing eligibility is not changed. The Ethanol Production Grants Program provides a targeted means of promoting the use of biofuels in Australia. Funding for this program in 2008‑09 and the forward estimates has been maintained.

This measure will provide savings of $10.8 million in 2007‑08 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Family Relationship Centres — advertising

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Attorney-General's Department	-2.2	-6.7	-3.2	-3.2	-3.2

The Government will not proceed with funding for advertising relating to Family Relationship Centres announced in the 2005‑06 and 2006‑07 Budgets.

The Government will maintain funding to allow the services provided by Family Relationships Centres to be promoted through church and social welfare organisations, with information also available via the internet and a telephone hotline.

This measure will provide savings of $18.5 million over five years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was originally announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008 and further savings were identified upon review of the advertising requirements relating to Family Relationship Centres.

Responsible Economic Management — Family Tax Benefit — cease fortnightly payments for recipients who do not lodge tax returns

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs	41.6	13.3	121.1	-115.5	-137.6

The Government will implement changes to address Family Tax Benefit debts accrued because recipients do not lodge a tax return. This measure will cost $15.8 million to administer and will lead to a reduction in Family Tax Benefit expenses of $92.8 million, to provide net savings of $77.1 million over five years.

Where Family Tax Benefit recipients in a family have not lodged their tax returns for more than 12 months following the relevant entitlement year and have not responded to Centrelink notices asking them to do so, they will no longer be entitled to receive Family Tax Benefit through fortnightly instalments. Recipients will still be able to receive Family Tax Benefit after lodging their tax return by claiming through Centrelink, Family Assistance Office or Medicare. Lodgement of tax returns is necessary to reconcile a person's Family Tax Benefit entitlement once their final annual income is known. At that time, debts owing can be deducted from the person's Family Tax Benefit entitlement. The measure will commence on 1 July 2009 and will ensure that people only receive the Government support to which they are entitled.

By encouraging people to lodge their tax return, the measure will produce a significant outlay in 2009‑10, primarily driven by people receiving their end of year supplement payments, minus any debt they owe. The supplement is only paid following the lodgement of a tax return. Significant savings arise in 2010‑11 and beyond as people are not paid family payments to which they are not entitled.

This measure includes funding for Centrelink of $4.1 million in 2008‑09, $6.2 million in 2009‑10, $1.7 million in 2010‑11 and $1.7 million in 2011‑12.

The measure delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Fishing Hall of Fame — abolition

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism	-3.0	-	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with funding for the Fishing Hall of Fame project. The project was originally funded in the 2001‑02 Budget, on the basis that funding would be provided on a matching funding basis with the Queensland Government and local community. It has not been progressed due to limited interest from possible participants.

This measure will provide savings of $3.0 million in 2007‑08 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Flemington Racecourse — funding for alternative water strategy

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry	-5.0	-	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with the Flemington Racecourse — funding for alternative water strategy measure announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2007‑08.

This measure will provide savings of $5.0 million and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Fraud and compliance — assessments to verify income or assets

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs	-	-32.4	-64.6	-86.4	-97.1
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-	-69.7	-80.6	-79.4	-79.1
Total	-	-102.1	-145.2	-165.8	-176.2

The Government will increase the number of assessments of people receiving payments through Centrelink, where data‑matching with the Australian Taxation Office suggests the need for such a review. The reviews will seek to identify people who have failed to declare, or may have under‑declared, income or assets to Centrelink. This measure will reduce overpayments and will lead to the recovery of amounts already incorrectly paid.

The measure will cost $138.0 million over four years for Centrelink to administer ($33.2 million in 2008‑09, $34.3 million in 2009‑10, $35.0 million in 2010‑11, and $35.5 million in 2011‑12) but is expected to lead to savings of $728.0 million over four years.

The measure will provide net savings of $589.2 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Fraud and compliance — cessation of 'Keeping the System Fair' advertising campaign

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-	-13.0	-13.1	-13.2	-13.3

The Government will cease funding for the 2004‑05 Budget measure Compliance —'Keeping the System Fair' education campaign. This measure was a national multimedia advertising campaign to increase voluntary compliance and reduce overpayments to income support recipients. The effectiveness of the campaign has declined over the campaign's advertising period and is no longer considered a cost effective method for reducing overpayments.

This measure will provide savings of $52.6 million over four years (including $29.4 million from Centrelink) and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Fraud and Compliance — Commonwealth Seniors Health Card compliance reviews

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs	-	7.7	-7.6	-9.5	-11.3
Department of Veterans' Affairs	..	0.4	-0.7	-0.9	-1.1
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-3.7	-16.0	-18.3	-21.7
Total	0.0	4.4	-24.3	-28.6	-34.0
Related capital ($m)
Department of Veterans' Affairs	..	0.2	-	-	-

The Government will establish a compliance program for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card to ensure that only those people who are entitled to the card retain access. This will involve Centrelink establishing data matching with the Australian Taxation Office (to ensure taxable income of card holders does not exceed the income test) and Registrars of Births, Deaths and Marriages (for death notification). The measure also involves the collection of tax file numbers from existing and future card holders to allow an automatic review of the assessable income for card holders.

This measure includes funding for Centrelink of $9.4 million in 2008‑09, $1.0 million in 2009‑10, $0.8 million in 2010‑11 and $0.7 million in 2011‑12. This measure also includes $0.2 million in capital funding over two years for the Department of Veterans' Affairs (including $5,000 in 2007‑08) for IT system enhancements.

