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Annual Report2008–2009 — Volume One

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

Annual Report 2008–09 — Volume One

How to contact the department Main office: John Gorton Building,

King Edward Terrace, Parkes ACT 2600 Post: GPO Box 787, Canberra ACT 2601

Phone: 02 6274 1111 Fax: 02 6274 1666

Internet: www.environment.gov.au

Annual Report 2008–2009 | 1

Tab

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f Con

tent

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Volume 1Letter of transmittal 2Executive summary 3Secretary’s review 3Summary of significant issues and developments 4Organisation overview 12Outcomes and outputs 13

Outcome 1 – Environment 15Energy Efficiency and Climate Change Action 16Land and inland waters 32Coasts and oceans 68Natural, Indigenous and historic heritage 93Human settlements 109

Outcome 2 – Antarctica 143Outcome 3 – Water 161Outcome 4 –Arts and Culture 187Cross-cutting activities 219Managing the Department 247

Corporate governance 248Stakeholder relations 260Environmental sustainability 272External scrutiny 263Human Resources 287Finances 303

Financial Statements 327Glossary 425

Compliance Index 434Index 438

DEWHA Annual Report 2008–09

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2 | Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

E

xecutive Sum

mary

The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts

Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600

Senator the Hon Penny Wong Minister for Climate Change and Water

Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600

Dear Ministers

I present the annual reports of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts for the financial year ended 30 June 2009. This set of reports is in two volumes.

The first volume contains the annual report of the department. The report was prepared in accordance with the requirements set out in section 63 of the Public Service Act 1999. Subsection 63(1) of the Public Service Act 1999 requires you to lay a copy of this annual report before each House of the Parliament on or before 31 October 2009.

The second volume contains the legislation annual reports. It details the operation of the eight Acts the department administers that we do not report on separately to Parliament. It incorporates the annual report of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder. This volume must be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days after the day on which you receive it.

I certify that this agency complies with the Commonwealth Fraud Control Guidelines. I certify that this annual report has been prepared in accordance with Section 70 of the Public Service Act 1999 and the Requirements for Annual Reports for 2008–09.

Yours sincerely

Robyn Kruk AM Secretary 1 October 2009


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The department has stewardship of policies, programs, legislation and stakeholder relationships which help to sustain and enhance the natural and cultural fabric of Australia. This is a great responsibility.

I have joined the department at a very exciting time. The environment and cultural agenda has been presented with opportunities and challenges by the downturn in global economic conditions in 2008–09.

In February 2009, together with a number of other Australian Government agencies, the department commenced work on implementing the $4 billion Energy Efficient Homes Package announced as part of the Australian Government’s $42 billion Nation Building–Economic Stimulus Plan. The Plan is helping to stimulate employment and the economy and assist the community in adapting to a low-carbon future, by improving the energy efficiency of homes, businesses and community organisations.

Job creation and support for emerging artists and performers has also featured in the department’s artistic and cultural agenda. Over 500 arts and culture jobs were created during 2008–09 for Indigenous people previously engaged by Community Development Employment Projects. The department’s Artbank program invested an unprecedented $1 million in the purchase of artworks from emerging contemporary artists. Funding of $11.8 million over four years is enabling ongoing cultural development in regional and remote Australia, and assistance for the professional skills development of regional artists.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Secretary of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

Robyn Kruk AM

Secretary’s review


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Summary of significant issues and developments

Outcome 1–Environment

Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the Australian Government’s central piece of environmental legislation. Section 522A of the Act requires it to be reviewed every 10 years from its commencement. On 31 October 2008 the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts commissioned an independent review of the Act. The review, led by Dr Allan Hawke and supported by an expert panel, was undertaken during 2008–09. The department provided secretariat support for the review. The review assessed the operation of the EPBC Act and the extent to which its objectives have been achieved. The interim report was released in June 2009 and the final report will be presented to the minister in the latter half of 2009.

Energy Efficiency

The Council of Australian Governments affirmed its commitment to introducing a comprehensive National Strategy for Energy Efficiency to help households and businesses reduce their energy costs, improve the productivity of our economy and reduce the cost of greenhouse gas abatement under the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. The scope of the strategy encompasses all areas in the economy where substantial cost-effective energy efficiency opportunities exist. These include commercial buildings, residential buildings, appliances and equipment, industry and business, government, transport, skills, innovation, advice and education. During 2008–09 the department delivered a suite of initiatives aimed at helping households and businesses to become more energy efficient and stimulating economic activity, including the early delivery of the Homeowner Insulation Program, the Low Emissions Assistance Plan for Renters and the enhanced Solar Hot Water Rebate Program.

Caring for our Country initiative

On 1 July 2008 the Australian Government commenced its Caring for our Country initiative which seeks to achieve an environment that is healthy, better protected, well-managed and resilient, and provides essential ecosystem services in a changing climate. In its first five years (from July 2008 to June 2013), the Australian Government will invest over $2 billion through the initiative to secure improved strategic outcomes across six national priority areas.

Under Caring for our Country, six Indigenous Protected Areas, covering over 330 000 hectares, were declared in 2008–09. The program also promotes the integration of Indigenous ecological and cultural knowledge into the management of these areas. Caring for our Country funding of $50 million over five years is contributing to a significant expansion of environmental and cultural


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outcomes on Indigenous Protected Areas with a total of $4.6 million expended in grants and support of projects during 2008–09.

The National Biodiversity Strategy made substantial progress during 2008–09. The draft Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010–20, was released for public consultation on 23 March 2009. The consultation draft of Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010–20 sets national directions for biodiversity conservation over the next decade. The department is the secretariat to the review task group.

Heritage

The Australian Government is providing $60 million for heritage projects as part of its $650 million Jobs Fund. Of the total $60 million, $6 million was committed during the 2008–09 financial year to ensure benefits start to flow to communities immediately. A number of high quality heritage projects, focused on protecting, conserving and promoting Australia’s natural, Indigenous and historic heritage, have been identified by the department, approved by the minister, and commenced during 2008–09.

Australia’s World, National and Commonwealth Heritage places are of natural, Indigenous or historic significance or any combination of the three. The department supports the Australian Heritage Council which provides assessment advice to the minister on nominations to the National and Commonwealth Heritage Lists, and advises property managers of listed places on heritage management plans and strategies. In 2008–09 the department finalised the nomination of Ningaloo Coast with its addition to the Australian World Heritage Tentative List. The minister listed three National Heritage places: the Adelaide Park Lands and City Layout; the Australian Alps; and the QANTAS Hangar, Longreach.

In 2008–09 the department dealt with 22 applications for protection of places under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (ATSIHP Act). This recourse is available only when there is no effective protection under state or territory laws. The department achieved its target of dealing with all of applications under the ATSIHP Act before threatening activity commenced.

In January 2009 the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts announced the review of the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986. The department is providing secretariat support to the review. This major review will consider the operation of the legislation and the extent to which it is achieving its purpose. Submissions, which closed in March 2009, were sought from state and territory governments, members of the community and industry. The outcomes of the review are expected in the latter half of 2009.


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Outcome 2–The Antarctic

The International Polar Year activities concluded at the end of the 2008–09 season. Australian scientists participated in 72 of the 228 projects, led 8 of them and co-led three projects. The department also actively participated in the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting with Australia:

• leading the Parties to agree to improved treaty-level arrangements for the conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora, and

• securing an update to the Antarctic protected area management plans for Mawson’s Huts.

The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) also provided support to the United States Antarctic Program (USAP), in return for support by a USAP ski equipped Hercules Aircraft in the medical evacuation of an injured Australian expeditioner from Davis Station at the start of the season. A total of eight flights were provided for the USAP, moving a total of 570 passengers between Christchurch and McMurdo Station.

Outcome 3–Water

Water shortages for cities and towns, farmers and the environment, particularly in southern Australia and the Murray-Darling Basin, have kept this vital resource near the top of the national agenda. The department is working to prepare Australia for a future with less water through the Water for the Future initiative. A key reform was finally achieved in December when the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) gained powers to manage water use in the Basin on a sustainable basis. By 2011, the MDBA’s Basin plan will set new limits on diversions for every Basin catchment and aquifer.

A priority is to help rural communities achieve long-term sustainability in this new environment. The first of many rural infrastructure projects was completed in South Australia in early 2009, on time and under budget. Grants are available for operators of irrigation systems and rural communities to plan for a future with less water. Meanwhile, the program to purchase water entitlements is closing the gap between present and likely future diversion limits, and individual farmers can use the injection of capital to adapt. Extensive formal and informal dialogue with stakeholders informs the department’s policy formulation and decision making.

Major urban programs are successfully delivering infrastructure that will improve the water security of cities and towns, and encourage smarter, more efficient use of water by individuals, families, communities and businesses.

The continuing drought in the south-east puts relentless pressure on unique river and wetland ecosystems. A highlight of the year was the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder’s first use of water at ten high priority environmental sites in the Murray Darling Basin. Programs and policies now exist to ensure that we progressively restore the balance by steadily increasing volumes of water for priority environmental sites.


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Outcome 4–Arts and Culture

The inaugural Prime Minister’s Literary Awards presentation was held on 12 December 2008. These prestigious literary awards–the nation’s most generous–are designed to recognise Australia’s great talent, as well as foster and inspire new generations of writers.

On 4 December 2008 the National Portrait Gallery opened its highly acclaimed new building to the public. The inaugural hang in the new building included over 400 paintings, sculptures, photographs and new media portraits displayed across seven gallery spaces. Increased provision of public learning and recreational opportunities were also a significant part of the Gallery’s expanded program. Greatly increased visitor numbers demonstrate the success of the Gallery’s new building and programs, with 447 782 people visiting since its opening to 30 June 2009.

Support for the Indigenous arts, languages, culture and broadcasting sectors was expanded during 2008–09, with over 500 jobs for Indigenous people being created in regional and remote areas. The department drove development of a national Indigenous Contemporary Music Action Plan funding five emerging Indigenous groups or musicians in its pilot program; the Maintenance of Indigenous Languages and Records program supported 69 projects across Australia, totalling $8.892 million, and incorporating in the order of 200 languages; the Indigenous Culture Support program supported 140 projects, totalling $6.928 million; the National Arts and Crafts Industry Support program provided $8.23 million for 87 activities; and the Indigenous Broadcasting program supported 71 activities nationally worth $13.926 million.

The department also made significant progress in the development of a national arts and disability strategy, whose working group is chaired by the department. The group is gathering information on activities across jurisdictions which aim to increase access and participation in the arts for people with a disability. More than 115 submissions were received from a broad range of stakeholders on issues of importance and ideas for improving access and participation for people with a disability in arts and cultural activities. This feedback will inform the development of the strategy which is expected to be finalised during 2009–10.

1 July 2008 marked a new approach for supporting the film industry with the successful establishment of two new screen agencies–Screen Australia and the National Film and Sound Archive. Bilateral film co-production agreements with Singapore (16 October 2008) and China (19 December 2008) entered into force. It was a strong year for Australian film with highlights including Adam Elliot’s Mary and Max, Warwick Thornton’s Samson and Delilah and Baz Luhrmann’s Australia.


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Workings of the department

In December 2008 the department bid farewell to Mr David Borthwick, Secretary of the department since February 2004. I would like to thank Mr Borthwick for his work in developing this department into what it is today. Before Mr Borthwick’s departure, much work was done at the start of 2008–09 to improve the integration of the arts and culture responsibilities into the portfolio.

The formal introduction and operation of the department’s new project management framework in June 2009 has also played a key role in ensuring that the government’s priorities are being carefully implemented, monitored and met.

In the lead up to the 2009–10 Budget, the department also developed a set of new outcome statements which seek to better align our work with the government’s priorities. I look forward to presenting the 2009–10 annual report against these ‘sharper lines’, and to continuing to improve the way in which we measure our performance against these outcomes and improve accountability.

The Strategic Plan outlines the department’s mission and priorities, goals and directions for the 2009–10 financial year with a vision of where the department wants to be in five year’s time. The Plan is a living document that will be updated annually to ensure we understand our priorities and can review our progress against them. It provides the basis for DEWHA’s business planning – for division, branch, section and individual performance plans linked to our key Outcomes in the Strategic Plan and Portfolio Budget Statements 2009–10.

During the year the department’s Executive Management Group was focused on developing a common purpose and shared vision within our diverse portfolio. This effort resulted in the development of a revised departmental Strategic Plan which is now available on the department’s website. This important document will help ensure that the department maintains a unified direction for business planning.

Secretary Robyn Kruk AM


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The Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Portfolio overview

The Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Portfolio is led by two cabinet ministers. The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP is Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. Senator the Hon Penny Wong is Minister for Climate Change and Water. Minister Wong’s water responsibilities are a part of this Portfolio while responsibilities for the climate change framework rest largely with the Department of Climate Change.

Since 25 February 2009 Minister Wong has been assisted in her water responsibilities by The Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Water.

The Portfolio provides leadership on environment, water, heritage, and cultural matters with a national focus, or that are the direct responsibility of the Australian Government.

As at 30 June 2009 the Portfolio comprised the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 14 independent authorities (listed in the Organisation overview chart) and two non-general government sector entities (The Australia Business Arts Foundation Limited and the Bundanon Trust).

This annual report covers the performance of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Portfolio agencies and Commonwealth statutory authorities report separately to the parliament on their performance.

Department overview

DEWHA mission

“Protecting and enhancing Australia’s environment, heritage and culture.”

Roles and functions

The department supports the ministers in their policy and statutory functions and develops and implements national policy, programs and legislation to protect and conserve Australia’s environment and heritage and to promote Australian arts and culture.

Matters dealt with by the department

• Environment protection and the conservation of biodiversity

• Air quality

• National fuel quality standards

• Hazardous wastes

• Advancing Australia’s interests in the Australian Antarctic Territory, and the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands

• Natural, built, Indigenous and movable cultural heritage

• Environmental research

• Water policy and resources

• Cultural affairs, including support for the arts

• Renewable energy programs

• Energy efficiency

• Greenhouse gas abatement programs

• Community and household climate action

• Natural resource management


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Structure of the department

The executive structure of the department and its portfolio agencies as at 30 June 2009 is summarised in the organisation overview chart. (The department has since undergone a significant reorganisation following implementation of the new Outcome structure for the 2009–10 Budget.)

