$3.8 billion for climate and environment

The Morrison Government is delivering more than $3.8 billion for a better environment in the 2019-20 Budget, including Australia’s biggest ever direct investment in emissions reduction.

$3.5 billion will be invested through the Climate Solutions Package with a further $137.4 million for Practical Environment Restoration which includes funding for environmental protection projects, threatened species, the restoration of coastal land and waterways, and waste recycling.

This investment highlights the critical role of a strong economy in supporting positive environmental outcomes. Our commitments will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ensure Australia meets its international climate targets and address local environmental challenges, while maintaining a strong economy.

At a time when Australia is seeing record levels of investment in renewable energy, with $25 billion committed across 18,800 MW of new wind and solar projects, the 2019-20 Budget assists our transition towards a low carbon economy and provides practical environmental solutions that will benefit future generations.

Climate Solutions Package:

The $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Package is the biggest single investment any Australian government has made in reducing emissions. This funding will help ensure we meet our Paris commitment to reduce emissions by 26-28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.

Its centrepiece is a $2.0 billion Climate Solutions Fund, which is expected to deliver more than 100 million tonnes of emissions reduction, over and above the almost 200 million tonnes being delivered through the successful Emissions Reduction Fund.

The Climate Solutions Package also includes significant investments in renewable energy to reduce emissions, while ensuring Australian households and businesses have lower power prices and reliable dispatchable power that keeps the lights on:

• $1.38 billion for Snowy 2.0 ensuring clean, reliable affordable power.
• $56.0 million for a new electricity interconnector to support Tasmania’s Battery of the Nation project.
• $61.2 million to support small businesses, local community groups, households and building owners to improve energy efficiency.
• $400,000 for the development of a National Electric Vehicle Strategy.

Cleaner Environment Package:

The Morrison Government’s $137.4 million for Practical Environment Restoration builds on the Government’s $1.1 billion National Landcare Program, which is already funding a range of environmental initiatives including Indigenous Protected Areas and Regional Land Partnerships that support wetland preservation, sustainable farming, threatened species and native habitats. The Practical Environment Restoration provides $100.0 million for the establishment of an Environment Restoration Fund that will support practical action on waste and recycling, the protection of rivers, waterways and coasts, and further support for our threatened and migratory native species.

It also includes $28.3 million of funding for a Communities Environment Program for community-led environment projects. The Government has also committed $9.2 million over four years towards the strengthening of biodiversity conservation in Queensland tropics through the control of the Yellow Crazy Ant population.

The 2019-20 Budget is also supporting the environment through:

• $25.0 million for the establishment of a National Centre for coasts, environment, climate research and education facility at Victoria’s Quarantine Station Precinct at Point Nepean.
• $25.0 million for the establishment of the Harry Butler Environmental Education Centre through Murdoch University, which will include an innovation hub developing sustainable environmental outcomes from economic development.
• $18.3 million to accelerate the eradication of red imported fire ants in Queensland.
• $34 million to grow stewardship and sustainable land management practices in agriculture.
• $32.1 million to extend the Bureau of Meteorology radar coverage and rain monitoring capability across northern NSW, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
• $21.4 million for infrastructure upgrades at key defence heritage sites around Sydney Harbour enabling community, educational and recreational use.

Since the Coalition came to Government in 2013, we have:

• Turned around a 755 million tonne emissions shortfall in meeting our 2020 international emissions reduction target to now be on track to overachieve that target by 367 million tonnes.
• Improved the outlook for the Great Barrier Reef, prompting UNESCO to remove the reef from its “in-danger” watchlist.
• Introduced protection for an additional 2.3 million square kilometres of Australia’s oceans.
• Appointed Australia’s first Threatened Species Commissioner and launched the Threatened Species Strategy which contains a commitment to turn around population trajectories for 20 mammals, 20 birds and 30 plants by 2020.

Key spending commitments since 2013 include:

• $2.55 billion in the Emissions Reduction Fund.
• More than $1.1 billion in Phase 2 of the National Landcare Program (2018-23).
• Over $1.2 billion to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Up to $216 million to upgrade Kakadu National Park and help the township of Jabiru transition to a tourism-based economy.
• Over $450 million over the next 10 years to upgrade Australia’s Antarctic research station network and supporting infrastructure.
• $1.35 billion in grant funding for more than 400 renewable energy projects through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
• $6.4 billion funding through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation in projects with a total value of more than $21 billion.