Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
Culture and Recreation Portal — closure
| 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | - | - | -0.3 | -0.3 | -0.3 |
The Government will close the Culture and Recreation Portal at culture.gov.au from 1 July 2010 in order to reduce duplication with other websites that provide information on Australia's cultural and recreational resources.
This measure will provide savings of $0.8 million over three years from 2010‑11.
Economic Stimulus Plan Recalibration — Energy Efficient Homes package — modification
| 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | - | -310.0 | -300.0 | -250.0 | - |
The Government has closed the Low Emission Assistance Plan for Renters in response to lower‑than‑expected demand. The program provided rebates of up to $1,000 to owners of private sector rental homes to help with the cost of installing insulation. Landlords and renters who install insulation in private sector rental homes are now eligible to receive rebates under the Home Insulation Program.
The Government will also modify the Home Insulation Program. The program will meet the costs of installing ceiling insulation up to a cap of $1,200 per home. The program previously met the cost up to a cap of $1,600. Funding for the Home Insulation Program has also been capped at $2.45 billion over the two years from 2009‑10.
This measure will provide net savings of $860.0 million over three years. Of these savings, funding of $610.0 million from the closure of the Low Emission Assistance Plan for Renters has been redirected to the Primary Schools for the 21st Century element of the Building the Education Revolution (BER) program.
Further to this measure, the Government is providing additional funding of $985.8 million in 2009‑10, which has been brought forward from 2010‑11 ($695.8 million) and 2011‑12 ($290.0 million), to meet an increased demand for rebates under the Home Insulation Program.
These changes are part of the Government's recalibration of the stimulus program to ensure it continues to provide an appropriate level of support to the economy, taking into account the demand for individual programs, evolving labour market conditions and the need to provide continued value for money. The recalibration complements the withdrawal of stimulus that is already built into the design of the fiscal strategy. The Government will continue to monitor the stimulus program, as well as its overall fiscal settings, to ensure they remain suited to economic conditions.
Further information on the transition of landlords and renters to the Home Insulation Program can be found in the Commonwealth Coordinator‑General's Progress Report issued on 27 August 2009 by the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery.
Economic Stimulus Plan Recalibration — Solar Hot Water Rebate — modification
| 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | - | - | - | - | - |
The Government has decided that the 3,400 households whose homes were destroyed or left uninhabitable in the February 2009 Victorian bushfires will be able to access the Solar Hot Water Rebate when rebuilding, provided they also install a rainwater tank at the property that meets the criteria for the Victorian five‑star building standard. The rebate is not usually available for new homes.
The Government has also decided to reduce the rebate on heat pump hot water systems from $1,600 to $1,000, for eligible systems purchased after 4 September 2009. This change will better align the gap that eligible householders pay for heat pump and solar hot water systems. The $1,600 rebate on eligible solar hot water systems remains unchanged.
The cost of this measure will be met from within the existing resourcing for the Solar Hot Water Rebate program, which has been capped at $644.2 million over three years from 2009‑10.
This measure is part of the Government's recalibration of the stimulus program to ensure it continues to provide an appropriate level of support to the economy, taking into account the demand for individual programs, evolving labour market conditions and the need to provide continued value for money. The recalibration complements the withdrawal of stimulus that is already built into the design of the fiscal strategy. The Government will continue to monitor the stimulus program, as well as its overall fiscal settings, to ensure they remain suited to economic conditions.
Further information can be found in the joint press release of 4 September 2009 issued by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts and the Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction.
Graves and memorials of eminent Australians — conservation
| 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | - | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide up to $0.4 million over four years for the conservation of graves and memorials of eminent Australian civilians in Australia and overseas. This measure will assist in giving recognition to Australians who have made significant contributions to the nation and the world.
The cost of this measure will be met from within the existing resourcing of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
Further information can be found in the press release of 23 July 2009 issued by the Prime Minister.
Kokoda Track — safety upgrade
| 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | - | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $1.8 million in 2009‑10 for a range of safety projects along the Kokoda Track. The measure includes funding to install safety equipment at six airstrips, including Kokoda, improve the radio network, undertake maintenance work on the Owers Corner Road and construct footbridges at key points along the Kokoda Track.
This funding is in addition to $15.8 million over four years provided in the 2008‑09 Budget to assist Papua New Guinea with management of the Kokoda Track and the Owen Stanley Ranges.
The cost of this measure will be met from within the existing resourcing of AusAID.
Further information can be found in the joint press release of 5 September 2009 issued by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts and the Papua New Guinea Minister for Culture and Tourism.
National Solar Schools Program — reduced funding
| 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | - | - | -7.9 | -8.1 | - |
| Department of the Treasury | - | - | -18.4 | -18.8 | - |
| Total | - | - | -26.2 | -26.8 | - |
The Government will reduce funding for government and non‑government schools under the National Solar Schools Program. The program provides grants of up to $50,000 to Australian schools to install solar panels and for energy and water efficiency improvements. Funding to install these types of improvements is also being provided under the Building the Education Revolution program.
This measure will provide savings of $53.1 million over two years from 2010‑11, comprising a saving of $15.9 million in payments by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts to non‑government schools and a saving of $37.2 million in payments by the Australian Treasury to the States and Territories in relation to government schools.
Solar Homes and Communities Plan — additional funding
| 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | - | 510.8 | 23.2 | - | - |
The Government will provide an additional $534.0 million over two years to meet commitments under the Solar Homes and Communities Plan. The program was terminated on 9 June 2009. The program provided rebates of up to $8,000 for the installation of solar power panels in homes, and grants for up to half the cost of a 2 kilowatt system for community buildings.
The program has now been replaced by the Solar Credits Scheme, which is part of the expanded Renewable Energy Target. The scheme provides assistance to households, small businesses and community groups with the upfront costs of eligible small‑scale renewable energy systems installed after 9 June 2009.
Further information can be found in the joint press release of 9 June 2009 issued by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts and the Minister for Climate Change and Water, and the press release of 10 September 2009 issued by the Minister for Climate Change and Water.
Water for the Future — National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative — reduced funding
| 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | - | -13.0 | -31.4 | - | - |
The Government will reduce funding for the National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative in response to lower‑than‑expected demand. The initiative provides rebates of up to $500 towards the cost of installing rainwater tanks or new piping for greywater use, or up to $10,000 to surf life saving clubs to install a rainwater tank or as a contribution towards a larger water‑saving project.
The initiative will now provide $204.7 million over five years from 2009‑10.
This measure will provide savings of $44.4 million over two years from 2009‑10.
Water for the Future — Water Smart Australia — reduced funding
| 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | - | -10.0 | -10.0 | - | - |
The Government will reduce funding for project contingencies under the Water Smart Australia program. The program will now provide $386.4 million over two years from 2009‑10. The program provides grants to projects that aim to accelerate the development and uptake of smart water technologies and practices across Australia.
This measure will provide savings of $20.0 million over two years from 2009‑10.
Zelman Cowen Gallery of Australian Jewish History — contribution
| 2008‑09 | 2009‑10 | 2010‑11 | 2011‑12 | 2012‑13 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts | - | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $200,000 in 2009‑10 as a contribution to the development of the Zelman Cowen Gallery of Australian Jewish History at the Jewish Museum of Australia in Melbourne.
The cost of this measure will be met from within the existing resourcing of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
Further information can be found in the joint press release of 30 September 2009 issued by the Prime Minister and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts.
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