As at 30 June 2009 the department was made up of 17 divisions. Each division’s roles and responsibilities are described at the beginning of relevant chapters of the report. The names and responsibilities of the department’s Deputy Secretaries and First Assistant Secretaries are shown in the organisation chart.

The Secretary, Ms Robyn Kruk AM, has the following responsibilities:

• Chair–Senior Executive Management Group

• Chair–Executive Management Group

• Chair–Agencies Roundtable.

A number of executive committees operate to oversight the management of the department. The Secretary and the four Deputy Secretaries make up the department’s Senior Executive Management which meets weekly to provide key policy and management decision making. The Executive Management Group, chaired by the Secretary, meets fortnightly to monitor performance and review significant issues across the department and portfolio.

The Secretary also chairs an Agencies Roundtable that meets twice yearly in recognition of their direct responsibilities to the portfolio minister. The department has other key committees for directing aspects of its internal operations and policies. These are detailed in the Managing the department chapter.

During 2008–09:

• Mr Gerard Early had responsibility for:

• Corporate Strategies Division

• Policy Coordination Division

• Approvals and Wildlife Division

• Supervising Scientist Division

• Environment Quality Division

• Chair–Workforce Management Committee

• Chair–Budget Finance Strategy Committee

• Chair–Compliance Executive Committee

• Chair–International Steering Committee

Dr James Horne had responsibility for:

• Water Efficiency Division

• Water Reform Division

• Water Governance Division

• Chair–Information Management Committee

• Chair–COAG Working Group on Climate Change & Water, Water Sub Group

• Chair–Contingency Planning Senior Officials’ Group

• Australian Government Commissioner on the Murray-Darling Basin Commission until September 2008

• Chair–Murray-Darling Basin Officials Committee from January 2009


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Mr Mark Tucker had responsibility for:

• Arts Division

• Culture Division

• Heritage Division

• National Portrait Gallery

• Chair–Graduate Steering Committee

• Member Departmental Audit Committee

Mr Mike Callaghan, until October 2008, and Mr Malcolm Forbes had responsibility for:

• Renewables and Energy Efficiency Division

• Australian Government Land and Coasts Division

• Marine Division

• Parks Australia Division

• Australian Antarctic Division

• Chair–Indigenous Policy and Leadership Group

• Chair–Marine and Coastal Committee

The department has offices in Canberra, Hobart and Darwin, and has representatives in many parts of regional Australia through its natural resource management and arts programs.


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Outcomes and Outputs structure

The department’s outcomes and outputs structure, as set out in the 2008–09 Portfolio Budget Statements, is as follows:

Outcomes Outputs

Outcome 1 The environment, especially those aspects that are matters of national environmental significance, is protected and conserved

1.1: Energy Efficiency and Climate Change Action

1.2: Conservation of the land and inland waters

1.3: Conservation of the coasts and oceans

1.4: Conservation of natural, Indigenous and historic heritage

1.5: Response to the impacts of human settlements

Outcome 2 Australia’s interests in Antarctica are advanced

2.1: Antarctic policy

2.2: Antarctic science

Outcome 3 More efficient and sustainable use of Australia’s water resources

3.1: Sustainable management of water resources

3.2: Achieving efficiencies in water use

Outcome 4 Development of a rich and stimulating cultural sector for all Australians

4.1: Policy advice, program management and agency support which promotes excellence in, preservation and maintenance of, and access to Australia’s cultural activities, national cultural collections and buildings, and Indigenous languages


E

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Changes since the 2008–09 Budget

There were no changes to the department’s outcomes and outputs structure during 2008–09 since the 2008–09 Budget.

For the 2009–10 financial year the department has moved to a new Outcome Statement structure, based on programs and sub-programs, continuing the government’s reform agenda for increased budget accountability and transparency. Outcome statements are legal statements that outline the activities we will undertake and why. The department’s primary roles are captured in the new outcomes including an overarching corporate outcome:

• Outcome 1: Conserving our natural assets

• Outcome 2: Living and working sustainably

• Outcome 3: Protecting Antarctica

• Outcome 4: Adapting to a future with less water

• Outcome 5: Protecting and enhancing Australia’s culture and heritage

• Corporate Outcome: Improving Organisational effectiveness.

Summary of financial performance

During the 2008–09 financial year, the department administered a total expense budget of $2.032 billion to support the Australian Government in delivering its objectives within the department’s portfolio.

The department performed strongly against this budget in 2008–09 with variances attributable to the water and energy efficiency programs.

Budget $ million Actual $ million Variation $ million

Departmental 586.896 583.534 (3.362)

Administered 1,445.118 1,513.472 68.354

Total 2,032.014 2,097.006 64.992

Outcome 1 1,211.037 1,360.236 149.199

Outcome 2 151.217 151.254 0.037

Outcome 3 414.986 329.897 (85.089)

Outcome 4 254.774 255.619 0.845

Outcome 1Environment


Clim

ate Change

Introduction

The department is responsible for developing policy and delivering a range of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs targeting the household and small business sectors. These programs complement and enhance the Australian Government’s action on climate change by assisting the transition of the community and business sectors to a low-carbon future.

In February 2009 there was a significant addition to the department’s work program with the introduction of the $4 billion Energy Efficient Homes Package, announced as part of the Australian Government’s $42 billion Nation Building–Economic Stimulus Plan. This suite of initiatives included the early delivery of the Homeowner Insulation Program, the Low Emissions Assistance Plan for Renters and the enhanced Solar Hot Water Rebate Program.

Main responsibilities for this output

• Working with industry, business and the community across Australia to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions

• Renewable energy and energy efficiency program delivery

• Increase understanding of actions that can be taken in response to climate change

Renewables and Energy Efficiency Division

OUTPUT 1.1Energy Efficiency and Climate Change Action

Clim

ate Change

Highlights• The department provided significant input

to the development of a National Strategy for Energy Efficiency for endorsement by the Council of Australian Governments, and is responsible for the delivery of key elements within it.

• The Action on Energy Efficiency program was modified as part of the response to the Strategic Review of Australian Government Climate Change Programs (the Wilkins Review). Elements of this initiative now form part of the National Strategy on Energy Efficiency, including action on energy efficient buildings, government energy efficiency, and the energy efficiency and labelling of appliances and equipment.


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Clim

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• The Energy Efficient Homes Package is helping to drive employment, boost the economy and assist the community to prepare for a low-carbon future, by improving the energy efficiency of homes, businesses and community organisations. As part of Phase 1 of the package, between 3 February and 30 June 2009, 56 013 applications were received under the Homeowner Insulation Program and the Low Emission Assistance Plan for Renters, with $39,476,392 in rebates paid for ceiling insulation. Over that period, Phase 2 of the package was designed and developed in partnership with Medicare Australia. Phase 2 was successfully launched on 1 July 2009.

• Under the Solar Hot Water Rebate Program, a total of 20 752 rebates were paid and a total of 37 312 applications were received in the period 3 February to 30 June 2009. This brings the total number of applications received to 71 180 since the rebate commenced in 2007, with 52 612 rebates paid.

• During 2008–09 Australia’s seventh and newest solar city situated in Perth was announced under the $94 million Solar Cities program. The Townsville Solar City was officially launched and funding agreements were signed with Central Victoria Solar City and Moreland (previously Coburg) Solar City. In addition, two major solar photovoltaic installations were commissioned: a 305 kilowatt system at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (Alice Solar City) and a 110 kilowatt system at Coca Cola Amatil (Blacktown Solar City).

Objectives

The department’s objectives are to:

• assist Australian households, the small-medium enterprise sector and the not-for-profit sector shift to a low-carbon future, by encouraging the uptake of energy efficiency initiatives, emission abatement technologies and the use of renewable energy

• contribute to the stimulation of economic and employment growth

• increase understanding of climate change issues and build support for an effective domestic and global response

• reduce Australia’s net greenhouse gas emissions by supporting activities that are likely to result in substantial emission reductions or substantial sink enhancement, particularly in the first Kyoto commitment period (2008–12)

• build partnerships with business, encouraging adoption of energy efficiency measures and promoting local and regional action

• increase public awareness and encourage energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in Australia

• deliver an online portal for Australians that helps them to find, navigate and act on federal, state and local government information and programs on energy, water, waste and personal transport, that are relevant to householders, small businesses and schools


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• demonstrate the economic and environmental opportunities provided by integrating cost-reflective pricing with the concentrated uptake of renewable energy, energy efficiency, smart metering and broadband technologies, and

• identify and implement options for addressing barriers to: the distribution of renewable generation; energy efficiency; and electricity demand management for grid connected urban areas.

Results• Grants totalling $1.75 million have been

provided under the Low Emissions Technology and Abatement-Strategic Abatement program, to local government, industry groups, community groups, small business and professional organisations. The grants have been used to identify and implement activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and demonstrate innovation in delivery of abatement within the community.

• Development, publication and release of the Your Home Technical Manual Fourth Edition, the Your Home Renovator’s Guide and the Your Home Buyer’s Guide, to support energy efficiency development in the residential building sector.

• Development of the building industry’s training in sustainability education and dissemination of training materials through industry associations, including the Building Designers Association of Australia, Housing Institute of Australia and the Australian Institute of Architects.

• The National Solar Schools Program commenced on 1 July 2008. More than 4700 schools (almost half of all eligible schools) have registered and more than 1000 claims have been received since the program commenced. Claims worth almost $20 million have been approved for more than 400 schools. This includes the completion of installations worth almost $4.5 million in 93 schools.

• The Solar Homes and Communities Plan assisted with the installation of over 22 900 photovoltaic power generation systems across Australia.

• The Renewable Remote Power Generation Program has resulted in over 6500 small projects and, the installation of more than 9400 kilowatts of photovoltaic, wind and micro-hydro generation. Larger projects include almost $52 million in approved grants for 31 major projects, of which 20 have already been completed. Together, these major projects are expected to save almost 7.3 million litres of diesel per year.

• The roll-out of the Green Loans Program will commence on 1 July 2009. This program will result in the completion of up to 360 000 independent household energy and water efficiency assessments over the life of the project, at zero cost to the householder. Agreements entered into by the department with key financial partners, will allow up to 75 000 households to access subsidised interest free Green Loans of up to $10,000.


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Strategies

Energy Efficient Homes Package

Homeowner Insulation Program and the Low Emissions Assistance Plan for Renters

The Homeowner Insulation Program and the Low Emissions Assistance Plan for Renters were implemented to drive employment, assist in the transition to a low-carbon future and provide an immediate stimulus to the economy. They provided early access for eligible owner-occupiers, landlords and/or renters to install insulation, from the announcement date of the initiative until the commencement of the main phase of the program on 1 July 2009. As part of the design and development of Phase 2, three industry consultation meetings were held on 18 February, 20 March and 29 June 2009. Representatives from major manufacturers and insulation peak bodies attended, including: Insulation Council of Australia and New Zealand (ICANZ); Insulation Manufacturers Association of Australia (IMAA); Polyester Insulation Manufacturers Association of Australia (PIMA); Australian Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers’ Association (ACIMA); Aluminium Foil Insulation Association (AFIA); as well representatives from Master Builders Australia (MBA).

Under the early installation guidelines, owner-occupiers were eligible to claim up to $1,600 towards the cost of ceiling insulation, while a landlord or tenant was eligible for assistance of up to $1,000. There was a strong community response to this initiative, with 56 013 applications for reimbursement received by

30 June 2009. These programs will enable almost all homes in Australia to operate at a minimum energy efficiency rating of two stars within two and a half years. Estimates indicate that this could result in a reduction of approximately 49.4 million tonnes in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

Solar Hot Water Rebate Program

The objective of the Solar Hot Water Rebate Program is to accelerate the domestic uptake of solar and heat pump hot water systems to achieve cost-effective greenhouse gas abatement, assist householders to tackle climate change by switching to clean energy technologies and to future-proof households against possible energy price rises.

Proactive engagement and ongoing liaison with the solar hot water and plumbing industries has ensured a greater understanding of the administration of the program and has led to significant levels of advertising and promotion. Similarly, cooperation with local government authorities has increased awareness of the Solar Hot Water Rebate Program at the local area level.

National Strategy on Energy Efficiency

The Council of Australian Governments affirmed its commitment to introducing a comprehensive National Strategy for Energy Efficiency to help households and businesses reduce their energy costs, improve the productivity of our economy and reduce the cost of greenhouse gas abatement under the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.


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The scope of the strategy encompasses all areas in the economy where substantial cost-effective energy efficiency opportunities exist. These include commercial and residential buildings, appliances and equipment, industry and business, government, transport, skills, innovation, advice and education. Pending agreement by the Council of Australian Governments to the full strategy, early agreement was obtained on five key measures to improve the energy efficiency of residential and commercial buildings across Australia. These include higher energy efficiency standards for residential and commercial buildings and mandatory disclosure of building energy efficiency at the time of sale or lease.

The National Framework on Energy Efficiency continued to facilitate the pursuit of energy efficiency improvements across the Australian economy. The department had a significant inter-governmental leadership role under the Framework across a range of activity areas, including appliances and equipment and buildings. The nationally coordinated Minimum Energy Performance Standards program is a key part of the Framework involved with developing and introducing energy efficiency standards for a range of electrical appliances and equipment. Australia has been at the forefront of international lighting initiatives; for example, being the first developed country to ban the importation of inefficient incandescent light bulbs. Throughout Australia during 2008–09, laws came into effect to improve the efficiency of many products, including commercial building air-conditioning and home entertainment appliances.

The well known and well supported appliance energy efficiency label is in the process of being upgraded to a scale of ten stars. The range of products has also been expanded; for example, television sets are the subject of a proposal for mandatory labelling scheduled to commence later in 2009.

Solar Cities Program

The Solar Cities program is assisting in changing the way individuals, communities, businesses and governments think about and use energy. It is a partnership approach that involves all levels of government, the private sector and the local community. Each Solar City is established by a consortium, made up of a range of different organisations. A funding agreement is negotiated between the Australian Government and the lead consortium member, which then enters into agreements with the other members of the consortium.

Under the program Solar Cities are trialling a range of measures, including the installation of solar energy systems, solar hot water systems, energy efficiency measures, smart meters and cost-reflective pricing. Data about energy use is being collected from each Solar City and stored centrally by the department. This information will be analysed to inform future energy and greenhouse policies.

The Solar Cities program is not primarily about greenhouse gas abatement, its focus is on the collection and analysis of information and data on energy use patterns and behaviour change. Notwithstanding this, the consortia have identified estimates within their proposals for


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Above: More than 1320 solar photovoltaic panels were installed on the roof of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Alice Springs during 2008–09. The Crowne Plaza Hotel project is part of the Alice Solar City. Courtesy of Crowne Plaza Hotel


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energy savings, savings in costs for participants, and emissions abatement. Using these estimates, the total potential annual abatement from all Solar Cities over the life of the program is more than 150 000 tonnes of carbon carbon dioxide.

Online Portal–Living Greener

To effectively deliver the online portal www.livinggreener.gov.au significant and detailed user research was conducted. Consultations across the Australian Government and with the states and territories have informed the development of the portal. It was also discussed at a number of Australian Government meetings with the states and territories. This included the meeting of the Council of Australian Governments on 5 February 2009, where the states agreed to collaborate and to use the Commonwealth’s online portal as a single point of inquiry for all energy efficiency programs for households and businesses.

National Solar Schools Program

Opportunities to cooperatively deliver National Solar Schools, in partnership with state and territory governments and non-government education agencies, have been actively pursued. These arrangements ensure schools obtain the best value for money, maximise education outcomes, and simplify and streamline participation by individual schools. The cooperative arrangements will also maximise synergies with complementary state programs. The department has entered into cooperative arrangements with state government education agencies in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South

Australia and Western Australia to deliver the program in 2008–09 and 2009-10. These cooperative delivery arrangements will provide over $40 million to 1125 government schools. Cooperative delivery arrangements with other governments and non-government education agencies are being negotiated.

As part of achieving educational benefits for school students and their communities, the fitting of metering equipment to collect, store and display information on power production and consumption, is a mandatory requirement for solar power systems funded under the program. Technical and functional specifications for data collection, storage and visualisation systems have been developed following industry and government consultation. A list of components that meet the specifications is being developed to assist suppliers, installers and schools to select and install appropriate systems.

Evaluation

During early 2008, the Strategic Review of Australian Government Climate Change Programs (known as the Wilkins Review) examined the existing climate change programs to determine whether they were efficient, effective and complementary to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. The report from the Review was given to the Australian Government on 31 July 2008. The department was responsible for 20 of the 58 active programs examined in the Wilkins Review.

The Wilkins Review recommended re-focusing many existing climate change programs, to ensure that they are


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complementary to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and to ensure that households, industry and the community are assisted to reduce their energy use, save money and prepare for a low-carbon future.

The Australian Government announced its response to the Wilkins Review on 12 May 2009, as part of the 2009–10 Budget. The establishment of a comprehensive and integrated suite of climate change and energy efficiency policies and programs has significantly increased the overall funding for climate change programs.

Evaluation of the suite of initiatives included in the Energy Efficient Homes Package includes formal monitoring during the implementation phase, followed by the evaluation of program objectives against achievements during the post implementation phase in 2011–12.

Each Solar city has a detailed work agenda, with funding tied to deliverables through quarterly reports. An annual review (including an independent audit) assesses the relevant

milestone reports against the objectives of the program. If it is deemed that these objectives are not being met, the parties (Australian Government and Solar City Consortium) may agree to vary the funding agreement.

The annual review process provides the opportunity for the Solar Cities team to capture what has been learnt from the program and consolidate it into a progress report, which will be posted to the Solar Cities website along with the annual review presentations. During the year, four reviews were completed: Adelaide, Alice Springs, Blacktown and Townsville. Reviews for Central Victoria and Moreland are scheduled to be undertaken during the latter part of 2009.

A review of the Solar Homes and Communities Plan was undertaken as part of the broader Wilkins Review, where it was assessed against its stated objectives. The program exceeded several of its targets, including 22 900 installations this financial year in comparison to the original program commitment of 15 000 installations over five years.


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Alice Solar City was launched in March 2008 by the Hon Peter Garrett, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, and the Northern Territory’s Chief Minister, Paul Henderson. The $37 million project is funded by the Australian Government and the Alice Solar City Consortium. The Consortium is led by the Alice Springs Town Council and also includes the Northern Territory Government, Power and Water Corporation, Desert Knowledge

Cooperative Research Centre, Arid Lands Environment Centre, Tangentyere Council and the Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In recognition of Alice Springs’ abundance of sunshine and position as a key tourism centre, the Alice Solar City project includes a number of large-scale iconic solar projects. The first of these was launched in February 2009 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The 305 kilowatt rooftop solar photovoltaic installation comprises 1326 solar photovoltaic panels and generates enough electricity to meet between 40 and 80 per cent of the hotel’s total energy needs. The project is Australia’s largest roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system.

The Crowne Plaza photovoltaic installation tops off significant energy efficiency initiatives undertaken by the Crowne Plaza Hotel, both previous to, and with the support of, Alice Solar City. The project has generated significant local and international interest. A dedicated ‘Sustainability Corner’ in the hotel’s foyer enables guests and visitors to view the solar energy being generated in real-time. The Australian Government has contributed over $1.5 million in funding toward this iconic project and it is a great example of the innovative trials the Solar Cities program is enabling across Australia.

Case studies

Case study 1: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Alice Springs–Solar Photovoltaic Installation

Above: Aerial view of Alice Springs showing the 305kw solar photovoltaic system on the roof of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The Crowne Plaza Hotel project is part of the Alice Solar City. Courtesy Crowne Plaza Hotel


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With the help of a $50,000 grant from National Solar Schools, St Jude’s Primary School near Melbourne, Victoria, has taken a number of steps to become more environmentally sustainable. The school has installed a four-kilowatt solar power system which, over the course of a year, will contribute renewable electricity equivalent to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of about five tonnes.

Fans have been fitted in classrooms and shared spaces to cut down on air conditioning requirements. Energy efficient

lighting has been installed and a system of sensors and timers ensures energy is not wasted. The school has also fitted two 10 000 litre rainwater tanks, which are plumbed into the school’s administration block and toilets—with rainwater overflow used to water gardens and lawns.

St Jude’s Primary School has used local firms (an electrician, a plumber and a lighting company), to undertake the work. The lighting company uses the school as a case study for new customers.

Case study 2: National Solar Schools–St Jude’s Primary School

Above: National Solar Schools Program–entrance and solar panels. Courtesy of St Jude’s Primary School


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Results for performance indicators

Output Group 1.1: Energy Efficiency and Climate Change ActionPerformance Indicator Target

2008–09 results

Emission reductions and energy savings are achieved

All abatement and energy savings outcomes from DEWHA energy efficiency policy and programs are reported and recorded to the public via the departmental website

Statistics for the Solar Homes and Communities Plan are published in the form of number of installations and the amount of installed capacity. The installed capacity can easily be converted into the abatement equivalent.

All publicly reportable elements of energy efficiency programs are recorded on www.energyrating.gov.au

In 2007–08, through the Cities for Climate ProtectionTM Australia program, councils achieved abatement of 4.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Councils and their communities have saved $22 million through reduced energy costs. These results have been published in the 2008 Cities for Climate ProtectionTM Australia Measure Evaluation Report.

100% reporting of abatement under the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Program.

100% abatement reporting has been achieved.

Total energy savings identified through the Solar Cities program, reported and provided to the public via the website.

Reporting for Solar Cities is available on the web www.environment.gov.au/settlements/solarcities

Implementation of renewable energy and energy efficiency programs

Expanded Solar Cities program developed and implemented, and:

3 Solar city funding agreements signed, and 4 Solar City annual reviews completed.

2 of the 3 funding agreements were signed – Central Victoria and Moreland (previously Coburg) Solar Cities. Perth Solar City has been delayed due to changes to its consortium and the Western Australia Government election.

Completed.

New Greenhouse Challenge Plus members supported, with certification completed within six months.

Achieved

All new energy efficiency programs implemented according to agreed timelines.

Enhanced solar hot water rebate implemented. Processing of applications is proceeding well within stated timeframes.

Funding agreement for Low Energy High Rise project in place.

Contracts/funding agreements signed for all of the portfolio’s projects under the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.

Achieved, with the exception of the Enhancement of Building energy codes project, due to alternative arrangements being made by the lead country Korea.


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2008–09 results

Communication and information activities are targeted to increase public awareness of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy in Australia

The online portal www.livinggreener.gov.au operational. Delivered the first stage of the Online Portal, www.livinggreener.gov.au It will enable a greater uptake of efficiency opportunities by making information easy to find, user friendly to read and intuitive to navigate through, while providing the information people need to take action.

Five hundred energy audits completed under the Household and Small Business Climate Change Action Initiative.

Achieved. Over 3500 Greenhouse Reduction Actions identified.

The Solar Cities database and public launch completed. Under way. Data complexities delayed the completion of this indicator.

Consumer focus groups are involved in the development of the appliance labelling programs.

Focus groups designed the television label and were also involved in settling the format of all star rating labels.

Industry representative groups are consulted in the development of mandatory disclosure requirements for residential and commercial buildings.

Commercial

Achieved. Stakeholder consultation undertaken through the Regulation Impact Statement process for commercial buildings.

Residential

Full stakeholder consultation for residential buildings will form part of the Regulation Impact Statement process later in 2009.

All schools receive applicant information under the National Solar Schools Program.

The minister wrote to all schools announcing the commencement of the program and giving details of the information available.

Public education campaign undertaken for the Solar Hot Water Rebate Program.

Public education activities have focused on the delivery of local strategies in conjunction with local government or through industry consultation. Direct to public education campaign handled as part of the Energy Efficient Homes Package.


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2008–09 results

Key stakeholders are engaged in the development of energy efficiency regulation

Key representative groups are consulted and their views taken into account.

Industry was closely engaged in the roll-out of the Energy Efficient Homes Package with 40 industry representatives participating in three stakeholder group meetings.

Key stakeholders and NGOs from the social welfare sector have contributed to the design of optimal delivery models.

Stakeholder consultation undertaken on development of scheme for mandatory disclosure of energy efficiency in commercial buildings.

Building sector and the appliances and equipment industry consulted on development of National Strategy for Energy Efficiency.

A range of industry stakeholders consulted on development of minimum energy performance standards and energy labelling for appliances and equipment.

Consultations across the Australian Government and with the states and territories, have informed the development of the Online Portal www.livinggreener.gov.au The results were discussed at several meetings of the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) and at the meeting of the Council of Australian Governments on 5 February 2009.

All seven Solar Cities consortia participate in the annual Solar City meeting.

Achieved. Meeting held in Canberra during August 2008.

Households, schools and business have access to government efficiency programs through the online portal www.livinggreener.gov.au

Delivery of the first release of the Online Portal, www.livinggreener.gov.au to provide information to households, with schools and small businesses to be targeted in future releases of the site.

Relevant stakeholder representative groups consulted during the development of energy efficiency regulation.

Public consultation occurred through both the Standards Australia process–calling for public comment upon energy efficiency standards–and through the national rule-making process, where almost a dozen regulatory proposals were released nationally seeking community input.

Public and private schools consulted in development of the National Solar Schools Plan.

Achieved. Liaison undertaken with state and territory governments and non-government education agencies.


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2008–09 results

The level of acceptance or uptake of low emission and/or energy efficient technologies

An increase in the uptake of low emission and/or energy efficient technologies.

High uptake of ceiling insulation and solar hot water.

The Solar Homes and Communities Plan saw a dramatic increase in the uptake of solar photovoltaic technologies by households.

Uptake of the Solar Hot Water rebate has increased by approximately 400 per cent during 2008–09.

Solar Homes and Communities Plan (formerly Photovoltaic Rebate Program):

• 6000 household rebates

• 400 community buildings grants

The Solar Homes and Communities Plan facilitated over 22 900 household installations through the year. The community building program recorded 95 installations. However, many of the potential recipients under the program are schools and therefore will benefit through the more targeted National Solar Schools Program.

35 000 rebates paid under the Solar Hot Water Rebate Program.

Achieved.

Solar Cities packages offered to the community 100% subscribed.

Partially achieved. Program is trialling packages in the marketplace and is experiencing the effects of global financial pressures.

Renewable Remote Power Generation Program (RRPGP):

• 1000 small rebate applications approved

• Five Major Projects approved

Achieved. More than 2200 rebate applications were approved.

6 major projects were approved including: Windorah QLD, Mount Barker WA, Cape Barren Island TAS and projects in Alice Springs NT.

Number of households/communities/schools participating in the Solar Homes and Community program

An increase in the number of households/communities/schools participating in the program

The Solar Homes and Communities Plan was exceptionally successful in engaging Australians to participate in the program. The planned number of installations was 6400. This amount was exceeded, with some 22 900 installations occurring during the year.

Number of households to apply for insulation under the Homeowner Insulation Program and the Low Emissions Assistance Plan for Renters.

56 013 applications received.

The total number of households participating in the Solar Cities trials reported and provided to the public via the website.

Solar Cities database expected to be fully operational early in 2010.

The total number of schools registered under the National Solar Schools Plan.

At 30 June 2009 over 4700 schools (50% of all eligible schools) had registered under the program since 1 July 2008.


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2008–09 results

Provision of up-to-date technical advice on greenhouse related issues

Your Home, Your Building, Your Development manual is reviewed/revised to contain latest relevant information for identified target audiences.

Achieved. Reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure the quality of information is maintained. Responsibility for the ongoing development and maintenance of Your Building has been transferred to the Property Council of Australia because of the increasing relevance of this area to its membership. The department will maintain input into the quality and relevance of the website through representation on the governing board.

Policy advice provided under the Green Building Fund. Achieved. Policy input provided for the development of the criteria, for assessing applications under the Green Building Fund and in assessing individual applications.

Sustainable Information and Communication Technology (ICT) considerations are incorporated into government ICT procurement standards and decision making

The identification and incorporation of applicable government ICT procurement standards within the draft ICT–Sustainability Plan.

Development of the Online Portal www.livinggreener.gov.au has met or exceeded all departmental wide Information and Communication Technology procurement standards, including green procurement requirements.

Whole-of-Government ICT energy consumption usage and targets are identified

The identification of whole-of-government ICT energy consumption usage and progress towards developing suitable whole-of-government energy consumption targets.

The ICT energy usage standards and/or energy usage targets, as well as steps to establish a whole-of-government ICT energy consumption target, will be developed by December 2009 as part of the whole-of-government ICT Sustainability Plan.

In a related project, the Energy Efficiency in Government Operations (EEGO) Policy also requires targets to be identified for data centres (a sub group of the above). A joint project is running to develop an energy/greenhouse ratings tool for data centres.


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Resources

Output 1.1 – Energy efficiency and climate change action Administered items Budget

2008-09 $’000

(a)

Actual Expenses 2008-09

$’000 (b)

Variation $’000

(a)-(b)

Appropriation Bill 1

Greenhouse Action Abatement Program 1,522 1,419 103

Renewable Remote Power Generation Program 7,150 7,282 (132)

Action on Energy Efficiency 2,220 2,220 –

Tackling Climate Change – Low Emission Plan for Renters – establishment

2,500 2,496 4

Tackling Climate Change – Energy Efficiency of Electrical Appliances 500 500 –

Tackling Climate Change – Green Loans 1,724 690 1,034

Alternative Fuels Conversion Programme – (31) 31

Low Emissions Technology and Abatement Program 1,780 1,695 85

Securing Australia’s Energy Future – Solar Cities 8,361 7,156 1,205

Solar Hot Water Rebate Program 62,800 77,656 (14,856)

Energy Efficiency and Climate Change Action (HIP) 54,351 64,832 (10,481)

Tackling Climate Change – National Solar Schools Plan 69,551 69,551 –

Tackling Climate Change – Solar Homes and Communities Plan 172,252 206,698 (34,446)

Deception Bay Pool 250 250 –



Tackling Climate Change – Solar Homes and Communities Plan – 292 (292)

Departmental Outputs

Energy efficiency and climate change action 57,121 55,916 1,205

Subtotal for Output Group 1.1 475,360 532,035 (56,675)


Land and inland waters


Introduction

The department develops and implements Australian Government initiatives to protect and conserve Australia’s terrestrial environments, biodiversity and inland waters.

Main responsibilities for this output:

• Invasive species policy and threat abatement planning Marine

Division

• Administration of the Caring for our Country initiative

• Use of market-based approaches for biodiversity conservation on private land

• Natural resources and native vegetation policy

• Environmental aspects of regional forest agreements

• Terrestrial biodiversity conservation

• Implementation of Working on Country programs

• Coordination of Indigenous policy issues across the portfolio

Australian Government

Land and Coasts

• National Reserve System

• Indigenous Protected Areas

• Genetic resource management

• Australian Biological Resources Study

Parks Australia Division

• Tropical wetlands research and ecological inventory

• Risk assessment of tropical rivers

Supervising Scientist Division

OUTPUT 1.2Land and inland waters


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Highlights• The Australian Government’s Caring

for our Country initiative commenced on 1 July 2008. The aim is to achieve an environment that is healthy, better protected, well-managed and resilient, and provides essential ecosystem services in a changing climate. Caring for our Country aims to achieve its strategic goal by focusing on six national priority areas: 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. Caring for our Country will provide more than $2 billion in funding over its first five years.

• Caring for our Country five-year Outcomes for 2008–13 were approved and announced in September 2008. The Caring for our Country business plan for 2009–10 was released in November 2008. For 2008–09 over $22.8 million was provided for 138 Open Grants projects, $4.9 million for successful Environmental Stewardship bids, $30 million for Reef Rescue and $17.2 million for Landcare Sustainable Practice Grants projects.

• The first rounds of the Environmental Stewardship program resulted in $30.4 million in funding for landholders, to conserve the critically endangered Box Gum Grassy Woodland.

• The Tasmanian Forest Conservation Fund protected over 12 000 hectares of old growth and other high conservation value forest communities on private land. This total includes over 10 400 hectares of old growth forest. The Forest Conservation Fund program has protected a total of around 28 000 hectares since 2005–06.

• Eight new Working on Country projects commenced in 2008–09. There are now 31 Working on Country projects undertaking environmental works across Australia. The program will expand in early 2009–10, to fund 50 Indigenous traineeships and 60 flexible employment opportunities in the land and sea management sector. It will also fund approximately 100 additional Indigenous ranger positions, to undertake environmental works on land that is not Indigenous-owned.

• The department has been working closely with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry during the implementation of the Beale Review of Quarantine and Biosecurity. The Review’s implementation provides an opportunity to improve environmental outcomes across the biosecurity spectrum (pre-, at and post-border) particularly in the areas of emergency response, and monitoring and surveillance.

• Under Caring for our Country, $34.4 million was invested in the Biodiversity and Natural Icons priority area, $65.7 million in the Coastal Environments and Critical Aquatic Habitats priority area, and over $47 million in the Sustainable Farm Practices priority area, to improve ecosystem services.




• Using Caring for our Country funds, the National Reserve System program acquired 16 properties, covering 147 000 hectares. This brought the total area protected through this grants program to 7.972 million hectares.

• The Caring for our Country Victorian Bushfire Recovery program was established to assist in mitigating post-bushfire environmental effects. It will provide $10.8 million over two years to assist community, local government, non-government organisations, and landholders, to undertake targeted natural resource management bushfire recovery works in fire affected regions.

• Australia’s Strategy for the National Reserve System 2009–30 was endorsed by all Australian governments, replacing the previous strategy.

• Six Indigenous Protected Areas were declared, bringing the total to 31, covering over 20.6 million hectares.

• Nationally, conservation covenants on private land secured the protection and management of an additional 240 areas, totaling 252 797 hectares, during 2008–09. This brings the total number of conservation covenants (as of 30 June 2009) to 3987, securing 1 569 125 hectares of land in perpetuity.

• The inaugural Australian Biological Resources Study Eureka Prize, for Outstanding Taxonomic Research, was awarded to Dr Bill Humphreys from the Western Australian Museum, for his work on underground aquatic species in Western Australia.

• Thirteen reports from the Tropical Rivers Inventory and Assessment Project (funded by Land and Water Australia and the Natural Heritage Trust ), were finalised and posted on the department’s website.

Objectives• Ensure the management of Australia’s

terrestrial environments, including their biodiversity, is ecologically sustainable. Ensure also that effects on terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem services, including habitat loss, invasive species and climate change, are addressed.

• Protect the environmental assets and values of the land, including biodiversity and ecosystem services.

• Protect and conserve biodiversity, by establishing a comprehensive, adequate and representative system of protected areas.

• Investment in Caring for our Country activities is aimed at outcomes that will ensure that Australia’s environment is healthy, better protected, well-managed, resilient, and provides essential ecosystem services in a changing climate.

• Increase efficiencies in achieving conservation outcomes through targeted use of market incentives and conservation covenants for the protection and management of biological values on private land.

• Support Indigenous aspirations in Caring for our Country.

• Protect and manage Australia’s environmental and heritage values, by providing paid employment for Indigenous people to undertake environmental work.


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• Provide nationally accredited training and career pathways for Indigenous people in land and sea management, in partnership with industry and others.

• Provide opportunities for Indigenous participation in fledgling carbon markets, by establishing the legal framework for the creation of carbon credits from altered fire management practices.

• Assist land managers to increase sustainable farm management practices that will deliver improved ecosystem services.

• Manage invasive species (pest animals and weeds) by developing and delivering effective policies and practices.

• Improve the knowledge and skills of communities, to increase engagement in sustainable resource management and environmental protection.

• Deliver environmental protection and natural resource management outcomes in bushfire affected areas of Victoria, as part of a regional rebuilding initiative.

• Establish an effective legal framework to manage the sustainable access to, and equitable distribution of benefits derived from, genetic and biochemical resources from Australia’s biodiversity.

• Increase our understanding of Australia’s biodiversity, by strengthening taxonomic capacity and delivering value-added services and information.

• Identify the key threats to the ongoing health of tropical wetlands. Contribute to the development of strategies to protect the values of wetlands.

Results• An investment of approximately $2 million

was made available to reduce threats to native species and ecological communities from terrestrial invasive species.

• In addition, over $1.7 million was committed in 2008–09 through Caring for our Country, to a range of projects to address some of Australia’s most significant pest animal and weeds problems, including wild dogs, rabbits, foxes, goats and pigs.

• Five year outcomes for Caring for our Country were released in September 2008. Then the first annual Caring for our Country business plan was released in November 2008, seeking investment proposals against one to four year targets. In 2008–09, $159 million was approved for regional investments. Base-level funding allocations were identified for all regional Natural Resource Management organisations over the first five years of Caring for our Country. Open Grants, Working on Country and Environmental Stewardship investments for 2008–09 were advertised and announced.

• Three rounds of investment in the Box Gum Grassy Woodland project were conducted through the Environmental Stewardship program, resulting in conservation management of over 11 000 hectares of the critically endangered ecological community. In New South Wales and Queensland, 126 private landholders have been contracted to carry out management activities under the Environmental Stewardship program for up to 15 years.




• Thirty-one Working on Country projects were funded in 2008–09, at a cost of $62.7 million over five years. They will provide employment for over 200 Indigenous rangers. As at 30 June 2009 over 190 rangers have been contracted to deliver environmental services for the Australian Government.

• Over 125 Indigenous rangers participated in induction, training and transfer of traditional knowledge activities in 2008–09. These included cultural exchanges between ranger groups, health and safety training and delivery of Conservation and Land Management certification. Workshops were also held with Indigenous community representatives to develop tools that will guide them in delivering training to Indigenous rangers. Feedback on this initiative from rangers and communities was very positive.

• Research and Indigenous capacity building was undertaken to help implement a low-intensity fire regime across Australia’s northern savanna regions. There is potential for emission abatement opportunities with this work, as well as biodiversity and the social benefits associated with Indigenous participation in natural resource management.

• A range of projects is underway to assist community and producer groups, regional natural resource management bodies and non-government organisations, such as industry organisations. The projects aim to improve sustainable farm practices on-ground and increase farmers’ knowledge and skills in natural resource management.

• The department continued to work with all states and territories to deliver projects that will assist the Australian Government to meet its obligations under the Australian Pest Animal Strategy and the Australian Weeds Strategy. This included membership of the Vertebrate Pests Committee and its Working Groups, and chairing the Australian Weeds Committee, to implement the Australian Weeds Strategy and the Weeds of National Significance program, which were funded under Caring for our Country in 2008–09.

• Competitive grants worth over $20.2 million were provided for 439 Community Coastcare projects in 2008–09. Over the next 18 to 24 months, communities will undertake activities that will contribute to the protection and enhancement of Australia’s coastal environments, through the conservation of coastal land and inland waters.

• Two significant Caring for our Country projects, that will help address water quality issues in the Gippsland Lakes, have commenced.

• In 2008–09 the Caring for our Country–National Reserve System program supported the purchase of 16 properties, covering 147 000 hectares, with a contribution of over $24 million. Strategic projects for the establishment of protected areas on private lands (through perpetual covenants) were also supported, at a cost of $1.1 million. Support for the purchase of the Cranebrook property in western Sydney helped fulfill the government’s commitment to further protect the endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland.


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• Over 330 000 hectares of Indigenous Protected Areas were declared.

• The Australian Biological Resources Study National Taxonomy Research Grant program improved taxonomic capacity, by funding 43 grants and taxonomic training positions (post doctoral fellowships, PhD scholarships). The program published three books and expanded its taxonomic databases, at a cost of $1.9 million.

• The 13 Tropical Rivers Inventory and Assessment Project reports were disseminated to members of the Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge research consortium, and to stakeholders across northern Australia.

• The Supervising Scientist Divison co-authored several papers on the molecular genetics of endemic freshwater shrimps and isopods, located in the stone country of western Arnhem Land and Kakadu National Park. Interstate collaborators were Dr G Wilson from the Australian Museum (Isopods), and Dr T Page from Griffith University and Dr J Short from BioAccess Australia (shrimps).

• Research scientist, Dr Rick van Dam, from the Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist, has compiled and edited a special issue of the Australasian Journal of Ecotoxicology, focusing on tropical ecotoxicology in Australasia. The issue includes eight articles, describing soil or water quality related research from Australia and south-east Asia.

Strategies

Threat Abatement Plans

Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), the department develops and supports the implementation of threat abatement plans. These plans set out the actions needed to reduce the effects of listed key threats, such as pests and diseases, on affected native species or ecological communities. Threat abatement plans are reviewed every five years.

Over the past year, nine threat abatement plans were operating for key terrestrial threatening processes listed under the EPBC Act. Five revised plans were made and one new plan was developed. Threat abatement plans were also developed to protect Australian native species from Phytophthora (commonly known as ‘dieback’) and from predation by exotic rodents on small offshore islands. A national cane toad plan is being developed.

The department collaborates with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and other stakeholders, including the state and territory governments and private landholders, to develop and implement threat abatement plans and projects.




particularly those that would: protect, enhance or restore Australia’s biodiversity and natural icons; improve the water quality of our critical aquatic habitats; and achieve greater take-up of sustainable farm practices. The package included: more than $5.5 million for sustainable farming practices; $8.9 million for Landcare projects; $7.3 million for biodiversity and natural icons; $5.7 million for coasts and critical aquatic habitats; and $1.1 million for other projects. In total $24.7 million was expended in 2008–09.

In 2008–09, Caring for our Country funding was also provided for: Australia’s National Reserve System ($25.8 million); preparation of the Ningaloo Reef nomination for submission to the World Heritage Committee ($0.2 million); management of the Queensland Wet Tropics ($2.7 million) and Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Areas ($3.4 million); Indigenous Protected Areas ($4.5 million); Working on Country ($9.0 million); Indigenous Emissions Trading ($1.4 million); Environmental Stewardship ($7.1 million); Reef Rescue

Caring for our Country

Caring for our Country will provide over $2 billion in funding over its first five years (2008–09 to 2012–13). The government has approved a series of specific Caring for our Country outcomes, to help focus investment on achieving national priorities and avoid spreading the funds so thinly that the improvements cannot be measured or reported. Short-term Caring for our Country targets have been developed for years two to five (2009–10 to 2012–13), to help achieve these outcomes. The targets play a crucial role in guiding the investment by identifying the steps that need to be taken to achieve the target outcomes.

In November 2008, as part of the transitional arrangements for the Caring for our Country initiative, 138 Open Grants projects were approved worth $28.961 million for 2008–09 and 2009–10. Funding was available for high quality projects in the six national priority areas,

Status of terrestrial threat abatement plans at 30 June 2009 Title Approved Comment

Competition and land degradation by unmanaged goats 2008 Current

Competition and land degradation by rabbits 2008 Current

Predation by the European red fox 2008 Current

Predation by feral cats 2008 Current

Disease in natural ecosystems caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi 2009 Current

Beak and feather disease affecting endangered psittacine species 2005 Current

Predation, habitat degradation, competition and disease transmission by feral pigs 2005 Current

Infection of amphibians with chytrid fungus, resulting in chytridiomycosis 2006 Current

Reduction in impacts of tramp ants on biodiversity in Australia and its territories 2006 Current

To reduce the impacts of exotic rodents on the biodiversity of Australian offshore islands of less than 100 000 hectares -

Under development


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($34.9 million); development of a national cane toad plan ($0.8 million); the Gippsland Lakes and Eastern Creek Wetlands ($6.1 million); support for research into the facial disease in Tasmanian Devils ($2.0 million); Fox Free Tasmania ($7.9 million); and rabbit and rodent control on Macquarie Island ($1.7 million).

National Biodiversity Strategy

The consultation draft of Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010–20, sets national directions for biodiversity conservation over the next decade. The draft revised strategy was developed through the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council’s second five-yearly review of the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia’s Biological Diversity. The consultation draft was released for public comment from 23 March to 29 May 2009, and is available through the department’s website at: www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/strategy/review.html. The review task group is aiming to submit the final strategy for consideration by the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council in late 2009. The department is the secretariat to the review task group.

Native Vegetation Framework

The National Framework for the Management and Monitoring of Australia’s Native Vegetation (Native Vegetation Framework) is an agreement made in 1999 between the Australian, state and territory governments, for a coordinated national approach to native vegetation management. Under the framework, governments agreed to reverse the long-term decline in the extent and quality

of Australia’s native vegetation. The Native Vegetation Framework has been an important driver for the development of native vegetation management policy and legislation in all jurisdictions.

The Framework is currently being reviewed by a task group reporting to the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council. The task group has representatives from all state and territory jurisdictions, the Australian Government and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). It has made substantial progress in redrafting the framework, to bring it into line with the latest thinking on: climate change; habitat connectivity; and ecosystem function; and also to ensure its alignment with the key directions in the draft revised National Biodiversity Strategy. The draft revised framework is currently expected to be ready for stakeholder consultations in late 2009. The department is the secretariat to the review task group.

The Forest Conservation Fund

Environmental aspects of the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement were progressed. The Forest Conservation Fund program employed a number of market based approaches to secure conservation outcomes on private land. Its tender process encouraged landowners to seek funding, in exchange for placing a conservation covenant on their forested land. Over 2008–09, the second (and final) round of the competitive tender was completed, with 29 funding proposals accepted, totalling 4730 hectares, at a cost of almost $8 million. A further total of 8900 hectares was approved for funding through




direct, fixed price, offers to landowners, at a cost of around $14.3 million.

The Mole Creek component of the Forest Conservation Fund concluded on 30 June 2008, protecting over 500 hectares of high priority karst and forest landscape, through covenanting or land purchase, at a cost of just under $3 million. The Forest Conservation Fund Revolving Fund (with over $6 million contributed by the Australian Government) was established in 2007–08. It is operated by the Tasmanian Land Conservancy. Land is purchased from willing sellers, with the forested component placed under conservation covenants. The land is then offered for re-sale on the open market. In 2008–09 a decision was made to extend the Revolving Fund to 2014. To date, this approach has protected some 900 hectares of high conservation value forest.

Environmental Stewardship Program

The Caring for our Country–Environmental Stewardship program provides market-based incentives for private land managers to engage in the long-term protection and rehabilitation of matters of national environmental significance, as listed under the EPBC Act. These matters include: nationally endangered or vulnerable species and ecological communities; natural values associated with world heritage and national heritage listed places; and migratory species and wetlands for which Australia has international responsibilities.

The first matter of national environmental significance to be targeted is the critically endangered Box Gum Grassy Woodland ecological community, extending from

southern Queensland, through the wheat-sheep belt of New South Wales, to northern Victoria. Implementation of the first three rounds of the Box Gum Grassy Woodland project occurred over 2008–09.

The first round was delivered in the Lachlan and Murrumbidgee catchments in New South Wales. It targeted Box Gum Grassy Woodland areas of five hectares or greater, on privately held land. A competitive auction process was undertaken to evaluate bids submitted by eligible land managers wishing to participate in the program. An environmental benefits index, called the Conservation Value Measure, was used to assess the value-for-money of bids submitted and guide selection of successful proposals.

A second round was carried out in the Lachlan and Murrumbidgee catchment areas. A third round targeting areas of 50 hectares or greater was carried out in the Border Rivers–Maranoa, Balonne and Condamine catchment areas of South East Queensland, and the Border Rivers–Gwydir, Namoi and Central West catchment areas of northern New South Wales.

As a result of the three rounds, 126 successful landowners have entered into Environmental Stewardship contracts, protecting over 11 000 hectares of critically endangered native habitat at a total cost of around $30.4 million.

Covenants for conservation on private land

Conservation and management of biodiversity and ecosystem function on privately held lands is further supported through the use of


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conservation covenants which are registered on land title in perpetuity.

The Australian Government, in partnership with private conservation organisations in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia, has continued to support operation of revolving funds in each state. Through partnership arrangements, revolving funds were established from 2001 to fund the purchase of land of conservation interest on the open market, covenant that land to protect those values and resell to private landholders at market value. During 2008–09, a total of 11 488 hectares of conservation lands was purchased or revolved through the real estate market. These partner organisations currently hold an additional 3505 hectares of conservation lands on the market for sale.

Conservation covenants on private lands are also supported through the minister’s approval process. Ministerial approval is a requirement for landholders wishing to apply for tax concessions and deductions related to perpetually covenanting their land. The minister has approved 11 covenanting programs. These programs covenanted 252 797 hectares in 2008–09, bringing the total area protected under these approved programs to 1 569 125 hectares.

Native vegetation information

The department continued work to improve the National Vegetation Information System (NVIS), comprising an inventory of Australia’s vegetation types, provided by the states and territories. During 2008–09, the department developed methods to monitor the effectiveness of on-ground management activities in conserving native vegetation. In

addition, collaboration with the states and territories improved information on the extent and distribution of native vegetation. One use of the NVIS data was to assist with threatened ecological community conservation and recovery planning.

Tasmanian Devils

As part of the $10 million, five-year, Caring for Our Country election commitment to a ‘Save the Tasmanian Devil’ program, the Australian Government provided the first $2 million in 2008–09. Program funding is directed by strategic and annual business plans and actions are progressing in accordance with those plans. These include: expansion of the insurance population in partnership with wildlife parks; commencement of trials of free-range enclosures; monitoring and mapping of the disease front; monitoring of devil populations at selected sites; ongoing research to support wildlife management measures; as well as research into the evolution of the tumour, genetic resistance and pre-clinical diagnostic tools.

Indigenous communities

Working on Country continued to provide funding for Indigenous people to do environmental work. Their contribution will help to maintain, restore, protect and manage Australia’s land, sea and heritage. The program builds on Indigenous knowledge of protecting and managing land and sea country and supports the caring for country work that Indigenous people want to do for community and cultural reasons. It will also help the Australian Government meet its responsibility to protect and conserve the environment.




Indigenous communities continue to respond positively to the program, now in its second year, with program funds being in high demand. Projects range from: the provision of environmental services across two million hectares of culturally significant country, containing seven known threatened animal species, in the Western Desert of Western Australia; to the implementation of a recovery plan for the threatened, and culturally significant, Warru–the black-flanked rock wallaby in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands of South Australia. In the Torres Strait, eight Islander communities are providing environmental services, which include monitoring turtle and dugong populations and surveying significant terrestrial ecological environments.

The Indigenous Emissions Trading component of the Caring for our Country initiative aims to provide opportunities for Indigenous participation in fledgling carbon markets. It will establish the legal framework for the creation of carbon credits from altered fire management, through two key areas of activity. The Northern Savanna Fire Management project is implementing traditional, mosaic-style, fire management practices in northern Australia. Alongside biodiversity benefits, these practices may also deliver carbon abatement, by better controls, leading to less extensive and severe fires. As part of this project, research is being undertaken to help determine actual emission outcomes from fire management. Other requirements are also being addressed to facilitate market participation, including market analysis and the development of legal and governance frameworks for Indigenous entry into markets. This project is being delivered in partnership

with the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA). It involves the establishment of up to four, large-scale, fire management project areas in the savanna regions of northern Australia, including northern Kimberley, central Arnhem Land, western Cape York and the Gulf of Carpentaria. The Indigenous Carbon Market Participation project is assisting Indigenous people to better understand the potential implications, and the opportunities, of climate change for their communities. It is also assisting Indigenous land managers with other options for carbon abatement and sequestration.

Sustainable farming practices

Caring for our Country supports a variety of strategies to deliver sustainable farm practices on-ground, including: collective activities to promote adoption of practices; demonstration sites and workshops; promotion of innovative practices; and codes of practice or guidelines. The department collaborates with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and other stakeholders, including the states, the territories and private landholders, to commission research projects to underpin national natural resource management policies. The department, jointly with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, is progressing a national approach to invasive species, through its representation on two national committees: the Vertebrate Pests Committee and the Australian Weeds Committee. The Vertebrate Pests Committee developed an Implementation Plan for the Australian Pest Animal Strategy, for consideration by the National Biosecurity Committee. The Plan received endorsement


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in December 2008 and the department is now actively involved in its delivery.

Cane Toads

A national cane toad plan, addressing the impacts of cane toads and methods to reduce these impacts, is being prepared. Under an election commitment, this national plan will incorporate:

• current research on the impacts of cane toads

• new understanding on the ability of populations of native species to adapt and recover after the initial impacts of toad invasion, and

• methods to reduce the initial and long term biodiversity impacts of cane toads.

Three research projects aimed at understanding cane toad impacts and improving methods for limiting them, were funded in 2008–09. These projects had a total financial value of $479,292. Caring for our Country investments were also made: in the development of the national plan ($34,201) and the development of codes of practice and standard operating procedures for the humane control of cane toads ($66,000).

Three community based projects to manually remove cane toads from the environment in northern NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, were also funded through the Open Grants element. These projects had a total financial value of $338,346 and involved at least 900 volunteer days of cane toad control. Two additional projects: the field-testing of cane toad trapping methods; and an assessment of the risks posed to the biodiversity conservation value of Northern

Territory islands, by threats such as cane toads, were also funded under the Open Grants element. The total financial value of these projects was $395,950.

Inland waters

Community Coastcare was implemented to provide funding opportunities for communities to participate in coastal and inland waters protection and restoration activities, and to support national projects. Projects funded included: community engagement activities to raise awareness about land-based impacts on riverine and other aquatic habitats; and projects where habitats and biodiversity of wetlands will be restored, through awareness-raising, strategic planning and on-ground works. For example, a Community Coastcare project in Tumby Bay, South Australia, will use stock exclusion and revegetation activities, to improve wetlands and reduce sediment discharge into inland waters that have flow-on impacts on coastal waters. The improvement of this wetland environment will increase its capacity to act as a filter for the catchment, prior to discharge to the coastal and marine environments. The Envirofund small grants program (rounds nine and ten) supported 1250 projects, worth over $26.7 million. During 2008–09 these projects contributed to the conservation of Australia’s land and inland waters, through activities such as stock exclusion fencing, and land and aquatic weed removal, to protect and rehabilitate wetlands.

In the Gippsland Lakes, $5.25 million is being invested over three years to: improve water quality and reduce nutrient inputs from public and private land ($3 million); and to minimise the impacts of flooding problems for current and




future developments, through a flood mitigation program ($2.25 million). Good progress is being made, with these projects well underway.

Terrestrial parks and reserves

The Director of National Parks is a statutory corporation established under the EPBC Act to administer and manage Commonwealth reserves (national parks, botanic gardens, marine and terrestrial reserves) established under the Act. They include Kakadu, Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa and Booderee national parks, which are jointly managed with their Indigenous traditional owners. The Director is supported by staff of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

Detailed information about the 2008–09 management outcomes for Commonwealth reserves appears in the annual report of the Director of National Parks, available at www.environment.gov.au/parks/publications.

In addition to the statutory functions, the Director has also been delegated management functions and powers by the minister and the Secretary of the department. Under these delegations, the Director administers: the National Reserve System Program; the Indigenous Protected Areas Program; the Australian Biological Resources Study; the development of Australian Government policy on management of Australia’s genetic resources; and coordination and leadership of Australia’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

National Reserve System program

Under the Australian Government Caring for our Country initiative, the National Reserve System program supports the acquisition and covenanting of properties to establish protected areas. The properties are managed for nature conservation as part of the National Reserve System. The National Reserve System is Australia’s network of protected areas, conserving examples of our natural landscapes and native plants and animals for future generations. It is made up Commonwealth, state, territory and local council reserves, Indigenous lands and protected areas run by non-profit conservation organisations, through to ecosystems protected by farmers on their private working properties.

Australia’s National Reserve System protects over 89 million hectares, in more than 9000 protected areas. This is over 11 per cent of Australia’s land area.

In 2008–09, the program contributed over $24 million towards the purchase of 16 properties, covering 147 000 hectares. It also contributed just over $1.1 million to strategic projects for the establishment of protected areas on private lands (through perpetual covenants).

