Expense measures
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Citrus canker eradication in Queensland — assistance to growers
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | 4.6 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $4.6 million in 2005-06 to assist citrus growers in the Pest Quarantine Area at Emerald in Queensland who lose their orchards as part of the citrus canker eradication programme despite having no confirmed evidence of citrus canker within their properties. This funding is in addition to the $8 million previously allocated for the eradication of citrus canker over three years from 2004-05 to 2006‑07.
The Government’s contribution represents 40 per cent of the total agreed costs. This is in line with the plant pest disease eradication cost-sharing arrangements currently being negotiated between the Australian, State and Territory governments and the citrus industry.
See also the related measure titled Citrus canker eradication in Queensland — recovery assistance in the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio.
Further information can be found in a press release dated 10 August 2005 issued by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Citrus canker eradication in Queensland — recovery assistance
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide up to $1.5 million over two years to fund income support, interest rate subsidies and assistance to recover lost markets for citrus growers within the Pest Quarantine Area at Emerald in Queensland. This assistance will also be available to other affected growers and nurseries in Queensland.
The cost of this measure will be met fully from within the existing resources of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
See also the related measure title Citrus canker eradication in Queensland — assistance to growers in the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio.
Further information can be found in a press release dated 11 February 2005 issued by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Drought assistance — Country Women’s Association Emergency Aid Fund
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | 3.0 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $3 million in 2005-06 to the Country Women’s Association Emergency Aid Fund. This will allow the Country Women’s Association to help meet the immediate household needs of those farmers and their families who may otherwise be reluctant to apply for assistance.
Further information can be found in a press release dated 30 May 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.
Drought assistance — Exceptional Circumstances assistance
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | 507.4 | 95.7 | - | - |
| Department of Education, Science and Training | 9.7 | 1.3 | - | - |
| Department of Health and Ageing | 10.0 | 1.4 | - | - |
| Centrelink | 7.1 | 0.3 | - | - |
| Total | 534.2 | 98.7 | - | - |
The Government will provide an additional $632.8 million over two years to support primary producers in regions that have been declared eligible for Exceptional Circumstances assistance.
Exceptional Circumstances assistance comprises interest rate subsidies and income support to assist viable farm businesses and farm families who have been adversely affected by exceptional climatic events, such as drought. Eligible recipients are also provided with a health care concession card and access to Youth Allowance. Farmers who have not experienced a break in drought over the past 18 months can have Exceptional Circumstances drought declarations rolled over for a 12-month extension.
This measure includes a higher interest rate subsidy and relaxed off-farm assets and income tests.
Further information can be found in a press release dated 30 May 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.
This measure includes a higher interest rate subsidy and relaxed off-farm assets and income tests. Further information can be found in a press release dated 30 May 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.
Drought assistance — interim income support
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | 1.1 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $1.1 million in 2005-06 to support primary producers in regions that have been declared eligible for interim income support.
Once a fully completed drought application for a region is received by the Australian Government and is deemed to show a prima facie case for an Exceptional Circumstances declaration, interim income support is made available to eligible primary producers on conditions equivalent to the Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment.
Access to interim income support is available for up to six months while the Exceptional Circumstances application is assessed by the National Rural Advisory Council. Should the Government declare Exceptional Circumstances in that region, interim income support ceases and standard Exceptional Circumstances assistance arrangements commence.
Further information can be found in the press release of 14 September 2005 issued by Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Drought assistance — Rural Financial Counselling Service
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | 2.2 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $2.2 million in 2005-06 to the Rural Financial Counselling Service, in recognition of the increased workload and additional costs resulting from the prolonged drought. Of this funding, $1.2 million will be provided to appoint ten additional counsellors in key areas affected by the drought.
Further information can be found in the press release dated 30 May 2005 issued by the Prime Minister and in the press release dated 12 October 2005 issued by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Exports and infrastructure taskforce — establishment
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | - | - | - | - |
The Government provided $0.2 million in 2004-05 to establish a taskforce to identify bottlenecks of a physical or regulatory kind in the operation of Australia’s infrastructure which may impede the full realisation of export opportunities. The taskforce, which was chaired by Dr Brian Fisher, delivered its report to the Prime Minister on 20 May 2005.
Further information can be found in the press release of 18 March 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.
Fishing structural adjustment package — business exit assistance
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | 104.4 | 45.1 | 0.1 | - |
The Government will provide $149.6 million over three years to deliver one-off business exit assistance to support the sustainability of Australian Government managed fisheries that are subject to over-fishing or are at significant risk of over-fishing in the future. Individual fishing businesses in affected fisheries seeking to leave the industry will be encouraged to apply for exit assistance via a capped, competitive, voluntary tender process.
This measure recognises that significant reductions in allowable catch levels and effort for 2006 and beyond are needed to address the sustainability of some fisheries. The measure also addresses the displaced fishing effort arising from the creation of Marine Protected Areas in the southeast marine region.
Further information can be found in the press release of 23 November 2005 issued by the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation and in the joint press release with the Minister for the Environment and Heritage of 24 November 2005.
Fishing structural adjustment package — Fishing Communities Grants Programme
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | - | 8.2 | 12.2 | - |
The Government will provide $20.4 million over two years from 2006-07 for the Fishing Communities Grants Programme. This programme will fund projects capable of generating local economic activity and employment opportunities in communities that have been affected by the reduction in fishing activity.
Further information can be found in the press release of 23 November 2005 issued by the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation.
