9 May
2006 - Australia's environment and heritage remains
in strong hands with record levels of funding
once more in the 2006-07 Budget, the Minister
for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian
Campbell said.
Senator Campbell said the Australian
Government had continued its record levels of
environment spending in 2006-07 with $3.9 billion
to protect our environment and heritage for future
generations. This year's Budget sees an increase
in total Government expenditure of more than $878
million on 2005-06.
"Over the past 10 years,
the Howard Government has committed historic levels
of funding to tackling the national challenges
of natural resource management and climate change,"
Senator Campbell said.
"This year, we build on these cornerstone
policies, as well as provide significant new investments.
"The Australian Government
will invest a further $500 million to restore
the health of the Murray-Darling Basin for the
benefit of the environment, irrigators, industry
and regional communities. This brings the Australian
Government's total investment in the Murray Darling
river system to almost $2 billion since 1996.
"I am also pleased to announce $37.7 million
over four years for regional marine planning.
The comprehensive regional approach we have taken
to land management is now paying dividends - we
want the same certainty and protection for our
precious marine resources.
"We are further protecting
our oceans, and our $1.4 billion sustainable fishing
industry, by providing a $2 million fast response
vessel to combat the scourge of illegal foreign
fishing in the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier
Reef.
"Marine heritage is another
priority in 2006-07, with $245,000 for the 400th
anniversary of the historic voyage of the Duyfken,
the Dutch ship that charted the Australian coastline.
This funding is in addition to the $250,000 already
committed by the Australian Government for this
voyage.
"This spending complements
the infrastructure and on-ground work being done
for Australia's natural resource management and
water conservation under the Australian Government's
$2 billion Water Fund, our flagship $3 billion
Natural Heritage Trust and the $1.4 billion National
Action Plan on Salinity and Water Quality programmes,"
he said.
The Government's investment
in tackling climate change is now at almost $2
billion, with Australia on track to meet its 108
per cent Kyoto target.
The Government will also seek
to improve air quality and explore alternatives
to fossil fuels through a $11.5 million package
to encourage use of biofuels.
The Australian Government's
focus on reducing waste continues with $30.1 million
over three years for temporary support for oil
recyclers through the Product Stewardship for
Oil Programme.
"Spending in my portfolio
will be $1.1 billion in 2006-07, an increase of
approximately $152 million on the 2005-06 Federal
Budget," Senator Campbell said.
Other new environment portfolio
initiatives announced in the Budget include:
$7.3 million over four years to rehabilitate uranium
sites in the Kakadu National Park and $7.2 million
in 2005-06 to improve Kakadu and Uluru Kata Tjuta
National Parks as tourist destinations; $320,000
in 2005-06 to assist with the restoration of Mawson's
Huts in Antarctica; $5 million in 2005-06 to help
in the construction and restoration of the important
heritage cathedrals of St John's in Brisbane,
the Basilica of St Patrick's in Fremantle and
St Mary's in Hobart; $2.5 million in 2005-06 to
expand the operations of the Australian Wildlife
Hospital and assist in meeting the capital costs
associated with the expansion of the Hospital's
surgical, rehabilitation, research and training
facilities; and $30.4 million in 2005-06 towards
the Business Restructuring Assistance component
of the Great Barrier Reef Structural Adjustment
Package, to assist fishing-related businesses
and communities.
Environmental initiatives across
other Australian Government agencies include:
$316 million in environmental
aid in 2006-07, reflecting that the Government's
commitment to the environment reaches beyond Australian
territories; $388.9 million over four years from
2006-07 to protect Australia's northern waters
and marine resources from the depredations of
illegal fishing. This includes funding for the
Attorney-General's Portfolio, Agriculture, Fisheries
and Forestry Portfolio and the Immigration and
Multicultural Affairs Portfolio; and $100 million
over five years from 2006-07 to support the Asia-Pacific
Partnership on Clean Development and Climate,
as part of the Australian Government's leading
international climate change role.
"Funding provided
in the 2006-07 Budget will ensure a healthy Australian
environment and heritage for years to come,"
Senator Campbell said.
Why is this important?
• Environment initiatives in the 2006-07 Budget
will help conserve and protect our precious natural
and cultural heritage for future generations.
Who will benefit?
• Environment initiatives in the 2006-07 Budget
will benefit all Australians.
What funding is the Government committing to the
initiative?
• The Australian Government is committing $3.9
billion to environment spending in the 2006-07
Budget. This includes measures such as:
• $500 million in 2005-06 to the Murray-Darling
Basin Commission over five years to enhance natural
resource management and environmental flows;
• $37.7 million over four years for regional marine
planning;
• $2 million over three years for a fast response
vessel to respond to illegal foreign fishing in
the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef;
• $245,000 for the historic voyage of the Duyfken;
• $7.3 million over four years to rehabilitate
uranium sites in the Kakadu National Park; and
• $30.1 million over three years to boost the
Government's flagship oil recycling programme.
What have we done in the past?
• Spending in the portfolio will be $1.076 billion
in 2006-07, an increase of $152 million on the
2005-06 Budget.
When will the initiative conclude?
• Funding initiatives in the 2006-07 Budget will
conclude over various years, depending on the
nature of the initiative. Timeframes range from
the three year cycle for the $2 million Great
Barrier Reef fast response vessel, to four year
funding cycles for the $7.3 million for rehabilitation
of uranium mine sites in Kakadu National Park
and $37.7 million for regional marine planning.
