Australian Federal Budget October 2022-23: Environment

The Government has announced funding to protect natural heritage, including Indigenous heritage, and green technologies. It will also invest in oversight and leadership capabilities to help Australia respond to climate change and other environmental protection initiatives.

Protecting natural heritage

• Great Barrier Reef: The Government has made a $1.2 billion commitment to the protection and restoration of the Great Barrier Reef. This includes:
  • $96.9 million over 4 years from 2022–23 to address critical gaps in the implementation of the Reef 2050 Long-term Sustainability Plan; and
  • $91.8 million over 5 years from 2022–23 to deliver ‘shovel ready’ Great Barrier Reef projects that accelerate reef protection and restoration activities.
• Natural Heritage Trust: The Government will provide $1.1 billion over 6 years from 2022–23 (and $2.5 million per year ongoing) to continue to support the sustainable management of Australia’s natural resources as well as local and long-term environmental, sustainable agriculture and Indigenous outcomes through the next phase of Natural Heritage Trust funding. This includes:
  • $604.2 million over 5 years from 2023–24 to protect and conserve Australia’s iconic species and landscapes, continue, and enhance the Indigenous Protected Areas program to support Traditional Owners to manage their Country, and support conservation and mitigation activities in World Heritage listed properties and wetlands recognised under the Ramsar Convention.
  • $302.1 million over 5 years from 2023–24 to support the transition of the agricultural sector towards sustainable farming and land management practices, build Australia’s climate and disaster resilience and contribute to emissions reductions and improved environmental outcomes.
  • $90.0 million over 5 years from 2022–23 to employ and upskill up to 1,000 Landcare Rangers to deliver on ground actions to protect and restore Australia’s environment and heritage and help address labour and skill shortages in the environment sector, and to fund the Landcare Facilitator to coordinate community Landcare activities and improve knowledge sharing.
  • $66.5 million over 5 years from 2023–24 to deliver on the Government’s election commitment to expand the Indigenous Protected Areas program.
  • $57.0 million over 6 years from 2022–23 (and $2.5 million per year ongoing) to support the recovery and longer-term conservation of the koala and its habitats.
• Indigenous heritage: The Government will provide $14.7 million over 4 years from 2022–23 to support the protection of Australia’s cultural and First Nations heritage sites by empowering local communities and First Nations people to identify priorities for the protection of heritage. The funding will:
  • improve engagement with First Nations people to support heritage.
  • support the addition of cultural and First Nations heritage values to existing World Heritage and National Heritage-listed areas.
  • pursue the UNESCO World Heritage listing of the Murujuga Cultural Landscape and Flinders Ranges.
  • add the Parramatta Female Factory to the World Heritage Listing of Australian Convict Sites and support the nomination of the Victorian Trades Hall and potentially the Broken Hill Trades Hall for World Heritage Listings.
• Marine parks management: The Government will provide $10.8 million over 4 years from 2022–23 to improve marine park management in Australia, support the health and biodiversity of Australia’s oceans and strengthen Australia’s international engagement and leadership.
• Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre: The Government will provide $15.3 million over two years from 2022–23 to support improved scientific expertise at the Coastal Marine Ecosystem Research Centre at Central Queensland University.
• Native species: The Government will provide $224.5 million over 4 years from 2022–23 to support actions to slow the rate of environmental and native species decline and lay the foundations for longer-term support and recovery of Australia’s native species and special landscapes.

Improving oversight and leadership

• International leadership: The Government will provide $45.8 million over 6 years from 2022–23 to restore Australia’s reputation and increase international engagement on climate change and energy transformation issues. This funding will allow for leadership and engagement in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue and other international forums, delivery of international clean energy partnerships, and capacity building in the Pacific.
• Additional resourcing for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: The Government will provide $275.7 million over 4 years from 2022–23 (and $60.5 million per year ongoing) to support establishing a strong Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. This includes establishing core institutional capabilities to deliver the Government’s agenda to reinvigorate Australian climate action and leadership, facilitate the smooth transformation of our energy system, capture the opportunities of a clean energy economy, help protect, restore and manage Australia’s environment and heritage, and improve the health of our rivers and freshwater ecosystems.
• Restoring the Climate Change Authority and delivering annual climate change statements to Parliament: The Government will provide $47.1 million over 4 years from 2022–23 (and $13.6 million per year ongoing) in additional funding for the Climate Change Authority and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. This includes:
  • $42.6 million over 4 years from 2022–23 (and $12.3 million per year ongoing) to the Climate Change Authority to provide independent climate change advice.
  • $4.5 million over 4 years (and $1.3 million per year ongoing) to support preparation by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water of the Annual Climate Change Statements to Parliament to report Australia’s progress in achieving its emissions reduction targets.
• Response to the Samuel Review: The Government will provide $7.8 million in 2022–23 to deliver a full response to the 2019 Independent Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 by the end of 2022 and to design an independent Commonwealth Environment Protection Agency.
• Commonwealth Climate Risk and Opportunity Management Program: The Government will provide $9.3 million over 4 years from 2022–23 to build climate risk management capabilities and systems across the Australian Public Service and commence designing a National Climate Risk Assessment.
• Sustaining environmental assessments: The Government will provide $117.1 million over 3 years from 2022–23 to sustain assessment and compliance functions under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981.
• Engaging with First Nations peoples on climate change: The Government will provide $15.9 million over 4 years from 2022–23 to establish the Torres Strait Climate Change Centre of Excellence to build the capability and capacity of Torres Strait Islander peoples to respond to climate change mitigation and adaptation through integrating technical expertise with traditional knowledge and delivering a Climate Warriors training program.
• Independent Commonwealth Environment Protection Agency: The Government will provide $7.8 million in 2022–23 to deliver a full response to the 2019 Independent Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 by the end of 2022 and to design an independent Commonwealth Environment Protection Agency.
• Funding for the Environmental Defenders Office ad Environmental Justice Australia: The Government will provide $9.8 million over 4 years from 2022–23 (and $2.6 million per year ongoing) to restore funding to the Environmental Defenders Office and Environmental Justice Australia.

Protecting waterways and water resources

• Murray-Darling Basin: The Government will provide:
  • initial funding towards meeting environmental water targets under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. The financial implications for the measure have not been published for commercial sensitivities.
  • $51.9 million over 5 years from 2022–23 to strengthen the Murray-Darling Basin Plan by updating the science to account for the impacts of climate change and restore trust and transparency in water management.
  • funding over 5 years from 2022–23 (with an ongoing component) to respond to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Murray-Darling Basin water markets inquiry by improving the transparency and integrity of water markets.
• Urban rivers and catchments plan: The Government will provide $91.1 million over 6 years from 2022–23 to improve local waterways, fund activities that restore the natural habitats of aquatic species and create recreational spaces for local communities, as the first phase of the Government’s $200 million election commitment.
• National Water Grid: The Government will provide $278.1 million over 5 years to expand investment in nationally significant, transformational water infrastructure projects. This includes:
  • $107.5 million for the Cairns Water Security Project, Queensland.
  • $100.0 million for the Tasmanian Pipeline to prosperity – Tranche 3 Projects, Tasmania.
  • $32.0 million to progress consultation and strategic planning with the Queensland Government for water infrastructure options in central Queensland and the Burdekin region, Queensland.
  • $3.5 million for the Mount Morgan Water Supply Project, Queensland.
• Water for Australia Plan: The Government will provide $2.6 million over two years from 2022–23 to support the futureproofing of Australia’s water resources by delivering the Government’s commitments to national and First Nations water reform. Funding includes:
  • $2.1 million for expert legal support to deliver national water reform commitment.
  • $0.5 million for initial scoping work to establish a National Water Commission.

Supporting green technologies

• Carbon capture technology: The Government will provide $141.1 million over 10 years from 2022–23 as part of a realignment of investment in carbon capture technologies. Program investments and related policy development will prioritise technology development for hard-to-abate industrial sectors, accelerate carbon dioxide removal and negative emissions technologies, and support research opportunities for institutions, as well as industry and international partners.
• Carbon farming outreach program: The Government will provide $20.3 million over 4 years from 2022–23 to establish an outreach program to empower Australian farmers and land managers, including First Nations peoples, to participate in carbon markets and integrate low emission technologies.
• Lowering emissions and supporting green markets: The Government will provide $2.2 million in 2022–23 towards developing and consulting on design and draft legislation for a Guarantee of Origin Certificate scheme, to track and verify emissions associated with renewable electricity, hydrogen and other low emissions commodities produced in Australia.