This measure will cost $13.5 million over five years to administer and will provide net savings of $82.4 million over five years.

The measure delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — General Employee Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme — continue funding liquidators to pursue litigation

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-	-8.0	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with the measure titled General Employee Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme — continue funding liquidators to pursue litigation announced in the 2007 Pre‑Election Economic and Fiscal Outlook. The measure was to continue a pilot program that aimed to assist the recovery of assets where the Commonwealth had funded entitlements of former employers of bankrupt or liquidated companies. The pilot has not shown a significant return on the cost of litigation, indicating that the program is not cost effective. Asset recovery activities already commenced as part of the original pilot will be completed.

This measure will provide savings of $8.0 million in 2008‑09 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — generic medicines — advertising

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Health and Ageing	-10.1	-2.4	-2.4	-	-

The Government will not proceed with further funding for the measure titled Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme — community campaign to promote the benefits of generic medicines announced in the 2007‑08 Budget.

The Government will continue to encourage the use of generic medicines through an incentive payment to pharmacists of $1.50 per prescription, which will be available from 1 August 2008. The introduction of the incentive will promote the use of generic medicines, removing the need for further advertising expenditure.

This measure will provide savings of $14.9 million over three years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Global Integration — export facilitators to the United States market

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Australian Trade Commission	-	-3.0	-3.0	-3.0	-3.0

The Government will not proceed with funding for the Global Integration — export facilitators to the United States market — extension measure announced in the 2007‑08 Budget.

The measure was designed to support the implementation of the Australia‑United States Free Trade Agreement, which came into operation on 1 January 2005. Ongoing support for businesses exporting to the United States will continue to be provided through the Government's existing export promotion programs.

This measure will provide savings of $12.0 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Global Opportunities Program

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research	-	-14.4	-14.2	-14.6	-15.0
Related capital ($m)
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research	-	-2.1	-0.8	-0.8	-0.8

The Government will reduce funding for the Global Opportunities Program and will transfer the program and the balance of its funding to Austrade to reduce duplication in overseas investment promotion efforts.

This measure will provide savings of $62.6 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Goods and services tax compensation to the States for small business concession — recovery of overpayments

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of the Treasury	-	-286.0	10.0	10.0	10.0

The Australian Government will recover $286.0 million from the States in 2008‑09 for overpayment of compensation for small business goods and services tax payment changes and recommence annual payments to the States of approximately $10.0 million from 2009‑10.

In the 2004‑05 Budget, the Australian Government agreed to compensate the States for the decision to allow certain small businesses and non‑profit organisations to pay their goods and services tax liability on an annual rather than monthly or quarterly basis. This ensured that the full financial impact of the decision was borne by the Australian Government, rather than the States.

These payments were suspended in the 2007‑08 Budget because final tax return data indicated that the impact of the policy decision on goods and services tax revenue was lower than forecast. Consequently, there had been an overpayment of compensation to the States. The overpayment is estimated to be $286.0 million by the end of 2008‑09.

This delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Further information is contained in Budget Paper No. 3.

Responsible Economic Management — Griffin Legacy Infrastructure — redevelopment of Constitution Avenue

Capital ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
National Capital Authority	-3.0	-18.3	-9.6	-1.0	-
Related expense ($m)
National Capital Authority	-	-3.0	-3.2	-3.3	-3.3

The Government will not proceed with funding to the National Capital Authority to redevelop Constitution Avenue in Canberra into a boulevard. The construction of an overpass at the intersection of Kings Avenue and Parkes Way will continue as planned to improve safety and traffic flow.

This measure will provide savings of $44.6 million over five years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Growing Regions Programme

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government	-2.5	-30.0	-40.0	-75.0	-52.5

The Government will redirect funding from the Growing Regions Programme announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2007‑08, which was to have been introduced from 1 January 2008.

This measure will provide savings of $200.0 million over five years to offset the Government's regional election commitments made under the Better Regions program.

See also the related expense measure titled Better Regions in the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government portfolio.

This measure delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Heavy vehicle road user charging

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Australian Taxation Office	-	-40.0	-110.0	-150.0	-190.0

The Government will increase the Road User Charge, collected by the Commonwealth from fuel used by heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses operating on the road network. From 1 January 2009 the Road User Charge will increase from 19.633 to 21.0 cents per litre and be indexed annually. This will reduce the fuel tax credit paid by the Commonwealth to eligible heavy vehicle operators.

The increase was agreed by the Australian Transport Council on 29 February 2008 and forms part of a new heavy vehicle charging regime that aims to fully recover that portion of the cost of provision of the road network attributable to the heavy vehicle industry. The new arrangements deliver on important road pricing reforms agreed to by the Council of Australian Governments to promote greater efficiency and productivity in the transport sector.

This measure will provide estimated savings of $490.0 million over four years.

The increase in the rate is contingent on implementation of Road User Charge Determination 2008 (No. 1) made under the Fuel Tax Act 2006 and declared on 11 March 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Illicit drugs in sport — advertising and information campaigns

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority	-	-0.5	-0.3	-0.4	-0.4
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-9.7	-7.7	-7.2	-6.4
Total	-	-10.2	-8.0	-7.6	-6.8

The Government has reviewed and will reduce the funding provided by the Illicit drugs in sport measure announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2007‑08. The Government will not proceed with the component to provide a public awareness campaign on illicit drugs as this element is being addressed through existing drug education campaigns.