Fishing structural adjustment package — onshore and related assistance
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | 6.2 | 16.1 | 7.3 | - |
The Government will provide $29.6 million over three years for grants to assist onshore and fishing businesses affected by reduced fishing activity as a result of past over-fishing.
This measure will include grants to assist businesses directly related to the fishing industry (such as fish processors and ship chandlers) who are severely affected by the reduction in fishing activity. Skippers and crew who lose employment will have access to grants of $5,000 and $3,000 respectively, to help offset the costs of job seeking, retraining and/or relocation. Grants of up to $1,500 will be available to fishing businesses and directly affected onshore businesses to offset the cost of obtaining professional business advice.
Further information can be found in the press release of 23 November 2005 issued by the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation.
Fishing structural adjustment package — science, compliance and data collection
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | - | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
The Government will provide $6.0 million over three years from 2006-07 to the Australian Fisheries Management Authority for new science, compliance and data collection activities. These activities, in conjunction with significant structural adjustment of the fisheries, are needed to ensure improved fisheries management outcomes. These activities would otherwise have required an increase in the Australian Fisheries Management Authority’s cost recovery based levy at the same time the industry is adjusting to new management arrangements.
See also the related revenue measure titled Fishing structural adjustment package — Australian Fisheries Management Authority levy subsidy in the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio.
Further information can be found in the press release of 23 November 2005 issued by the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation.
Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement — alternatives to 1080 poison baits
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | 1.5 | 2.5 | - | - |
The Government will provide $4.0 million over two years to fast track current Tasmanian Government research, trials and adoption of safe alternatives to the use of 1080 poison baits. This will include work on alternative environmentally sound methods of controlling grazing animals that can be used by Tasmanian forestry companies and land managers.
The Tasmanian Government has agreed to ban the use of 1080 poison baits in State forests by the end of 2005.
This measure was announced on 6 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment A Sustainable Future for Tasmania, and confirmed in the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement.
Further information can be found in the press release of 13 May 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.
Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement — communications programme
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | 2.2 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $2.2 million in 2005-06 to increase community awareness about the preservation and conservation needs of our environment, and the Government’s forest management policies, both in relation to the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement and more broadly.
This measure was announced on 6 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment A Sustainable Future for Tasmania, and confirmed in the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement.
Further information can be found in the press release of 13 May 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.
Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement — intensive forest management
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | 18.0 | 18.0 | 19.1 | - |
The Government will provide $66.1 million over four years (including $11.0 million in 2004-05) to fund additional plantation establishment and productivity improvements in existing plantations and native forests, with the aim of ensuring long term supply of sawlogs and veneer logs.
This measure was announced on 6 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment A Sustainable Future for Tasmania, and confirmed in the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement.
Further information can be found in the press release of 13 May 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.
Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement — measures to support reductions in old growth clearfelling
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | 2.0 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $2.0 million in 2005-06 to study alternatives to clearfell harvesting of old growth forests in Tasmania to help increase forest yields and provide sustainable forest jobs.
This measure was announced on 6 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment A Sustainable Future for Tasmania, and confirmed in the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement.
Further information can be found in the press release of 13 May 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.
Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement — payment to the Tasmanian Government for the implementation of the agreement
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | - | - | - | - |
The Government provided $13.0 million in 2004-05 to the Tasmanian Government to assist in the administration of the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement.
Further information can be found in the press release of 13 May 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.
Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement — pulp mill
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | 2.4 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $2.4 million in 2005-06 to assist with project costs associated with the development of a chlorine-free pulp mill in Tasmania by Gunns Limited.
This measure was announced on 6 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment A Sustainable Future for Tasmania, and confirmed in the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement.
Further information can be found in the press release of 13 May 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.
Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement — softwood industry
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | 2.1 | 6.1 | 2.1 | - |
The Government will provide $10.4 million over three years to assist the Tasmanian softwood industry establish a facility for the environmentally friendly preservation of pine and to phase out the use of Copper Chrome Arsonate within two years.
This measure was announced on 6 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment A Sustainable Future for Tasmania, and confirmed in the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement.
Further information can be found in the press release of 13 May 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.
Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement — support for country sawmills
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | 2.0 | 2.0 | - | - |
The Government will provide $4.0 million over two years to assist country sawmills to introduce new equipment, technologies and product lines, and to develop new markets.
This measure was announced on 6 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment A Sustainable Future for Tasmania, and confirmed in the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement.
Further information can be found in the press release of 13 May 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.
Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement — support for the hardwood timber industry
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | 20.7 | 17.6 | 5.6 | - |
The Government will provide $43.8 million over three years to support the Tasmanian hardwood timber industry to adapt their production to alternative logging areas and tree species.
This measure was announced on 6 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment A Sustainable Future for Tasmania, and confirmed in the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement.
Further information can be found in the press release of 13 May 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.
Torres Strait fisheries — resource sharing arrangements
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | nfp | nfp | - | - |
The Government will provide funding over two years from 2005-06 to reform resource sharing arrangements with Papua New Guinea and Torres Strait Islanders in Torres Strait fisheries subject to the Torres Strait Treaty.
Estimates of the impact of the measure are unable to be disclosed, as this would be likely to affect negotiations. Funding for this measure has been placed in the contingency reserve.
Further information can be found in the press releases of 27 July 005 issued jointly by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Trade and of 9 November 2005 issued by the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation.