May 2008 - The Rudd
Government has delivered $2.3 billion in
funding to tackle climate change through
initiatives across government over the four
years of this Budget.
Minister for Climate
Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, said
the funding boost delivered on the Rudd
Government’s election commitment to take
real action on climate change.
“Australians understand
climate change is one of the biggest challenges
we face as a nation,” Senator Wong said.
“The impacts of climate
change threaten both our economic prosperity
and our way of life.
“We have already set
out our plan for responding to this challenge
– by reducing carbon emissions, adapting
to climate change we cannot avoid, and helping
to shape a global solution.”
Senator Wong said the
Government has provided $59.0 million1 to
establish the Department of Climate Change
to deliver on commitments including a national
renewable energy target and an emissions
trading scheme.
“This includes $37.3
million in funding for the Department to
work on the design of the emissions trading
scheme in addition to the $31.6 million
previously allocated across government for
work on emissions trading.”
Rudd Government initiatives
on climate change include:
• $1.0 billion to help
Australians make their homes and their communities
more energy- and water-efficient;
• $260.0 million to Australian businesses
to reduce their impact on the environment;
• $1.7 billion to support Australia’s world-leading
scientists, researchers and industry in
their work to improve energy efficiency
and develop clean energy options, including
renewable energy and clean coal technologies;
• $130.0 million to Australia’s Farming
Future to deliver the Climate Change and
Productivity Program, the Climate Change
and Adaptation Partnerships Program, and
the Climate Change Adjustment Program;
• $8.0 million for Australia’s forestry
industry to better prepare for climate change,
including the development of a Forestry
Adaptation Plan and assessment of capacity
for forests to sequester carbon; and
• $150.0 million2 for AusAID to strengthen
climate change adaptation efforts, focusing
on countries in Australia’s region.
1 This figure includes $37.3 million in
funding for the establishment of an emissions
trading scheme and $21.7 million for other
Departmental funding.
2 This total includes $15.0 million absorbed
within the existing resources of the aid
program.
+ More
$3.6 MILLION CONTRIBUTION
TO ASSIST LATROBE AQUIFER FARMERS
15 May 2008 - Minister
for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny
Wong, today announced a contribution of
$3.6 million towards assisting 55 Gippsland
irrigators affected by falling groundwater
levels in the Latrobe Aquifer.
Senator Wong said the
contribution is in line with advice from
Victorian and Commonwealth officials that
a package of $7.2 million is appropriate
to assist irrigators to access their groundwater
entitlements.
“In considering options
for assistance, the Government drew on a
report by expert consultants under the
joint Australian and Victorian government-funded
Sustainable Groundwater Management program,”
Senator Wong said.
“These expert consultants
engaged extensively with local irrigators
through the Latrobe Aquifer Reference
Group, administered as part of this program.”
The cost of the assistance
package is based on the capital cost of
bores and pumps, combined with extra
pumping costs incurred in the face of declining
groundwater levels.
“The Rudd Government’s
$3.6 million contribution is a significant
step in providing these irrigators with
the certainty they need to continue to access
their groundwater entitlements, and to continue
to farm into
the future,” Senator Wong said.
“We are pleased to be
committing our share of assistance today,
and look forward to this matter being resolved
soon.”
Senator Wong said the
Commonwealth contribution was conditional
on a groundwater management planning process
being established to manage the aquifer
on a long-term sustainable basis.
“Careful planning is
vital to secure water supplies for Australian
farmers and communities now and in the
future,” Senator Wong said.
“This is in line with
the Rudd Government’s long-term Water for
the Future plan, which has four key priorities:
taking action on climate change, securing
water supplies, using water wisely and supporting
healthy rivers.”
+ More
$3.0 BILLION FOR A SUSTAINABLE
AUSTRALIA
13 May 2008 - Australia
will be better placed to meet future environmental
challenges through $3.0 billion of initiatives
in the 2008-09 Budget, including the $2.2
billion Caring for our Country program.
Minister for the Environment,
Peter Garrett, said this investment was
further evidence of the government’s commitment
to protect Australia’s unique environment
through sustainable natural resources management,
tackling climate change and minimising the
negative impacts of inappropriate development,
pollution and pests.
“Caring for our Country
will cut red tape and focus natural resource
investment on national priorities. We want
communities to put their energy into practical
on ground action, not filling in forms.
“The government recognises
the threat of climate change to our unique
biodiversity and will invest $180.0 million
in our National Reserve System to ensure
we have parks and reserves as refuges for
biodiversity in the face of climate change.”
In addition to Caring
for our Country, the Rudd Labor Government
has funded a range of measures in this Budget
to help Australians take practical action
at home, at school and in their communities.
“This includes low interest
loans of up to $10,000 to assist families
to take practical action at home by investing
in water and energy savings as well as assistance
for landlords to install insulation in rental
homes,” Mr Garrett said.
Other measures include
establishing a One Stop Green Shop to link
Australians with programs and financial
assistance made available by all levels
of government, and the expansion of labeling
and new standards for energy-efficient appliances.
Further funding will
be provided to develop Green Precincts promoting
water and energy saving initiatives, establishing
new Solar Cities, and grants of up to $50,000
to make every Australian school a solar
school.
“This Budget puts in place a range of substantial
measures which will help all Australians
protect our precious environment well into
the future,” Mr Garrett said.
Media contact: Ben Pratt 0419 968 734
+ More
200m to rescue the Great
Barrier Reef
Threats to the Great
Barrier Reef, including the effects of climate
change and declining water quality will
be tackled by the Rudd Labor Government’s
$200 million reef rescue plan announced
in today’s Budget.
Environment Minister
Peter Garrett and Agriculture, Fisheries
and Forestry Minister Tony Burke said the
funding will support land management grants
to farmers and community groups and fund
vital research.
The rescue plan will
help protect one of the world’s great natural
wonders, while benefiting local conservation
and Indigenous groups, agricultural production
and tourism, fishing and aquaculture industries.
It is a key component of the $2.2 billion
Caring for our Country initiative, to restore
the health of Australia’s environment and
build on improved land management practices.
As outlined in Labor’s
election commitment, the $200.0 million
five-year reef rescue plan includes:
• $146.0 million for
a Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Grants
Program – the majority of these funds to
be provided in the form of matching grants
to landowners and managers who commit to
implementing proven practices to reduce
the amount of nutrients and sediment run-off
from the land;
• $12.0 million for a Healthy Reef Partnerships
Program to boost partnerships between the
Government, state agencies and non-government
organisations that support landowners with
local expertise and extension staff;
• $10.0 million for a Great Barrier Reef
Water Quality Research and Development Program
– a competitive research funding program
to look at the link between land management
practices and environmental impacts and
develop new water-quality monitoring techniques
for nutrients, chemicals and sediments;
• $22.0 million for a Water Quality Monitoring
and Reporting Program to expand existing
monitoring and reporting of water quality
in the Reef and fund a coordinated catchmentwide
water quality monitoring program; and
• $10.0 million for the Land and Sea Country
Indigenous Partnerships Program, including
at least $5.0 million to employ Sea Country
Officers in Indigenous communities and provide
additional funding for the Great Barrier
Reef Marine Park Authority to strengthen
partnerships with Indigenous communities.
“The Great Barrier Reef is the world's most
extensive coral reef system with habitats
that are critically important for the diversity
of our marine biology,” Mr Garrett said.
13 May 2008
Joint Media Release
The Hon Peter Garrett, MP Minister for the
Environment, Heritage and the Arts
The Hon Tony Burke, MP - Minister for Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry
Page 2
“The reef continues to face the twin threats
of coral bleaching, caused by climate change,
and declining water quality.
“An important part of the reef rescue package
will be building partnerships with Indigenous
communities.”
Mr Burke said the sugar cane, cattle and
banana industries had made significant advances
in recent years to improve yields while
reducing fertiliser and other inputs and
their effects off-farm.
“This reef rescue package will accelerate
uptake of improved farm practices to ensure
these vibrant primary industries can continue,
while improving the quality of water flowing
into the reef,” Mr Burke said.
The Australian Government will work closely
with stakeholders, including governments,
farmers and the community to implement the
five-year program.
Funds will be focussed on achieving clear,
measurable outcomes in terms of improving
water quality in the reef and achieving
best value-for-money for taxpayers over
the long-term.