The remaining funding will support the implementation of a national illicit drugs in sport policy comprising minimum standards for illicit drug testing, and the further processing and management associated with positive tests such as re‑testing, associated administration and hearings to rule on the case. Funding will also provide for education forums for national sporting organisations to address illicit drug use in their sports.

This measure will provide savings of $32.5 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Innovation Ambassador Program

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research	-	-1.4	-1.9	-1.7	-

The Government will not proceed with funding for the Innovation Ambassador program. The Government will consider its future priorities to support innovation in the light of the review of Australia's National Innovation System which it has commissioned.

This measure will provide savings of $5.0 million over three years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2006.

Responsible Economic Management — Intermediary Access Program

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research	-0.5	-3.6	-4.5	-5.7	-5.0

The Government will not proceed with funding for the Intermediary Access Program. The program duplicates the Government's new Enterprise Connect Innovation Centres which will focus on assisting businesses find and adapt the latest research and technology.

This measure will provide savings of $19.3 million and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

See also the related expense measure titled Enterprise Connect Innovation Centres in the Innovation, Industry, Science and Research portfolio.

Responsible Economic Management — International Deployment Group workforce re‑phasing

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Australian Federal Police	-	-10.0	-	-	-

The Government will reduce funding for the Australian Federal Police's International Deployment Group in 2008‑09. The planned growth in the International Deployment Group's staffing capacity has been deferred by one year to 2009. The International Deployment Group provides the Australian Federal Police with capacity to respond quickly and comprehensively to international crisis situations and to help strengthen law enforcement capabilities across the region.

This re‑phasing of workforce capability has been undertaken as the International Deployment Group is expected to have sufficient capacity in 2008‑09 to conduct its current mission.

This measure will provide savings of $10.0 million in 2008‑09 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Learning and Teaching Performance Fund

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-	-10.7	-10.7	-10.7	-10.7

The Government will redirect funding of $42.8 million over four years from 2008‑09 from the Learning and Teaching Performance Fund to the Carrick Institute.

This measure will provide savings of $42.8 million and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

See also related savings measure titled Carrick Institute in the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio.

Responsible Economic Management — Living Away from Home Allowance — extension to Australian School‑Based Apprenticeships

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-0.1	-	-	-	-

The Government will provide funding of $0.2 million over five years from 2007‑08 to extend Living Away from Home Allowance to all Australian school‑based apprentices who are required to live away from home in order to complete their Australian Apprenticeship. This allowance will provide a weekly financial supplement in the first three years of an apprenticeship and will encourage attraction and retention of apprentices in this category.

Additional funding included in the 2007‑08 estimates to fund this measure will be withdrawn and the costs of this measure will be met from within the existing resourcing of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. This will provide savings of $0.1 million in 2007‑08 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management,

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Local Government Amalgamation — plebiscites in the Northern Territory

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government	-	-	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with funding for the measure Local government plebiscites in the Northern Territory announced in the 2007 Pre‑Election Economic and Fiscal Outlook. There has been no indication that plebiscites are needed or widely supported in the Northern Territory.

The original measure was published without financial implications pending determination of how many plebiscites would be required. This measure delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Low Emissions Technology and Abatement program — reduction in funding

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts	-2.2	-	-	-	-

The Government will reduce funding for the Low Emissions Technology and Abatement program in 2007‑08. There were insufficient suitable projects identified under the program to utilise all the available funding.

This measure will provide savings of $2.2 million in 2007‑08 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts	-47.0	26.0	47.7	-9.5	47.4

The Government will reduce funding for the Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund over 12 years from 2007‑08 to 2018‑19. While the Government will fund the previously announced projects, any new projects in this sector will be funded through the National Clean Coal Fund or the Renewable Energy Fund.

The Government will also move funds across years to better reflect the profile of expected expenditure in this program.

Funding of $410.0 million over 12 years remains in the program to meet expected grant payments for the six announced projects.

Responsibility for the program has now been transferred to the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism.

This measure will provide savings of $90.0 million over 12 years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

See also the related expense measures titled Tackling Climate Change — National Clean Coal Fund and Tackling Climate Change — Renewable Energy Fund in the Resources, Energy and Tourism portfolio.

Responsible Economic Management — Medicare Benefits Schedule — funding for reversing elective sterilisation

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Medicare Australia	-	..	..	..	..
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-2.3	-2.8	-3.5	-4.2
Total	-	-2.3	-2.8	-3.4	-4.2

The Government will provide Medicare benefits to patients who wish to reverse their elective sterilisation. The introduction of Medicare benefits for the reversal of sterilisation procedures will provide a more cost effective alternative for people wanting to have children.

Rather than undergo a reversal of sterilisation, some patients currently use assisted reproductive services such as in vitro fertilisation. Savings will be achieved through the reduction in high‑cost assisted reproductive services claimed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule.

This measure will provide savings of $12.8 million and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Medicare Benefits Schedule — rationalise funding provided for multiple pathology tests performed on a single sample

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Veterans' Affairs	-	-1.9	-1.8	-1.8	-1.9
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-21.6	-23.1	-24.7	-26.4
Total	-	-23.4	-24.9	-26.6	-28.3

The Government will rationalise the funding provided for multiple tests performed on a single sample for three groups of chemical/microbiology pathology tests.