Land acquisition and protected area on private land projects supported this year, include:


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• Logan Escarpment, Queensland–43 hectares helping to conserve important koala habitat and add to the reserves in the area. This acquisition addresses one of the key challenges facing all Australian cities–striking a balance between development and conservation. The purchase also represents a new conservation relationship between local councils and the Australian Government. The National Reserve System program provided $1.5 million in funding to help purchase the bushland property and Logan City Council provided the balance of $1.2 million.

• The Northern Territory Conservation Partnership program. Recognising the significant biodiversity values located outside the formal reserve system, the Northern Territory Government, with support from the National Reserve System program, has successfully initiated conservation partnership agreements with landholders. Following a scoping study undertaken in 2007–08, the Northern Territory Government is in the process of amending legislative frameworks and negotiating with landholders to deliver the Territory’s first conservation covenants.

• Cranebrook, New South Wales–The acquisition of the 181 hectare Cranebrook property in western Sydney by the NSW and Australian Governments created an important link in the wildlife corridor through this region. The addition of this area to the National Reserve System will protect an area of the nationally threatened Cumberland Plain Woodland ecological community, habitat for six nationally threatened flora species.

• Toorale Station, New South Wales, 91 000 hectares (see Case study 4 in this chapter and Case study 2 in the Outcome 3–Water chapter).

• Egg Islands Reserve, Tasmania, 150 hectares (see Case study 3).

Indigenous Protected Areas

Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) are non-statutory protected areas that form part of the National Reserve System. Funding for the establishment of IPAs is provided from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative. It helps Indigenous landowners establish and manage IPAs on their lands, through contractual arrangements with the Australian Government. The program also promotes the integration of Indigenous ecological and cultural knowledge into the management of these areas.

Six IPAs, covering over 330 000 hectares, were declared in 2008–09. These were:

• Lungtalanana (8239 hectares), Babel Island (460 hectares) and Big Dog Island (332 hectares), three separate Tasmanian island IPAs located in the Outer Furneaux Islands in Bass Strait. The islands contain extensive mutton-bird rookeries, nesting sites for Cape Barren Geese, tussock grasslands and stands of the threatened Callitris rhomboidea forest, listed as endangered in Tasmanian law.




• Tarriwa Kurrukun IPA (928 hectares), located northwest of Guyra in the New England Tablelands district of New South Wales and part of the traditional lands of the BanBai nation. Tarriwa Kurrukun IPA contains a high diversity of cultural and natural heritage, with high altitude wetlands, creek systems, box woodlands, traditional food and medicinal plants.

• Angas Downs, an Indigenous owned 320 500 hectare pastoral lease, located 300 kilometres south west of Alice Springs and 135 kilometres east of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, in the Northern Territory. Anangu Rangers and the Imanpa community, through the Caring for our Country, Working on Country and Indigenous Protected Areas Programs, are restoring the environment, removing feral animals, securing water, reintroducing native species, protecting cultural sites and establishing a wildlife sanctuary.

In 2008–09 the Indigenous Protected Areas Program supported 31 declared IPAs. There were an additional 31 consultation projects, exploring the potential for IPA declaration over a further 29 million hectares of Indigenous owned land.

The government’s Caring for our Country commitment to provide funding of $50 million over five years is contributing to a significant expansion of environmental and cultural outcomes on IPAs. A total of $4.6 million was expended in grants and support of projects during 2008–09.

The Indigenous Land Corporation provided an additional $2.5 million in 2008–09 under a three-year, $7 million agreement to expand the Indigenous Protected Area initiative. This

arrangement enabled coordinated, streamlined funding support for IPAs from government.

Genetic Resources Management

Australia’s biodiversity offers huge potential for both fundamental and applied scientific research, generating applications with economic, social and environmental value–for example, in agriculture, bioremediation, alternative fuels and drug design.

The Genetic Resources Management Section manages a regulatory and policy framework for access to native genetic resources in Commonwealth areas and benefit-sharing arising from their use. Its purpose is to provide legal certainty for researchers and innovators, to ensure sustainable use and to obtain tangible benefits for the conservation of Australia’s biodiversity.

The access and benefit-sharing framework is now beginning to make more accessible new scientific knowledge on Australia’s biodiversity. Reporting mechanisms have been refined to harmonise with the data standards of the Australian Government’s Atlas of Living Australia project. In the last year the department and accredited agencies provided over 70 access permits. Two benefit-sharing agreements were finalised for commercial research.

A working group meeting was held with the states and territories to support the nationally consistent approach and to promote best practice in access to genetic resources. The department provided policy support and assistance in the development and launch of Victoria’s access and benefit-sharing policy. Victoria joins Queensland, the Northern Territory


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and the Australian Government in enacting measures to implement a nationally consistent approach to access and benefit sharing.

A Biodiscovery Industry Panel was co-convened with AusBiotech, Australia’s biotechnology industry peak body, to provide industry input into policy development.

The department provides policy advice for Australia’s participation in the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing, under the Convention on Biological Diversity. This Group met once during 2008–09, to continue negotiations on an international regime on access and benefit-sharing.

Australian Biological Resources Study

The Australian Biological Resources Study is responsible for funding and disseminating information on species discovery, also known as taxonomy–the science of naming and describing Australia’s biodiversity. Its range of taxonomic works and databases provides national references for the names of species and, through the Australian Biological Resources Study National Taxonomy Research Grant program, provides the only ongoing source of funding for taxonomic research in Australia. Accurate naming of species is required for conservation, biosecurity and a range of industry uses.

Major changes were made to the Participatory Grant Program, in response to recommendations arising from the 2007 National Taxonomy Forum. The program was renamed the National Taxonomy Research Grant Program, the application process was

simplified and a new requirement for co-funding was introduced, which will result in an increase in funding for taxonomy in Australia.

A range of new partnerships has also been pursued. The first of these–with CReefs–increased funding for tropical reef taxonomy, through a partnership with BHP Billiton, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

Over the past 12 months, the Australian Biological Resources Study has achieved:

• online publication of a range of species information in their fauna, flora and lichen databases

• publication of three books: two volumes in the Flora of Australia Series, covering lichens and grasses, and the Tenebrionid Beetles of Australia book, and

• a Certificate of Commendation at the Whitley Awards for the publication Australian Ladybird Beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).

It also produced a Darwin Education kit and poster, in conjunction with the Australian Science and Teachers Association, to educate school students about Charles Darwin, his voyage of discovery, species and science. This celebrates the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of his seminal book, Origin of the Species.

Tropical Wetlands research

The Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist (ERISS), a branch of the Supervising Scientist Division, carries out research on tropical rivers and their extensive associated wetlands in northern Australia.




Above: Flora of Australia volume 57 is the fifth volume on lichens to be published by the Australian Biological Resources Study. Cover Design: W.M.Malcolm

Above: Flora of Australia volume 44A is the third in a series of four volumes by the Australian Biological Resources Study to cover Australian grasses. Cover Design: Margaret Saul

Above: Charles Darwin: a voyage of discovery is a Teachers Resource Book designed to assist teachers of students in the middle years of schooling. It provides information on the history of discovery of species, new techniques and theories surrounding plant and animal identification, and outlines a number of tasks for students to undertake. Poster Design: Brigitte Kuchlmayr (ABRS)


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The focus is on sustainability of these natural resources. This work complements the Division’s role in protecting the environment of the Alligator Rivers Region from the impacts of uranium mining. Research is being conducted into developing remote sensing methods for assessing:

• the prevalence and rate of spread of aquatic weeds in floodplain environments of the Alligator Rivers Region

• the likely extent of climate change induced sea-level rise on intrusion of salt water into floodplain environments

• changes through time in wetland environments.

To facilitate this work, a Spatial Sciences and Data Integration team has been formed. The team brings together all staff with spatial sciences expertise, previously working in separate groups in ERISS.

The Supervising Scientist Division is a member of the Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge research consortium, established and co-funded by the Commonwealth Environmental Research Facilities program. ERISS is contributing research expertise to Theme 1–Integration and Knowledge Management, Theme 4–Water budgets and Theme 5–Biodiversity Assessment.

The Division is also contributing expertise to three technical working groups, Knowledge Management, Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Resources, which support the Northern Australia Water Futures Assessment. The Division also has two members on the steering committee developing the scope of works for the revision of the ANZECC/ARMCANZ (2000)

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality.

The Division provides technical advice to the Kyoto and Carbon Initiative, a multi-national research program initiated by the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, and has an ongoing involvement in coordinating the wetland research theme. The Initiative uses satellite-based radar mapping technologies to map and monitor global wetland environments, in support of international conventions.

Evaluation

Caring for our Country initiative

In September 2008 the government released the Caring for our Country Outcome Statements for 2008–13. These set out the Australian Government’s vision for the first five years of the initiative, in each of the six national priority areas, comprising: Australia’s 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 Caring for our Country 2009–10 Business Plan was released in November 2008, seeking proposals that would enable the achievement of the planned outcomes in an effective, efficient and timely manner. The call for proposals was highly successful, with over 1350 applications received, worth more than $3.4 billion, for projects to be implemented over the next one to four years.




The natural resource management Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement (MERI) Framework was released in September 2008. This Framework sets out a generic approach for monitoring, evaluation, reporting on, and improving, Australia’s approach to managing key natural resource assets. Key assets include human, social, natural, biophysical and financial assets at a program level. The MERI Framework provides a model for assessing program performance and the state of change in assets over time, against planned immediate, intermediate and longer term outcomes.

Building on the principles of the MERI Framework, the draft MERI Strategy for Caring for our County was released in April 2009. The strategy describes the roles and responsibilities of the Australian Government and proponents, in implementing MERI for Caring for our Country. The strategy focuses on implementing the Caring for our Country initiative outcomes for 2008–13. It relies on: articulation of clear MERI requirements; reporting of performance (financial and delivery) by outcomes; and undertaking of annual and periodic evaluations to monitor, report on, and improve implementation; to achieve the planned five-year outcomes. The strategy provides an adaptive management approach to assist the Australian Government to deliver the initiative’s five-year outcomes for each of the six national priority areas and associated election commitments.

To support the implementation of the MERI strategy for Caring for our Country, guides on how to develop a program logic, and to undertake performance story reports, have been released. The program logic guide

is designed to help Caring for our Country proponents understand and prepare their program logic, as the first step in developing a project MERI plan. Ten workshops have been undertaken across northern and remote Australia, to assist Indigenous communities to build program logic and MERI skills for the implementation of Caring for our Country projects.

The performance story guide provides a step by step methodology on how to undertake a performance story report, as a means of monitoring, evaluating and reporting on the implementation of a project. Performance story reports have been developed, in conjunction with the local communities, for the following regions: Ginini Wetlands; Hawkesbury Nepean catchments; Reef catchments and North Queensland Dry Tropics; Barkly Tablelands-Desert Channels; South Australia Murray Darling Basin; Victorian Volcanic Plains; and Western Australian Rangelands Ecofire Project. These performance story reports will provide a social and biophysical baseline, against which the impact of future Caring for our Country investment will be evaluated.

In July 2008, an evaluation workshop was held. It involved the environmental non-government organisations responsible for the ongoing management of the stewardship component of the Maintaining Australia’s Biodiversity Hotspots program. The workshop concluded that the approach of using competitive tenders to achieve biodiversity conservation outcomes on private land had been successful in engaging landowners, and cost effective in delivery of relevant management actions.


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A social science study has been undertaken, to evaluate attitudes to conservation among the Environmental Stewardship landowner target audience. Successful land owners, who enter into a contract through the program, will undertake annual monitoring activities, to measure the condition of the targeted community on their land. An ecological study will be undertaken to measure the overall change in condition of targeted sites.

The Caring for our Country Bushfire Recovery Program, for fire affected areas, is being implemented in accordance with the agreed timeframe. The Project Control Board will evaluate progress of the approved projects, prior to assessment of the second round of funding.

National Reserve System

An updated Strategy for the National Reserve System 2009–30 was developed to respond to the findings of evaluations of: the National Reserve Program (2006); the Indigenous Protected Areas Program (2006); the Senate Inquiry into Australia’s national parks, conservation reserves and marine protected areas (2007); and the World Wide Fund for Nature–Australia’s evaluation of progress on directions for the National Reserve System (2008).

The updated strategy:

• provides national guidance for improved cross-jurisdictional coordination

• supports collaborative action by protected area managers and a wider range of key stakeholders

• recognises and responds to the challenge of climate change

• identifies national targets and priority actions for the National Reserve System

• outlines priority targets to be delivered through five-year implementation plans.

Australian Biological Resources Study

Over the course of the year, the Australian Biological Resources Study undertook a comprehensive review of the existing Participatory Grants Program. The program has been restructured, with a clearer focus on capacity-building, job-creation, surety of funding and research priorities. The program was renamed the Australian Biological Resources Study National Taxonomy Research Grant Program. New research and capacity-building streams were introduced, to simplify the application process for applicants and increase the funding certainty for successful grantees. A new requirement for co-funding was also introduced, which will result in an increase in funding for taxonomy in Australia. The implemented changes will be evaluated in consultation with the independent Australian Biological Resources Study Advisory Committee in 2009–10, when the changes take effect.

Tropical Rivers

All components of the Tropical Rivers Inventory and Assessment project were completed and the final reports accepted by Land and Water Australia. Requests for data compiled by this project are regularly received from researchers from the Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge consortium and elsewhere.




Environmental Stewardship is an element of the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative that aims to maintain and improve the condition and extent of high value environmental assets, listed under the EPBC Act, as matters of National Environmental Significance. The first asset targeted is the critically endangered White Box, Yellow Box and Blakely’s Red Gum and derived grasslands, ecological community (Box Gum Grassy Woodland). This community extends from Queensland

to Victoria, predominantly within the wheat-sheep belt.

Environmental Stewardship uses a market based approach to provide funding for private land managers to carry out conservation activities on their land for up to 15 years. These contract periods provide enough time to improve vegetation condition or extent and will also allow long-term monitoring of vegetation change.

