Fact sheet 9: Environment
Commonwealth funding continues to focus on the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT), the National Action Plan for water quality and salinity (NAP), pollution and waste issues.
Most initiatives were announced during the election campaign or funding will come out of existing department allocations.
Other initiatives for the environment include:
- New initiatives designed to address Australia's waste and pollution issues, including greenhouse gas emissions, were confirmed. This includes $2m over three years to promote the use of technologies to recycle used oil and $300,000 over three years for the National Recycling Hotline to inform the community about what waste can be recycled in their local area. Both of these measures were announced during the 2004 election campaign
- The National Pollutant Inventory will receive $5.2m over four years in continuation funding
- The Photovoltaic Rebate program has been extended with funding of $11.4m over two years
- Funding for the Australian Water Fund announced during the election was confirmed. This will include $48.2 million for the Community Water Grants program, $30m for Raising National Water Standards and $253m for the Water Smart Australia initiative in 2005-06
- $1.8bn was committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to implement the 2004 climate change strategy
- $10.5 million over four years to provide financial incentives to restore and conserve significant historic built heritage and indigenous heritage places
- $40m promised during the election campaign for the National Weeds Strategy was confirmed
- An additional $24.3m to eradicate the imported red fire ant has been provided
