Compendium of Priorities and Initiatives (Continued)
Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
Regional Marine Planning
The Regional Marine Planning program will continue with funding of $8.1 million in 2010‑11 to enable the finalisation of planning in all marine regions around Australia. This will complete the planning phase of the program to ensure that that the social, economic and environmental aspects are fully assessed and all relevant stakeholders are consulted. It will also support the initial implementation of the plans, including commencement of the statutory process for declaring networks of new Commonwealth Marine Reserves. The plans will provide information on conservation values and regional conservation priorities and assist industry in considering the impact of their activity on matters of national environmental significance under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The proposed marine reserves will have a positive environmental impact on these regions and underpin the conservation and sustainable use of the marine environment.
Australia-Antarctica Airlink
The Australian Government has confirmed its commitment to Australia's engagement in the Antarctic with continued funding of $11.7 million in 2010‑11 for the Australia‑Antarctica Airlink. The Airlink provides an efficient means of transport from Australia (Hobart) to Antarctica during the Antarctic Summer season to transport scientists, expeditioners and other personnel participating in Australia's Antarctic Program. The implementation of this project has been an outstanding success and other Antarctic nations are highly impressed by Australia's ability to operate the first ever regular passenger jet flight to Antarctica. Expenditure related to the Airlink will have a positive impact on the Tasmanian economy with a significant portion of expenditure related to the project paid to Tasmanian based staff and suppliers.
National Plan for Environmental Information
The Government has committed $18 million over four years for A National Plan for Environmental Information that will establish enduring institutional arrangements and clear responsibilities for the consistent collection and provision of environmental information for decision-makers. The program will coordinate and prioritise the way the Australian Government collects, manages and uses environmental information, with a view to engaging with other jurisdictions over time. The program will establish the Bureau of Meteorology as a central authority for environmental information and will develop an Environmental Information System which will ultimately ensure more and better quality information on the environment is available. This will facilitate better informed decision-making that will benefit rural and regional areas of Australia.
Ensuring the Resilience of the Reef
The Government continues to support a number of initiatives by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA). Funding of a total of $12 million over two years from 2010‑11 will provide resourcing for three key measures. This includes funding for:
- An increase to the GBRMPA's baseline funding of $4.2 million over two years to ensure the long-term protection, ecologically sustainable use, understanding and enjoyment of the Great Barrier Reef for all Australians and the international community through the care and development of the Marine Park.
- Improving the outlook of the Great Barrier Reef to focus on environmental stewardship and ensure the Reef community and users of the ecosystem understand they have a role to play by taking positive action to improve the outlook for the Reef. A commitment of $3.8 million over two years will see the expansion of the highly successful Reef Guardian initiative to increase community, local government and industry stewardship programs to adopt environmentally sustainable best practices, facilitating knowledge and sharing information to achieve critical environmental outcomes for the Reef.
- Reef HQ Aquarium is a cornerstone of tourism activity in North Queensland that will benefit from additional funding of $4 million over two years to repair and upgrade critical infrastructure and ensure the facility's ongoing operational effectiveness, and longevity.
Contemporary Music Touring Program
Continued funding of $0.4 million in 2010‑11 will provide support to emerging artists to tour regional Australia. The program provides grants to professional musicians performing contemporary Australian music in regional and remote locations. This initiative allows opportunities for regional Australia to experience a variety of live music, and enjoy the arts, close to home. Regional Australian communities will also benefit from an injection of funds into small businesses and local economies from these touring events.
Australia Council
The Government will provide ongoing funding of $695.9 million over four years to the Australia Council to fund artistic endeavours across Australia. This includes $94.9 million for arts in rural and regional areas. This will mean increased exposure to arts and culture within regional areas which facilitates cultural development of individuals and communities as a whole. Continuation of the funding for the Australia Council provides rural and regional areas with enhanced access to the arts and the opportunity to be involved in the production or experience of various art forms. This also provides an important mechanism for expression of life in rural Australia and a means of dealing with challenges of natural disasters such as drought, fire and flood.
Business Skills for Visual Artists
Continued funding of $4 million over four years to the Business Skills for Visual Artists program will support Indigenous arts centres to provide targeted professional development, business skills training and access to the commercial marketplace for Indigenous artists and artsworkers. Arts centres contribute to the development and sustainability of the Indigenous arts industry particularly in regional and remote parts of Australia and make a significant contribution towards maintaining Indigenous culture. Many Indigenous artists live and work in rural and regional areas of Australia and investment in this program provides enormous social, cultural and economic returns to Indigenous communities.
National Indigenous Television (NITV)
The Australian Government will continue funding for the National Indigenous Television Service with $15.2 million ensuring its operation for the next 12 months. NITV provides Indigenous television content that reflects the diversity of Indigenous communities including those in rural and remote areas. A review of Government investment in Indigenous broadcasting and media will be carried out during 2010‑11, to ensure that the resources allocated to Indigenous broadcasting and media are delivering the best outcomes for Indigenous people in terms of their communication, information and knowledge transmission needs.
Community Development and Employment Projects Program Reform in the Torres Strait
The Government supports an ongoing commitment of $21.6 million over four years to reform the Torres Strait Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program in line with the national program. This measure will improve access to reformed employment services, build work readiness skills for individuals and enhance community capacity to engage and develop economically. This funding supports both arts and culture and ranger positions in the Torres Strait.
This program plays a major role in the supporting activities in the arts sector, primarily by subsidising the employment of local Indigenous people to undertake activities in Indigenous community organisations. The Indigenous rangers funded through this proposal will provide environmental services for land, sea and heritage management in the Torres Strait. This initiative will ensure current ongoing environmental management continues in these regional areas as well as providing opportunities for substantial further work for members of these communities.
Community Development and Employment Projects Program Reform
The Government supports the ongoing commitment to funding for Commonwealth service delivery jobs through reform of the CDEP nationally, creating jobs and traineeships for Indigenous Australians with proper remuneration and employment conditions. The total funding includes $101.1 million for rangers and $78.1 million for jobs in the arts, culture and broadcasting. Many Indigenous communities in rural and regional Australia will benefit from this ongoing funding. Conservation values in regional Australia will also benefit through the employment of Indigenous rangers.
Caring for our Country
Caring for our Country is an ongoing program in its second year and has released the second business plan targets for the delivery of the Caring for our Country outcomes. These outcomes work towards a healthier, more resilient, well managed, and better protected environment. The program continues to focus on the six priority areas including:
- the National Reserve System;
- biodiversity and natural icons;
- coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats;
- sustainable farm practices;
- natural resource management in northern and remote Australia; and
- community skills, knowledge and engagement.
The program will continue to work with Natural Resource Management regional bodies to achieve effective management of natural resources throughout Australia.
Further information
Further information about these and other environment, water, heritage and arts initiatives is available at www.environment.gov.au.
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