BUDGET MEASURES
New measures announced in today's Budget include:
$122.2 million to continue Landcare activities
This Federal Budget will provide $122.2 million over the next three years to enable the National Landcare Programme to continue its invaluable work in natural resource management.
Around 4,000 voluntary community groups are involved in Landcare, mainly in rural Australia, and the funding will maintain the momentum and swell of support gained through the Government's large investment in the programme.
About 40 per cent of farmers take part in Landcare activities, and the numbers are growing. As managers of 60 per cent of our land, farmers are crucial to achieve the Government's primary industry and natural resource management goals.
Funding will continue for the main Landcare supports nationally. They include the Australian Landcare Council, the National Landcare Facilitator, and Landcare Australia Limited.
It will also assist other Landcare activities, such as on-ground projects and support activities undertaken jointly with the community, and the States and Territories.
The Government will conduct a review of Landcare beyond 2003-04 to examine the effectiveness of the programme and will consider the outcomes of the review in the 2004-05 Budget context.
$2.5 million boost to growing aquaculture industry
Today's Federal Budget boosts Australia's emerging aquaculture industry.
The Government has announced funding of $2.5 million in 2003-04 to help implement the recently agreed Action Agenda for Australian Aquaculture.
Aquaculture has high growth potential and the industry is expected to help fill the gap between wild catch fisheries production and consumer demand expected to occur over the next five years and beyond.
The industry also has the potential to provide job opportunities and alternative income streams for farmers and Indigenous people in remote and rural Australia, and to improve regional infrastructure.
During 2003-04, the peak industry body, the National Aquaculture Council, will work with the industry and governments to research and develop aquaculture in fresh and saltwater environments.
Initiatives include a national conference of stakeholders to explore further opportunities for aquaculture expansion. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Australia will organise the conference.
Extra $5.2 million to wipe out fire ants
The Commonwealth Government has provided an additional $5.2 million in 2003-04 to expand the national strategy to eliminate fire ants in the Brisbane area by 2006.
The funding is in addition to the $15.3 million the Government has already agreed to provide in 2003-04.
The allocation continues the Commonwealth's responsibility under the cost-sharing arrangement with the States, endorsed by the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in May 2002.
The extra funds will cover eradication costs over a larger area after the discovery of some nests outside the original five-kilometre surveillance zone.
The Government considers eradicating fire ants is crucial. If they are allowed to spread in Australia, they will severely damage plant and livestock industries, urban infrastructure and the environment.
The CSIRO predicts the spread of fire ants, if left unchecked, would adversely affect all States and Territories. The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics estimates the cost of allowing the ant to spread in the first 30 years would be $8.9 billion.
Closing date extended for Farm Help applications
The Commonwealth Government has provided funds to extend the closing date for applications for the Farm Help programme by seven months while the Government considers a successor package. The new closing date is 30 June 2004 (previously 30 November 2003).
Farm Help is part of the Government's $800 million Agriculture - Advancing Australia programme, which is nearing the end of its four-year funding cycle.
The Government has allocated $20.7 million in 2004-05 to extend applications to 30 June 2004, and further residual expenditure of $3 million in 2005-06.
This will allow farmers continued access to the programme, which provides up to three-and-a-half years support from the different assistance measures.
Since December 1997, Farm Help has provided, through Centrelink, a safety net for around 8,000 low-income farm families who cannot borrow further against their assets and need time to examine their options to improve their financial security.
$12 million to fight illegal fishing in Southern Ocean
The Government has provided $12 million in 2003-04 for a patrol capability in the Australian Fishing Zone at Heard and McDonald Islands, in the Southern Ocean.
The funding includes $1.8 million for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Australia and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) to manage post-apprehension processes. Authorised fisheries officers, engaged by AFMA, will be onboard these patrol vessels.
Customs will receive $10.2 million to develop a patrol programme as part of a larger government response to illegal fishing when the four year unarmed civilian vessel programme ends in June 2003.
The new programme will include the use of armed enforcement patrols and an increase in patrol frequency, and is part of a larger Australian effort to increase international and diplomatic efforts to combat illegal fishing in the Southern Ocean.
$2.34 million to keep Australia's cattle TB-free
The Federal Government is providing $2.34 million as part of a new four-year programme to maintain Australia's internationally recognised bovine tuberculosis-free status
The funds will be used to continue the Tuberculosis Freedom Assurance Programme (TFAP) set up in 1998 to ensure Australia meets the international obligations expected of TB-free countries.
This involves ongoing surveillance and monitoring activities through the National Granuloma Submission Programme and for confirmatory diagnosis through the Australian Reference Laboratory for Tuberculosis in Perth.
Animal Health Australia manages the TFAP, which was successful in eradicating the expected, but only occasional, outbreaks. Only six have been detected since 1998.
The new programme - TFAP2 - will cost $20.1 million over four years, and has the support of all Australian governments and the Cattle Council of Australia.
Tasmanian Wheat Freight Scheme gets Budget funding
Wheat transport assistance through the Tasmanian Wheat Freight Shipping (TWFS) programme will continue with funding provided in this year's Federal Budget.
The Budget had provided $1.2 million in 2003-04 to continue the TWFS with a further $1.2 million included in Forward Estimates for 2004-05.
The TWFS has helped Tasmanian wheat-using industries compete with imports of other grains and finished products from the mainland that receive assistance under the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme (TFES).
The TWFS has been in place since 1989 when the domestic wheat market was deregulated. After a review of the scheme and extensive consultation with industry, the Government is considering changes to the TWFS to bring it into line with the TFES.