Case studies

Above: Box Gum Grassy Woodland, Mulligan’s Flat, Australian Capital Territory. Photo: Graham Hodge

Case study 1: Environmental Stewardship (Australian Government)


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The program uses voluntary auctions to attract eligible land managers, who then compete for funding through discreet funding rounds. This process includes evaluation both of the ecological condition of the proposed vegetation to be protected and of the management activities that land managers agree to undertake: such as restriction of grazing; retention of fallen timber; thinning of vegetation; and weed management. Individual land managers nominate the price they wish to be paid to undertake their proposed management actions. An environmental benefits index, based on a scientific understanding of the way in which these vegetation communities are expected to improve under different management regimes, ranks bids from highest to lowest based on their value-for-money

Environmental Stewardship’s focus on targeting communities and species of national environmental significance on

private land, builds on existing approaches to conservation, such as regulation, and setting aside land in protected areas, such as national parks and reserves. Over time, the program aims to influence the values and behaviours of private land managers, and encourage an awareness of, and participation in, conservation on their land.

Progress towards these goals will be measured using an established Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement (MERI) plan, which includes: land manager monitoring of sites; a comprehensive ecological study; and a study of social attitudes and land manager approaches to conservation. These studies will establish benchmarks in both the ecological and social aspects of the program.

For more information on Environmental Stewardship see: www.nrm.gov.au/stewardship/index.html




Through the Working on Country element of the Caring for our Country initiative, Indigenous land and sea rangers are delivering environmental services to the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and the nation.

Working on Country recognises that Indigenous rangers are best placed to manage the environment, because of their traditional knowledge of country and ongoing commitment and cultural obligations to care for their country.

There is great pride and ownership of Working on Country amongst Indigenous land and sea managers, as this observation made by Anindilyakwa Ranger Simeon Lalara demonstrates:

“We are looking at what will sustain us and our children into the future. The ranger program doesn’t change the fundamental values of our people. It opens up a whole new range of experiences and training and brings cultural harmony.”

Above: Elma Yawtarrnga, David Campball and Nathan Bara tagging a turtle at Dalumba Bay. Photo:Simon Hartley

Case study 2: Anindilyakwa Rangers


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The Anindilyakwa Rangers undertake a range of environmental work across the Anindilyakwa Indigenous Protected Area (IPA), which encompasses the Groote Eylandt Archipelago in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The IPA covers around 300 000 hectares of land, surrounded by 700 000 hectares of sea country.

The Anindilyakwa IPA is unique because of the absence of threats, such as feral animals and exotic plants that exist on the mainland and other large islands. This presents a rare opportunity to maintain and protect a virtually intact bio-system.

The men’s ranger group undertakes sea patrols to monitor threatened species, such as the critically endangered Hawksbill sea turtle, impacts to important fisheries and threats to our bio-security.

The women’s ranger group work includes water quality monitoring, collection of marine debris, identification and eradication of weeds and management of significant cultural sites.

The women rangers also support the junior ranger program and, through training and mentoring, provide clear pathways to employment for young people in the ranger program.

The training undertaken by all the rangers equips them to manage the environment and provides skills transferable to jobs in tourism, mining and other natural resource management sectors.

Working on Country also makes a significant contribution to the Australian Government’s commitment to closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage. It provides training and employment opportunities that result in economic benefits to individuals and communities. Significantly, participating in land and sea management activities also improves the health and wellbeing of Indigenous land and sea managers and helps build family and community cohesion.




In 2008–09 the Tasmanian Land Conservancy, with the help of the Australian Government, established the Egg Islands Reserve.

The Egg Islands are a beautiful mosaic of wetland, marsh, scrub and forest, stretching for 10 kilometres along Tasmania’s Huon River. The Egg Island Reserve protects vital habitat for the globally-endangered Australasian bittern, whose booming twilight call is thought by many to be the origin of the Bunyip legend. The islands contain wetland habitat and endangered black gum forest, criss-

crossed by misty channels that visitors can explore in row boats.

The reserve is a testament to an incredible conservation partnership: 150 hectares of bushland protected forever, through contributions from families, business donors and government.

The National Reserve System Program provided $200,000 to establish the reserve, with hundreds of private donors from around Australia providing the rest.

Case study 3: Egg Islands Reserve

Above: Threatened wetlands protected by the Tasmanian Land Conservancy’s Egg Islands Reserve. Photo: Matt Newton


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The New South Wales Government purchased Toorale Station in December 2008, with substantial assistance from the Australian Government. This 91 000 hectare property, lies 60 kilometres south west of Bourke, upstream of the junction of the Warrego and Darling Rivers in western New South Wales.

Toorale Station and its water entitlements were purchased for $23.75 million, with funding from the Australian Government through the Water for the Future initiative, and $3.5 million from the National Reserve System element of Caring for our Country.

The purchase of Toorale makes a significant contribution to Australia’s National Reserve System, protecting native habitat in two otherwise under-represented bioregions: the Mulga Lands and Darling Riverine Plains. The property adjoins Gundabooka National Park, creating an important 180 000 hectare core conservation area.

Toorale’s environmental importance is well recognised–more than half of Toorale has been a gazetted Wildlife Refuge for more than 25 years. The property contains one of the few large intact areas of floodplain

Case study 4: Toorale Station

Above: The vast landscape of Toorale showing the Warrego River. Photo: Tim Bond




country in the state–a vast expanse of open grasslands interspersed with coolibah and black box trees, herbland and shrubs, including saltbush and lignum. These ecosystems are important for grassland birds, such as budgerigars, cockatiels and other seed-eating birds. Toorale’s wetlands and swamps provide habitat for a range of waterbirds, including the statuesque white-faced heron and the vulnerable brolga. The property also contains riverine forests, eucalypt woodlands and acacia shrublands. Toorale is home to a great diversity of wildlife, with more than

150 animal species, including the Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo, which is listed as threatened in New South Wales.

Establishing Toorale as a reserve will provide long term benefits to the region, through tourism and the creation of new conservation jobs. For further information on the role of the Water for the Future initiative in the purchase of Toorale, refer to the related Case study 2 in the Outcome 3–Water chapter.

The inaugural ABRS Eureka Prize for Outstanding Taxonomic Research was awarded to Dr Bill Humphreys of the Western Australian Museum, at the Eureka Awards night held at the Australian Museum in August 2008.

This prize is awarded to an Australian individual, group or organisation, for outstanding research in naming, identifying, classifying or describing Australia’s fauna and flora that has provided, or has the potential to provide, innovative or positive outcomes for industry or the environment.

Dr Humphreys was recognised for his continued research into the discovery

and taxonomic description of invertebrate animals associated with subterranean aquatic ecosystems, and for working with government and industry to enhance their conservation. As a result of his efforts, Western Australia is now recognised as a global biodiversity hotspot for subterranean aquatic ecosystems.

Dr Humphreys’ research group has used a suite of modern techniques to investigate, identify and describe new species that were known to contribute substantially to Australia’s biodiversity, so they could be recognised and protected for the future.

Case study 5: Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) Eureka Prize for Outstanding Taxonomic Research


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The Tropical Rivers Inventory and Assessment Project was a four-year (2004–2008), $1 million study funded by the department and Land and Water Australia. It sought to document what is currently known about the ecological assets and the key threats to Australia’s northern (wet-dry) tropical rivers. The study had three sub-projects: (i) mapping and inventory, (ii) risk assessment of key threats and (iii) assessment of a framework for evaluating ecosystem services. The first two sub-projects covered 51 catchments across almost 1.2 million square kilometres of northern Australia, from Broome in the west to the western tip of Cape York. The key focus was on three catchments: the

Fitzroy River (Western Australia), the Daly River (Northern Territory) and the Flinders River (Queensland).

Sub-project (ii) demonstrated the usefulness of applying a tiered approach to ecological risk assessment of tropical rivers. The initial stage involved gaining a broad understanding of the extent and status of the ecological assets and the threats faced by rivers. Secondly, formal semi-quantitative methods were used to assess and compare the significance of the threats. The final step was detailed quantitative risk analyses of high priority threats to specific ecological assets. These assessments built on the information base compiled during the mapping and inventory

Case study 6: The Tropical Rivers Inventory and Assessment Project: Ecological Risk Assessment

Above: Total relative risk (shown as higher, medium or lower) from multiple pressures/threats to multiple ecological assets for the 51 catchments within the northern tropical rivers region.




sub-project and were guided by information from workshops and discussions with stakeholders.

Highlights of the project included: the first comprehensive description of the key ecological assets and threats to northern tropical rivers; spatially explicit risk modelling to prioritise catchments, based on their relative risk arising from multiple threats or pressures to multiple ecological assets; and the use of Bayesian approaches in quantitative risk assessments.

From the 19 threats included in the model, the most significant current threats to the ecological assets of the region’s aquatic

ecosystems are cattle grazing on natural vegetation, feral pigs, poorly managed fire, aquatic weeds and mining. Climate change and sea level rise are emerging problems for the region’s aquatic ecosystems and are likely to cause much greater impacts than currently exist.

The final reports and a DVD of geographic information system (GIS) datasets from the Tropical Rivers Inventory and Assessment Project, which were completed during 2007–2008, were made publicly available on the department’s website at: www.environment.gov.au/ssd/tropical-rivers, during 2008–2009.


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Output Group 1.2: Conservation of the land and inland watersPerformance Indicator Target

2008–09 results

Area of land protected and managed through the National Reserve System Program, including the area of declared Indigenous Protected Areas

The National Reserve System program and the Indigenous Protected Areas program resulted in the addition of 477 000 hectares to the National Reserve System in 2008–09. This brings the total area protected through these programs to 8.3 million hectares.

An increase in the area of land protected and managed through the National Reserve System, including declared Indigenous Protected Areas in at least:

• 10% of Australia’s 85 bioregions

• 25% of Australia’s bioregions that have less than 10% in protected areas

The increase comprised support for the acquisition of 16 properties, covering 147 000 hectares, and declaration of six new Indigenous Protected Areas, covering 330 000 hectares.

There was an increase in the National Reserve System in 14 bioregions. This exceeds the target of increases in 10% of Australia’s 85 bioregions. There was an increase in the National Reserve System in nine bioregions (marked * in list below) which have less than 10% reservation. This meets the target of increases in 25% of Australia’s 36 under reserved bioregions. The increase in the area of land protected occurred in the following Australian bioregions:

• Brigalow Belt South*

• Cape York Peninsula

• Cobar Peneplain*

• Darling-Riverine Plains*

• Finke*

• Flinders

• Flinders Lofty Block*

• Great Sandy Desert*

• Kanmantoo

• Mulga Lands*

• New England Tablelands*

• NSW North Coast

• Riverina*

• South Eastern Queensland

Maintenance of contribution of Indigenous Protected Areas to the National Reserve System

6 new IPAs were declared, covering 330 000 hectares

64 IPA projects were supported and funded in 2008–09:

• 31 Declared IPAs (20.6 million hectares)

• 30 IPA Consultation Projects

• 3 Co-Management Projects





2008–09 results

Permits issued include benefit sharing arrangements

10% increase in number of access permits issued with benefit sharing arrangements

Over 10% increase in the number of permits issued with benefit sharing arrangements

Number of researchers supported under the National Taxonomy Research Grant Program1

Minimum of 65 researchers supported

170 researchers supported

Number of projects co-funded with other Agencies

Five projects

49 projects co-funded

Value of contribution made by other agencies to co-funded projects

For each co-funded project, ≥50% of project funding is received from other agencies

$2,477,123

Each co-funded project received ≥50% of project funding from other agencies.

Number of taxa revised or newly described under the program

200 new species published each year

412 species either revised or newly described

Contribution to tropical wetlands-related research projects and communications activities in the Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge (TRaCK) consortium

Collate and transfer Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist’s (ERISS) spatial datasets for the Tropical Rivers Region to the TRaCK consortium.

Data licensing agreements negotiated with supply sources from NT, WA and Qld; data collated and on DVD to TRaCK consortium

Complete acquisition of rainfall time series data and remotely sensed radar images for 2007–08 and 2008–09 wet seasons. Provide progress report on methods for determining the extent of flood inundation in the Daly and Mitchell River catchments.

Rainfall time series data and radar images have been acquired. Methods for data analysis have been investigated but not yet reported on.

1 Correction to name of grant program which was referred to in the 2008–09 DEWHA Portfolio Budget Statement ‘ABRS Participatory Grants Program’.


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ersOutput Group 1.2: Conservation of the land and inland waters

Performance Indicator Target

2008–09 results

Contribute to strategic planning for management of Kakadu National Park wetlands

Facilitate, in collaboration with other parties, the conduct of workshops on Climate Change and Environmental Risk Assessment for Kakadu wetlands

• Kakadu Climate Change symposium held in August 2008

• National Coastal Vulnerability Assessment – Kakadu Case Study. Final Report due early 2009–10.

• Climate change strategy for Kakadu drafted

Develop a national approach to biodiversity Conservation

Revise the National Biodiversity Strategy and the National Vegetation Framework

Both reviews made substantial progress. The draft Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy 2010–20, was released for public consultation on 23 March 2009.

Provide effective incentive mechanisms for public good biodiversity conservation outcomes on private land

Deliver the first two rounds of the Environment Stewardship Program and round two of the Forest Conservation Fund

Three rounds of the Environmental Stewardship program have been delivered, targeting the Box Gum Grassy Woodlands ecological community.

Two competitive tender rounds have been completed for the Tasmanian Forest Conservation Fund, targeting reserved forest communities and old growth forests.

Reduced threat of invasive species

The Australian Government endorses the Inter-Governmental Agreement for AusBIOSEC

The Australian Government determined that the AUSBIOSEC agreement should be re-developed in light of the Beale Review of Australia’s Quarantine and Biosecurity. The process for developing and negotiating a new agreement is being lead by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Number of threat abatement plans

(i) being prepared or revised and

(ii) in operation

(i) 5 plans were revised and 1 is being developed (ii) 9 plans in operation

Of those listed key threats to the land that require a threat abatement plan, the percentage that have threat abatement plans in operation

91%





2008–09 results

Improved adoption of sustainable on-farm Practices

Establish the level of adoption of sustainable on-farm practices for ongoing monitoring (measured through an Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) survey)

Approximately half of all businesses with native vegetation, wetlands, or rivers and creeks, reported activities to protect these areas for conservation purposes.

