This week's budget papers lay out significant funding for threatened species and environmental outcomes. 

The Government says it will allocate $741.3 million over 5 years from 2023–24 from the Natural Heritage Trust special account to support local and long-term environmental and agricultural outcomes. 

The funding includes:

  • $341.2 million over 5 years from 2023–24 to protect nature, threatened species and habitats and to maintain delivery capability through activities like the BushBlitz, Natural Resource Management (NRM) partnerships and on-ground conservation and recovery activities

  • $302.1 million over 5 years from 2023–24 to support a climate-smart, sustainable agricultural sector including funding for NRM organisations, on-ground projects, support for farmers to improve soil health and natural resources and funding to maintain delivery capability

  • $50 million over 5 years from 2023–24 to conserve and restore Ramsar listed wetlands and catchments

  • $48 million over 5 years from 2023–24 to continue management of Australia’s state-managed world heritage listed properties

The government says that the cost of this measure will be met from within the existing resourcing of the Natural Heritage Trust special account.

Additionally, the budget includes $214.1 million over 4 years from 2023–24 (and $4.5 million per year ongoing) to deliver the 'Nature Positive Plan: better for the environment, better for business'.

This funding includes:

  • $121 million over 4 years from 2023–24 to establish Environment Protection Australia to enforce environmental laws and restore confidence in Australia’s environmental protection system

  • $51.5 million over 4 years from 2023–24 (and $4.5 million per year ongoing) to establish Environment Information Australia to provide an authoritative source of high-quality environmental information

  • $34 million over two years from 2023–24 to implement the Nature Positive Plan, including legislative reforms and national environment standards

  • $7.7 million in 2023–24 to continue developing the foundations of a Nature Repair Market, including detailed rules (methods) for different types of projects

The Government also says it will delay the start date of the biodiversity certificate component of the 2022–23 March Budget measure titled ‘Primary Producers – increasing concessional tax treatment for carbon abatement and biodiversity stewardship income’ from 1 July 2022 to 1 July 2024. 

This delay is intended to align the start date of this component of the measure with the commencement of the Nature Repair Market.

The Government will also expand the eligibility criteria for existing on-ground support programs that build capacity and support participation in carbon and biodiversity markets to include all landholders and, by broadening access to these funds, to more organisations beyond Natural Resource Management groups, including First Nations groups.

The Government says it will consider future funding for the Nature Positive Plan (PDF) when initial establishment work has been completed and ongoing administrative and operational requirements are better understood.