Environment and Heritage

Biofuels Taskforce — Australian Government response

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of the Environment and Heritage	*	*	*	*
Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources	*	*	*	*
Total	*	*	*	*

The Government will provide funding to implement a range of measures to address market barriers and restore and build consumer confidence in biofuels. These measures form part of the Government’s response to the Biofuels Taskforce Report.

The main elements of the biofuels package will include: increasing fuel quality compliance inspections to ensure ethanol blends meet fuel quality standards; undertaking testing of vehicles using ethanol blended fuel; and commissioning a study into the health impacts of ethanol use.

The implementation details of these measures (and associated funding) are currently being developed.

Further information can be found in the press release of 22 September 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.

HMAS SYDNEY II — search

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of the Environment and Heritage	1.3	-	-	-

The Government will provide $1.3 million in 2005-06 to HMAS Sydney Search Pty Ltd to help fund the search for the HMAS SYDNEY II, a cruiser lost off the West Australian coast in 1941. The commencement of the search coincides with the 60^th Anniversary year of the end of World War II.

Further information can be found in the press release of 14 August 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.

Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement — Forest Conservation Fund

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of the Environment and Heritage	nfp	nfp	nfp	nfp

The Government will establish a new Forest Conservation Fund to reserve an additional 43,200 hectares of private forest through voluntary sale or protective covenant over the land. The cost of this measure is unable to be disclosed, as this would be likely to affect negotiations. Funding for this measure has been placed in the contingency reserve.

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 — reservation of private forest at Mole Creek

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of the Environment and Heritage	1.4	1.4	0.7	-

The Government will provide $3.6 million over three years to reserve up to 2,400 hectares of private forest adjacent to the Mole Creek National Park through voluntary sale or protective covenant over the land.

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 — river catchment water quality auditing

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of the Environment and Heritage	0.5	0.5	-	-

The Government will provide $1.0 million over two years from 2005-06 towards a study of the chemical residues from farming and forestry practices in Tasmanian river catchments, drawing on the expertise of the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organisation.

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 — saving the Tasmanian Devil

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of the Environment and Heritage	1.0	1.0	-	-

The Government will provide $2.0 million over two years from 2005-06 to accelerate research efforts to find a cure for the Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease.

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 — Tarkine bush walk

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of the Environment and Heritage	0.5	0.5	-	-

The Government will provide $1.0 million over two years from 2005-06 to assist the development of bushwalking tracks and related infrastructure in the Tarkine area.

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 — tourism and recreation

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of the Environment and Heritage	1.0	1.0	-	-

The Government will provide $2.0 million over two years to improve visitor facilities in forest areas of Tasmania, focusing on the new reserves created under the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement.

Further information can be found in the press release of 13 May 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.

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