The Pathology Services Table has a number of items where multiple tests can be performed on a single sample and rebates provided for each item. These are known as 'ladder' items. This measure recognises the efficiencies that can be achieved from undertaking multiple tests on a single sample and will accordingly remove the sixth ladder item from three groups of tests. Rebates will now be capped at the fifth ladder item.

This measure will provide savings of $103.2 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Medicare Benefits Schedule — reduction of repeat prescription requirements for patients with chronic conditions

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Medicare Australia	-	0.1	..	..	..
Department of Veterans' Affairs	-	-0.1	-0.1	-0.1	-0.1
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-0.8	-0.7	-0.8	-0.8
Total	-	-0.8	-0.8	-0.9	-0.9

The Government has extended the period for which a repeat prescription can be written for patients with chronic conditions, from six months to 12 months.

Under current arrangements a prescription can only be written for a maximum of six months. Extending the period to 12 months will help ease the burden on patients with chronic conditions by reducing the number of medical appointments, and Medicare claims required.

This measure will provide savings of $3.4 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Medicare Benefits Schedule — increase compliance audits

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Medicare Australia	-	14.2	18.7	18.8	19.0
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-21.2	-42.2	-41.5	-42.4
Total	-	-6.9	-23.5	-22.7	-23.3
Related capital ($m)
Medicare Australia	-	6.2	-	-	-

The Government will further protect the integrity of Medicare by increasing its compliance audit program to ensure appropriate claiming of items on the Medicare Benefits Schedule by health care providers. The Government will amend relevant health legislation to increase the audit powers available to Medicare Australia to gain access to medical records supporting Medicare billing where appropriate and, under certain circumstances, to apply sanctions where providers are found to be claiming inappropriately. Doctors found to be inadvertently billing items inappropriately will receive advice on how to bill Medicare Benefits Schedule items correctly.

This measure will provide savings of $147.2 million over four years and will cost $76.9 million to administer, leading to net savings of $70.3 million over four years.

This measure delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Migration and Humanitarian Programs — integration criterion

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Immigration and Citizenship	-1.6	-1.4	-1.1	-1.2	-1.2
Related capital ($m)
Department of Immigration and Citizenship	-0.5	-0.2	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with funding for the Migration and Humanitarian Programmes — integration criterion measure announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2007‑08.

The integration criterion was intended to assess the likelihood that visa applicants would settle in Australia without undue personal difficulty and without imposing undue difficulty or costs on the Australian community. However, this duplicates the verification process that already takes place within the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to assess applications from migrants seeking to settle in Australia.

This measure will provide savings of $7.1 million over five years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — National Community Crime Prevention Program

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Attorney-General's Department	-	-12.4	-12.6	-12.8	-13.0

The Government will redirect funding for the National Community Crime Prevention Program to the new Safer Suburbs Program, which aims to reduce crime, anti‑social behaviour and gang activity.

This measure will provide offsetting savings of $50.8 million and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

See also the related expense measure titled Safer Suburbs Program in the Attorney‑General's portfolio.

Responsible Economic Management — National Competition Council

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
National Competition Council	-	-1.2	-1.2	-1.2	-1.2

The Government will reduce funding to the National Competition Council (NCC) following the completion of its role in implementing the National Competition Policy reform agenda. The Council will continue its activities related to access regulation of nationally significant infrastructure.

This measure will provide savings of $4.8 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — National Nanotechnology Strategy

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research	-	-	-5.6	-5.6	-
Related capital ($m)
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research	-	-	-0.5	-	-

The Government will not proceed with the National Nanotechnology Strategy after 1 July 2009. The Government's review of Australia's National Innovation System will examine emerging or enabling technologies future priorities to support innovation.

This measure will provide savings of $11.7 million over two years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — National Psychostimulant Initiative

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-2.0	-2.0	-	-

The Government has revised its estimates of funding required under the National Psychostimulant Initiative by $2.0 million per annum over two years from 2008‑09 in light of projected future activities for this program. Funding of $11.3 million over four years will continue under the program and will be used to inform Australians about the use, harms and long term effects of psychostimulant use, and deliver workforce training and treatment activities.

This measure will provide savings of $4.0 million over two years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — National Security — regional rapid deployment teams

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Australian Federal Police	-	-2.2	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with full funding for the measure National Security — regional rapid deployment teams, announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2004‑05.

Half of the funding to maintain rapid deployment teams for security incidents at regional Australian airports will instead be provided from within the existing resourcing of the Australian Federal Police in 2008‑09. Separate funding of $2.2 million for the remaining cost of maintaining the rapid response capability at current levels has been retained in the estimates for 2008‑09.

Provision for funding from 2009‑10 to 2011‑12 has been included in the forward estimates, pending a review of the measure in the 2009‑10 Budget.

This measure will provide savings of $2.2 million in 2008‑09 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — National Training Centre for Aerial Skiing

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Health and Ageing	-2.5	-	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with funding for the National Training Centre for Aerial Skiing measure announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2006‑07.

This measure will provide savings of $2.5 million in 2007‑08 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — New Business Intensive Assistance Program

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Australian Taxation Office	-	-10.0	-10.0	-10.0	-10.0

The Government will not proceed with funding for the New Business Intensive Assistance Program. The Australian Taxation Office will continue to assist small business taxpayers through its existing range of programs, including the successful Small Business Assistance Program.

This measure will provide savings of $40.0 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Nuclear Collaborative Research Program

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation	-1.4	-1.6	-1.8	-1.5	-
Related capital ($m)
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation	-5.0	-	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with funding for the Nuclear Collaborative Research Program. The savings reflect the Government's policy not to proceed with the development of nuclear power plants in Australia.

This measure will provide savings of $11.3 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Office of Transport Security — reduction in overseas representation

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government	-	-1.6	-1.7	-1.9	-1.9

The Government will reduce funding, from 1 July 2008, for the Office of Transport Security's overseas representation which provides for the overseas posting of liaison officers in regard to aviation and maritime security. The liaison function will be maintained through a greater reliance on periodic visits, Australian embassies and the remaining posted liaison officers.

This measure will provide savings of $7.1 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Pandemic influenza preparedness — rapid deployment teams

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry	-	-2.8	-2.9	-	-

The Government will not proceed with funding in 2008‑09 and 2009‑10 for the Pandemic influenza preparedness — rapid deployment teams for thermal scanning at airports measure announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2007‑08. The measure will proceed, with costs met from within the existing resourcing of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

This measure will provide savings of $5.8 million over two years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Partner Service Pension — align partner and veteran age eligibility

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Veterans' Affairs	0.3	-4.3	-7.7	-10.4	-12.6
Related capital ($m)
Department of Veterans' Affairs	0.1	-	-	-	-

The Government will, from 1 July 2008, increase the Service Pension age eligibility for partners (currently 50 years) to bring it into line with the Service Pension age eligibility for veterans (currently 60 years for men and 58.5 years for women). The partners of veteran service pensioners are currently able to access the Service Pension at age 50, 10 years earlier than most veterans, and up to 15 years earlier than non‑veteran age pensioners. This measure will not apply to applicants with dependent children, or those who are partnered to a Totally and Permanently Incapacitated veteran.

This measure is expected to lead to savings of $35.1 million over four years and will cost $0.4 million in 2007‑08 to implement, including $0.1 million in capital funding for upgrades to related computer systems. The overall result is net savings of $34.6 million over four years. It will not apply to partners already in receipt of the Partner Service Pension.

This measure delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Partner Service Pension — cease payment to married partners who are separated but not divorced

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs	-	4.7	10.2	11.6	13.0
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-	0.6	1.2	1.3	1.3
Department of Veterans' Affairs	-	-8.6	-20.4	-23.0	-25.9
Total	-	-3.3	-9.0	-10.2	-11.6
Related capital ($m)
Department of Veterans' Affairs	-	0.1	-	-	-

The Government will no longer provide the Service Pension for partners who are separated from, but still legally married to, a veteran. Commencing on 1 January 2009, access to the Service Pension will cease 12 months after separation or from the beginning of a new marriage‑like relationship by either the veteran or the partner, whichever occurs first. Only partners who have separated from a veteran but not divorced within 12 months are affected by this proposal.

This measure is expected to provide savings of $77.8 million over four years. Some affected partners will transfer to other income support payments, resulting in net savings of $33.9 million over four years.

The Government will also provide the Department of Veterans' Affairs with $0.1 million in capital funding in 2008‑09 for required IT system changes.

This measure delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Pathology Services — reduced collection fees

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Medicare Australia	-	..	-	-	-
Department of Veterans' Affairs	-	-0.6	-	-	-
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-17.0	-	-	-
Total	-	-17.5	-	-	-

The Government will reduce the Medicare Benefit Schedule fee for collecting pathology specimens where collection centres are co‑located with pathology laboratories. Collection fees subsidise costs associated with collecting, storing, transporting, reporting and billing pathology specimens. This measure recognises the lower costs associated with collecting samples from these co‑located facilities. The new fee will be introduced on 1 July 2008.

This measure will provide savings of $17.5 million in 2008‑09, $19.0 million in 2009‑10, $20.0 million in 2010‑11 and $21.0 million in 2011‑12 and includes funding for Medicare Australia to administer the measure.

Ongoing savings from 2009‑10 are already provided for in the forward estimates.

This delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Pharmaceuticals Partnership Program

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research	-2.7	-0.5	-	-	-

The Government will return uncommitted funds from the Pharmaceuticals Partnership Program to the Budget. This funding is no longer required. The objective of the program is addressed through the broader Research and Development Tax Concession program. Multi‑national companies from all sectors, including the pharmaceuticals sector, can access the premium 175 per cent concession.

This measure will provide savings of $3.2 million and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Pilot program addressing undeclared business income and assets — cessation

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs	-0.5	-	-	-	-
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-0.5	-	-	-	-
Total	-1.0	-	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with the measure Fraud and Compliance — pilot program addressing undeclared business income and assets announced in the 2006‑07 Budget.

The pilot sought to test the feasibility of matching Centrelink data with goods and services tax and Business Activity Statement data from the Australian Taxation Office, to address payment risks associated with undeclared business income and assets. The measure has been terminated early as the pilot program results showed that the data‑matching was not cost‑effective.

This measure will provide savings of $1.0 million in 2007‑08 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Practice Incentives Program — discontinue funding for the mental health incentive

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-1.8	-1.8	-1.8	-1.9

The Government will reduce funding under the Practice Incentives Program to remove funding for a mental health incentive that is no longer available. This incentive was abolished in May 2007 following the introduction of the COAG Mental Health — better access to psychiatrists, psychologists and general practitioners through the Medicare Benefits Schedule measure announced in the 2006‑07 Budget.

This measure will provide savings of $7.3 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Practice Incentives Program — new e‑Health incentive payment for General Practitioners

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Medicare Australia	-	0.3	0.7	..	..
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-16.7	-32.9	-31.8	-30.6
Total	-	-16.4	-32.3	-31.8	-30.6
Related capital ($m)
Medicare Australia	-	0.4	-	-	-

The Government will introduce a new e‑Health incentive payment for general practitioners under the Practice Incentives Program. The new incentive will rationalise Practice Incentive Program payments by introducing a single e‑Health incentive to encourage general practices to develop the capacity to exchange information and promote the use of electronic decision support systems.

The new incentive will be introduced in August 2009 at a rate of $6.50 per patient and will replace current information technology incentives and the Electronic Decision Support incentive which was scheduled to be implemented in August 2008. Payments will be capped at $50,000 per practice per year.

This measure will provide savings of $110.7 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Practice Incentives Program — removal of the General Practice Immunisation Service Incentive Payment

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Medicare Australia	-	..	-0.2	-0.2	-0.2
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-14.8	-22.4	-22.9	-23.4
Total	-	-14.8	-22.6	-23.1	-23.6
Related capital ($m)
Medicare Australia	-	0.4	-	-	-

The Government will no longer fund the Service Incentive Payment that is currently provided to general practices for providing immunisation services. This payment duplicates other incentives to promote immunisation. General practices will continue to receive payments for notifying the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register of immunisations and incentives to achieve a 90 per cent child immunisation rate in their practice. In addition, immunisations provided by general practitioners and practice nurses will continue to attract Medicare rebates.

Across Australia, the current immunisation rate of children between 12 months and 7 years of age is 90 per cent. In addition to funding general practices to provide immunisation, the Government also funds States and Territories to provide vaccines in schools and community health centres.

Under the Maternity Immunisation Allowance scheme the Government also provides incentives to parents once their children reach a certain immunisation status.

This measure will provide savings of $83.7 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

See also the related expense measure titled Maternity Immunisation Allowance — eligibility change in the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs portfolio.

Responsible Economic Management — primary care — review of the Australian Primary Care Collaboratives program

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-4.2	-4.1	-4.2	-4.2

The Government will not proceed with the increased funding provided under the measure Australian Primary Care Collaboratives — continue and increase funding announced in the 2007‑08 Budget.

The Australian Primary Care Collaboratives Program supports doctors to make improvements in their practices and to close the gap between current and best practice. The Government will continue to fund the program at the levels in place prior to the 2007‑08 Budget, at approximately $5.4 million per year.

Funding is linked to the level of demand for the program and will be revisited in future if found to be excessive or insufficient.

This measure will provide savings of $16.7 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Protecting Australian Families Online

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions	-	-2.8	-2.8	-2.8	-2.9
Australian Communications and Media Authority	-	-5.1	-3.1	-3.2	-3.2
Australian Federal Police	-	-9.4	-13.6	-13.7	-13.7
Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy	-46.7	-32.7	-6.0	-	-
Total	-46.7	-49.9	-25.5	-19.7	-19.8
Related capital ($m)
Australian Federal Police	-	-0.7	-0.6	-0.1	-

The Government will not proceed with funding for the Protecting Australian Families Online program. The program will be replaced by the new Cyber‑safety Plan. The Cyber‑safety Plan continues the role of the Australian Federal Police and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in investigating and prosecuting internet offenders.

This measure will provide savings of $163.0 million over five years to offset the Government's election commitment to the Cyber‑safety Plan, and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

See also the related expense measures titled Cyber‑safety Plan in the Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy portfolio.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Provisioning for future requirements

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Defence	-	-191.2	25.0	95.6	95.6

The Government has identified savings of $191.2 million which can be achieved by the Department of Defence in 2008‑09 and re‑invested in Defence in 2010‑11 and 2011‑12 to address emerging cost pressures. This is consistent with the Government's agenda to deliver efficiencies in the Defence budget so that resources are freed up to invest in strategic capability as the Government implements the White Paper, and to plan for future cost pressures, including the rising net personnel and operating costs of new capital equipment.

This will ensure best use of the growing Defence budget and a better planned Defence force that can respond to a rapidly changing threat environment.

The Government will provide an additional $25.0 million in 2009‑10 to support Defence expenditure in the interim year.

Savings will not adversely impact on operational capability areas of Defence. These savings will be drawn from a range of areas across the Department of Defence including accommodation, facilities and Defence Materiel Organisation sustainment activities.

This measure delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Quality Outcomes Program

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-	-4.8	-7.3	-8.1	-8.5

The Government will redirect funding from the Quality Outcomes Program to its new education initiatives. This will not affect existing projects.

This measure will provide savings of $28.6 million over four years and will offset the costs of establishing the National Schools Assessment and Data Centre.

This measure delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

See the related expense measure titled National Schools Assessment and Data Centre in the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio.

Responsible Economic Management — Rainfall enhancement technology — cancellation of project

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
National Water Commission	*	-	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with funding proposed by the previous government in 2007‑08 to support operational trials of rainfall enhancement technology. Evidence suggests that rainfall enhancement technology is not necessarily an effective means of drought mitigation.

This measure will provide savings in 2007‑08 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management. The precise amount of savings from the previous Government's proposed $10.0 million contribution is subject to the finalisation of contract termination arrangements.

Responsible Economic Management — Realising Our Potential — Core Curricula Standards Program

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-	-8.6	-	-0.1	-

The Government will redirect funding from the Realising Our Potential — Core Curricula Standards Program to the new Early Years Learning Framework and Strong Quality Standards in Child Care Program. The new Framework will provide nationally consistent standards for the delivery of quality early childhood learning. The Strong Quality Standards in Child Care Program will develop a system that will be used to accredit child care services and will build on the current Child Care Quality Assurance system that links quality to Child Care Benefit payments.

This measure will provide savings of $8.6 million and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

See also the related expense measures titled Early Years Learning Framework and Early Childhood — Strong Quality Standards in Child Care in the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio.

Responsible Economic Management — Realising Our Potential — National Literacy and Numeracy Vouchers Program

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-	-60.6	-131.9	-134.7	-137.4

The Government will redirect funding from the Realising Our Potential — National Literacy and Numeracy Vouchers Program to support a National Action Plan for Literacy and Numeracy. Details of the Plan are to be finalised during 2008 with State and Territory governments and non‑government school systems. The current program will continue for the 2008 school year.

The Government is committed to developing programs with States and Territories to improve literacy and numeracy in schools.

This measure will provide savings of $464.6 million over four years from 2008‑09 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

See also the related expense measure titled National Action Plan for Literacy and Numeracy in the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio.

Responsible Economic Management — Realising Our Potential — Rewarding Schools for Improving Literacy and Numeracy Outcomes Program

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-	-17.1	-16.9	-17.0	-17.0

The Government will redirect funding from the Realising Our Potential — Rewarding Schools for Improving Literacy and Numeracy Outcomes Program to support a National Action Plan for Literacy and Numeracy. Details are to be finalised during 2008 with State and Territory governments and non‑government school systems.

The Government is committed to developing programs with States and Territories to improve literacy and numeracy in schools.

This measure will provide savings of $68.0 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

See also the related expense measure titled National Action Plan for Literacy and Numeracy in the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio.

Responsible Economic Management — Realising Our Potential — Summer Schools for Teachers Program

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-	-24.9	-23.3	-23.7	-24.2

The Government will redirect funding from the Realising Our Potential — Summer Schools for Teachers Program to support a National Action Plan for Literacy and Numeracy. Details of the Plan are to be finalised during 2008 with State and Territory governments and non‑government school systems. Funding will also be redirected to the expansion of literacy and numeracy programs for Indigenous students.

The Government is committed to developing programs with States and Territories to improve literacy and numeracy in schools.

This measure will provide savings of $96.1 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

See also the related expense measures titled National Action Plan for Literacy and Numeracy and Building an Indigenous Future — expansion of intensive literacy and numeracy programs and individual learning plans in the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio.

Responsible Economic Management — Regional maritime security capacity‑building

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government	-0.9	-2.4	-2.4	-2.1	-1.5

The Government will not proceed with funding for additional regional maritime security capacity‑building.

This measure will provide savings of $9.3 million over five years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Regional Partnerships

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government	-10.9	-22.9	-69.1	-66.1	-67.2

The Government will redirect funding from the Regional Partnerships program, which previously provided discretionary grants for a variety of projects across Australia. The Australian National Audit Office's Performance Audit of the Regional Partnerships Programme, which was tabled 15 November 2007, noted that the program had fallen short of an acceptable standard of public administration, particularly in relation to the assessment of grant applications and the management of funding agreements.

This measure will provide savings of $236.2 million over five years to offset various Government regional election commitments.

This measure delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Renewable Remote Power Generation Program — reduction in funding

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts	-33.0	-9.0	-	-	-

The Government will reduce funding for the Renewable Remote Power Generation program in 2007‑08 and 2008‑09. There were insufficient suitable projects identified under the program to allocate available funding.

This measure will provide savings of $42.0 million and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Research Quality Framework

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Australian Research Council	-	-3.4	-3.7	-4.3	-5.4
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research	-7.8	-25.9	-9.7	-1.4	-
Total	-7.8	-29.3	-13.4	-5.7	-5.4
Related capital ($m)
Australian Research Council	-	-4.5	-0.7	-	-

The Government will redirect funding from the Research Quality Framework initiative to the new Excellence in Research for Australia. Funding will continue for existing commitments. The Research Quality Framework was introduced to assess research performances across different research institutions.

The Excellence in Research for Australia will be developed by the Australian Research Council and the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. It will provide a streamlined, internationally recognised and transparent research quality assurance system.

This measure will provide savings of $66.8 million over five years (including $7.8 million in 2007‑08) to offset the Excellence in Research for Australia initiative.

See also the related expense measure titled Excellence in Research for Australia in the Innovation, Industry, Science and Research portfolio.

Responsible Economic Management — Research Vessel — Southern Surveyor

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation	-	-3.0	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with funding for the measure Research Vessel Southern Surveyor — additional funding announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2007‑08.

This measure will provide savings of $3.0 million in 2008‑09 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — residential aged care funding claims — audits

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Veterans' Affairs	-	-1.6	-1.6	-	-
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-6.2	-8.7	-	-
Total	-	-7.8	-10.3	-	-

The Government will increase the number of audits of funding claims submitted by residential aged care providers. This integrity measure will involve targeted audits to ensure providers are using the correct residential care classification.

The audits will cost $2.3 million in 2008‑09 but are expected to lead to an estimated reduction in funding claims of $20.3 million over two years, resulting in a net saving of $18.1 million over two years.

This measure delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Rugby League Hall of Fame

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Health and Ageing	-3.0	-7.0	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with the measure Rugby League Hall of Fame — contribution announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2007‑08. This measure will provide savings of $10.0 million over two years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Simplified Superannuation — advertising campaign

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Australian Taxation Office	-14.4	-	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with supplementary funding for an advertising campaign to promote Simplified Superannuation policy.

This measure will provide savings of $14.4 million in 2007‑08 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Sustainable Regions

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government	-10.4	-12.9	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with the Sustainable Regions program. The program was introduced as a pilot program to assist regions to analyse and map their futures. Funding for the Sustainable Regions program was scheduled to terminate in 2008‑09.

This measure will provide offsetting savings of $23.3 million over two years which will be redirected to fund various Government election commitments in regional areas.

This measure delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Teaching Australia — Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-	-2.6	-2.0	-1.3	-1.3

The Government will reduce funding to Teaching Australia over four years. Teaching Australia was established in 2005 to advance school leadership and the teaching profession. The Government will examine the role, function and structure of Teaching Australia. Other measures being taken by the Government, including through the additional funding being provided to strengthen literacy and numeracy in Australian schools, will complement the role of Teaching Australia.

This measure will provide savings of $7.2 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Telecommunications Improvement and Procurement Project

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Finance and Deregulation	-0.6	-1.8	-1.9	-2.0	-2.0

The Government will achieve net savings of $8.3 million over five years by implementing the Telecommunications Improvement and Procurement project. The project will consolidate telecommunications contracts and arrangements managed by the Department of Finance and Deregulation for parliamentarians, as well as departmental needs, to achieve cost savings and service efficiencies.

The Telecommunications Improvement and Procurement project will receive funding of $1.3 million over two years to implement the new arrangements from 2007‑08, offset by savings on telecommunications costs in the order of $2.0 million per annum, commencing in 2007‑08.

This measure delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Tourism Australia

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Tourism Australia	-	-1.0	-1.0	-1.0	-1.0

The Government will reduce funding for Tourism Australia, with savings to be achieved through operational efficiencies. The savings will not reduce Tourism Australia's funding for international and domestic marketing activities.

This measure will provide savings of $4.0 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Townsville International Sports Centre

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Health and Ageing	-3.0	-	-	-	-

The Government will not proceed with additional funding for the measure Townsville International Sports Centre announced in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2007‑08. Funding for the Centre will instead be met from the Better Regions program administered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.

This measure will provide savings of $3.0 million in 2007‑08 and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

See also the related expense measure titled Better Regions in the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government portfolio.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Tuggeranong Office Park — facilities management

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs	-1.1	-0.6	-	-	-

The Government will reduce the funding provided in the Mid‑Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2007‑08 to cover rent commitments, utility costs and building management costs associated with the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs continuing to occupy Tuggeranong Office Park. The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs will meet the costs of building management from within existing resourcing.

This will result in savings of $1.7 million over two years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Water for the Future — Bureau of Meteorology

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Bureau of Meteorology	-5.0	-	-	-	-

The Government has decided to defer $5.0 million in funding from 2007‑08 to 2016‑17 to reflect the profile of expected expenditure arising from delays in the Bureau of Meteorology establishing its water functions under the Water Act 2007.

The Bureau was scheduled to receive a $28.8 million (including $5.1 million in capital) increase in funding in 2007‑08 to meet the Government's commitments on water. Implementation delays have reduced the necessary amount by $5.0 million.

This measure delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Water for the Future — Murray‑Darling Basin Authority

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts	-45.0	-26.0	-	-	-

The Government will reprofile $45.0 million in funding from 2007‑08 to 2016‑17, and $26.0 million in funding from 2008‑09 to 2015‑16, to reflect the profile of expected expenditure arising from delays in establishing the Murray‑Darling Basin Authority. The new Authority was originally scheduled to be established in 2007‑08, but will now be established in 2008‑09. In July 2008, COAG will consider the final arrangements for bringing together the Authority and the Murray‑Darling Basin Commission.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

Responsible Economic Management — Women's representation in decision making

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government	-	-1.2	-1.2	-1.1	-

The Government will not proceed with funding for the measure titled Women's representation in decision making announced in the 2007‑08 Budget. The program has not commenced any activities.

Issues affecting women in Australia and strategies to promote women's participation in decision‑making and leadership roles across the whole economy are undertaken by the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs portfolio, including through the Office for Women. Funding is also provided to the National Rural Women's Coalition.

This measure will provide savings of $3.5 million over three years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

Responsible Economic Management — Work Choices — Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

Expense ($m)
	2007‑08	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission	-0.5	-1.8	-1.8	-1.8	-

The Government will not proceed with additional funding for the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, announced in the 2006‑07 and 2007‑08 Budgets, to meet workload increases anticipated to arise from Work Choices. As Work Choices will be abolished, the commission's workload increase is no longer expected to occur.

This measure will provide savings of $5.9 million over four years and delivers on the Government's commitment to responsible economic management.

This measure was announced by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation on 6 February 2008.

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