The most common land management practices undertaken by agricultural businesses in 2007–08 were surface water management (74% of agricultural businesses), application of fertiliser (62%) and monitoring ground cover in paddocks (54%).

Of the 75 000 agricultural businesses that prepared land for crops or pastures, 40 000 (53%) reported using zero–tillage.

Of agricultural businesses grazing livestock on crops or pasture, 69% monitor the amount of ground cover in paddocks and 57% of these have established a minimum ground cover target level.

Establish the level of participation in Landcare, industry or other groups, working to maintain or deliver ecosystem services for public benefit (measured through an ABS survey)

Analysis of data from the Australian Resource Managers Survey (ARMS) demonstrates that over 19% of farmers are members of a landcare group, with Victoria having the highest rates of membership (over 35% of farmers).

(Note: ARMS was commissioned by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. ARMS 2007–08, sampled approximately 33 000 agricultural businesses, from a population of approximately 150 000, about land use and land management practices. A full report is available on the ABS website.)


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ersOutput Group 1.2: Conservation of the land and inland waters

Performance Indicator Target

2008–09 results

Improved level of skills, knowledge and engagement of Australian communities

At least 300 community groups engaged in coastal protection and rehabilitation

Through the 2008–09 Caring for our Country Community Coastcare competitive grants element, 439 projects received $20.2 million, for communities to participate in coastal protection and rehabilitation activities. Over 3000 groups and community members will be engaged through these projects. Community groups, and non-government organisations, represented the highest percentage of successful proponents for small grants up to $50,000 (55%) and larger-scale grants up to $250,000 (35.7%).

Increase in the number of Indigenous rangers Working on Country has increased from the initial 14 projects in 2007–08 (which contracted 92 rangers), to a total of 31 projects in 2008–09 (contracting approximately 190 rangers).

Increase in the number of Indigenous rangers trained under nationally accredited land management qualification

Over 125 Indigenous rangers participated in induction, training and transfer of traditional knowledge activities in 2008–09.

30 natural resource management facilitators and coordinators appointed in jurisdictions across Australia

33 Caring for our Country Facilitators have been employed and placed in State-based teams. The primary role of facilitators is to help a wide range of stakeholders gain a good understanding of the six priority areas and how to engage with, and participate in, Caring for our Country initiatives.

Australia’s biodiversity and natural icons are better protected

Increase in area of land protected and managed 12 286 hectares of critically endangered National Environmentally Significant ecological community have been targeted for protection under the Environmental Stewardship program.

Increase in area under environmental contracts or stewardship agreements

141 land owners have entered into contracts to manage Box Gum Grassy Woodland on their property, through the Environmental Stewardship program Land and Coasts

Increased uptake of incentives for biodiversity conservation on private land

Caring for our Country projects to address impacts of pest animals and weeds





2008–09 results

Caring for our Country fully operational

Delivery of election commitments commenced Commenced

Caring for our Country five year outcomes agreed by the Prime Minister

Completed

Caring for our Country targets for 2009–10 agreed and published

Completed

Caring for our Country 2009–10 Business Plan released

Completed


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Resources

Output 1.2 – Conservation of the land and inland watersAdministered items Budget

2008-09 $’000

(a)


$’000 (b)

Variation $’000

(a)-(b)


A sustainable future for Tasmania – Mole Creek 150 139 11

A sustainable future for Tasmania – Tourism Program 289 534 (245)

A sustainable future for Tasmania – Private 14,797 14,826 (29)

Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) Programme 1,992 1,987 5

Community Water Grants 11,197 11,030 167

Environmental Stewardship Program 5,328 4,896 432

Working on country 7,811 7,750 61

Bushcare Penrith 18 – 18

Scout Hall Water Saving Infrastructure Programme 5,884 9,457 (3,573)

Special Accounts

National Heritage Trust – Care for Our Country (Administered) 385,000 396,356 (11,356)


Conservation of the land and inland waters 94,105 93,254 851



Coasts and oceans

Coasts and oceans

OUTPUT 1.3Coasts and oceans

Introduction

The department is responsible for developing and implementing Australian Government initiatives and programs to protect and conserve Australia’s coasts and oceans.

The department is also responsible for progressing international marine conservation initiatives. This includes the government’s whale and dolphin conservation and protection policies, through forums such as the International Whaling Commission.

The department’s work covers a wide range of activities in the marine and coastal environments.


• Development of marine bioregional plans for Commonwealth marine areas

• Management of Commonwealth marine reserves

• Marine and migratory species protection

• Marine pest management

• International marine conservation initiatives

• Fisheries policy and assessments

• Marine science and information management

• Progressing the government’s anti-whaling agenda

• Integrated coastal zone management

• The Reef Water Quality Protection Plan

• Policy and governance framework for Great Barrier Reef

• Administration of the Great Barrier Reef Structural Adjustment Package

Marine Division

• The Australian Government’s Caring for our Country Reef Rescue initiative

• Community Coastcare

Land and Coasts Division


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Highlights• Bioregional profiles for the North-west, East

and North Marine Regions were released. Drafting of marine bioregional plans are now well under way for each of these regions. Plans will be completed over the coming 12 months, as well as the East and South-west regions.

• As part of the East marine bioregional planning process, a Conservation Zone was established in the Coral Sea. It will provide interim protection while the area is being assessed for possible inclusion in one or more Commonwealth marine reserves.

• The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2008 was passed by Parliament in November 2008. The changes put in place a modern, future-focused, regulatory framework for the Great Barrier Reef, and remove duplication with other environmental legislation, notably the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

• The government established the Southern Ocean Research Partnership as part of a comprehensive, six-year, $32.9 million package, for non-lethal whale research and other marine mammal conservation initiatives. The Partnership will deliver valuable, non-lethal research on an international scale. It will demonstrate, once and for all, that whales do not need to be killed in the name of science. The Partnership was launched in March 2009, with an international planning workshop in Sydney.

• Work to help achieve Reef Rescue objectives is under way. Regional natural resource management organisations in the reef catchments, in partnership with agricultural industry groups, are working on projects worth $23 million in 2008–09, to build partnerships and work with land managers to undertake targeted on-ground works.

• The Community Coastcare 2008–09 competitive grants funding round was well subscribed, with 794 applications requesting more than $64 million. Funding was provided to 439 projects: $10.7 million for small grants up to $50,000 and over $9.5 million for larger scale grants up to $250,000. These projects will contribute to the protection of coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats, while enhancing community skills, knowledge and engagement with Indigenous Australians, volunteers and coastal communities.

• The south east Queensland regional NRM organisations received $2 million, for recovery work in the Moreton Bay wetland and surrounding coastal environments, following the significant oil spill that occurred on 11 March 2009.


Coasts and oceans

Coasts and oceans

Objectives• Progress the roll-out of the Marine

Bioregional Planning program and Marine Bioregional Profiles covering Commonwealth waters, and establish an effective management regime for the Marine Protected Areas.

• Implement the Australian Government’s anti-whaling policy agenda.

• Assess the environmental performance of all Commonwealth-managed fisheries, as well as state-managed fisheries that operate in Commonwealth waters or export product, under the EPBC Act.

• Progress the implementation of the Framework for a National Cooperative Approach to Integrated Coastal Zone Management.

• Help protect migratory and threatened marine species.

• Develop and implement a sound policy framework for the Great Barrier Reef, including through the operation of the Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Council and measures such as the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan.

• Implement the government’s whale conservation policy agenda through: active engagement in the International Whaling Commission (IWC), to work towards bringing an end to so-called ‘scientific’ whaling, and supporting the permanent protection of whales; appointing a Special Envoy for Whale Conservation to engage in bilateral discussions with the Government of Japan and other key countries; and publishing a report on the current status of whale conservation. At the national level, progress development of a National Network of Whale and Dolphin Sanctuaries, and enhance Australia’s national and international cetacean research capacity.

• Establishment of the Indonesian Bird Banding Scheme.

• Fulfil international and regional obligations, including those under: the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species; the Convention on the Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; the Convention on Biological Diversity; the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Agreement; the Arafura and Timor Seas Expert Forum; the Coral Triangle Initiative; the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia; and a number of bilateral migratory bird agreements.

• Through the Caring for our Country business plan, the government has set clear objectives to achieve, by 2013, a measurable reduction in the amount of nutrients, sediments and chemicals entering the Reef lagoon:

• a 25 per cent reduction in dissolved nutrients and chemicals


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• a 10 per cent reduction in sediments and particulate nutrients.

• To meet these objectives, the Caring for our Country business plan outlines three-year Reef Rescue targets. These are:

• to increase by 1300 the number of farmers who have adopted land management practices that will improve the quality of water reaching the reef lagoon, and

• to increase by 1500 the number of pastoralists who have improved ground cover monitoring and management in areas where run-off from grazing is contributing significantly to sediment loads and a decline in the quality of water reaching the reef lagoon.

• To deliver Community Coastcare, the Australian Government’s 2007 commitment to provide $100 million over five years to better protect our precious coastal environment. The Community Coastcare 2008–09 grants aimed to support a range of coastal management outcomes, including the important work undertaken by Community Coastcare groups and larger scale projects, to improve the management of coastal hotspots.

Results• Bioregional profiles were released for the

North-west and North Regions in November 2008 and for the East Region in May 2009. Data gathering and analysis, to support the development of a proposed network of Marine Protected Areas and other conservation strategies, has advanced in all marine regions. Drafting of marine bioregional plans for each of the four planning regions is under way.

• The Coral Sea Conservation Zone was established in May 2009 to provide interim protection for the Coral Sea while it is being assessed for possible inclusion in one or more Commonwealth marine reserves, through the marine bioregional planning process.

• The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2008 was passed in November 2008. The Amendment Act puts in place a modern regulatory framework for the Great Barrier Reef, including streamlined environmental impact assessment requirements, and improved capability and flexibility for enforcement of relevant environmental laws.

• The Prime Minister and the Premier of Queensland signed a new Great Barrier Reef Intergovernmental Agreement in June 2009. The agreement provides a framework for cooperative action by the two governments to manage the Reef and protect it from both local and external pressures. Implementation of the Agreement will be driven by the Great Barrier Reef Ministerial Council, which met for the first time under the new agreement in early July 2009.

• Substantial progress has been made on developing a management plan for the Cod Grounds Commonwealth Marine Reserve. The plan is expected to be released in the 2009–10 financial year.

• In February 2009, eastern gemfish and the school shark were listed as conservation dependent under the EPBC Act.


Coasts and oceans

Coasts and oceans

• Assessments of the environmental performance of fisheries under the EPBC Act were completed for 11 Commonwealth-managed fisheries and 28 fisheries managed by the states and territories.

• A draft recovery plan for the Australian sea lion has been approved for release for public comment; this will take place in the new financial year.

• As at 30 June 2009, 1785 grants totalling $211,125,977 had been approved under the Great Barrier Reef Structural Adjustment Package.

• A pilot project with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has developed a scientifically robust method to identify indicators of marine ecosystem health at the scale of the Commonwealth marine environment. The method is now being applied in all Commonwealth waters, in a joint project between the department and the CSIRO. The indicators will contribute to State of the Environment reporting.

• A round of bilateral meetings under Australia’s migratory bird agreements were held with Japan, China and the Republic of Korea in September 2008.

• A Memorandum of Understanding was finalised between the East Asia–Australia Flyway Partnership and the Republic of Korea, to establish a permanent Secretariat for the Partnership in the City of Incheon in the Republic of Korea.

• Support was gained from the Republic of Korea and China for the implementation of a collaborative program of activities in the Yellow Sea Ecoregion, to address migratory waterbird conservation and the sustainable use of critical mudflat staging habitat in the Yellow Sea.

• The department entered into a Record of Understanding (ROU) with the AusAid Public Sector Linkages Program (PSLP). Funds were granted for the establishment of the Indonesian Bird Banding Scheme (IBBS) to monitor wild bird and disease movements.

• Australian officials undertook active engagement in IWC reform discussions, including the Small Working Group on the Future of the IWC, to develop proposals for consideration at the IWC annual meeting, held in Madeira, Portugal, on 22–26 June 2009.

• Mr Sandy Hollway AO was appointed as Australia’s Special Envoy for Whale Conservation in October 2008 to undertake high level discussions with senior government officials in Japan and other key IWC members. Mr Hollway’s efforts complemented intensive diplomatic efforts undertaken by Australian Government Ministers and officials.

• As part of the cetacean research funding initiative, the Southern Ocean Research Partnership held a successful workshop in Sydney on 23–26 March 2008 producing a five-year research plan, which was presented for review at the IWC annual meeting.


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• Work to help achieve Reef Rescue objectives is underway. There has been an overwhelming and positive response from landholders to Reef Rescue. Central to this has been the support offered by partnerships between regional bodies and industries. Through Reef Rescue water quality grants, farmers across the sugar, grazing, horticulture, dairy, grains and cotton industries, are implementing targeted on-ground works to achieve water quality outcomes for the Reef lagoon.

• Over $20.2 million has been provided to 439 Community Coastcare projects, to undertake activities to improve the conservation of our coasts over the next 18 to 24 months. Community groups and non-government organisations made up the highest percentage of successful applicants for both small grants up to $50,000 (55 per cent) and larger-scale grants up to $250,000 (35.7 per cent).

Strategies

A strong strategic framework underpins the department’s programs to protect and conserve Australia’s coasts and oceans.

Marine Bioregional Planning

The department is developing marine bioregional plans under section 176 of the EPBC Act. Plans will include detailed proposals for the establishment of new networks of marine protected areas in Commonwealth waters, as part of the Commonwealth’s contribution to the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas. The department has been allocated $37.5 million, over four years (2006–2010), to

develop these marine bioregional plans, which are currently being drafted for the South-west, North-west, North and East Marine Regions.

Marine and migratory species protection

The department administers provisions of the EPBC Act aimed at the protection of migratory and threatened marine species. This has included development of species recovery plans for great white sharks, Australian sea lions, New Zealand fur seals and grey nurse sharks.

Coastal zone management

In the area of coastal zone management, the Framework for a National Cooperative Approach to Integrated Coastal Zone Management is a national agreement between the Australian, state and territory governments. It was established to help governments deal with coastal zone problems in an integrated way. A five-year implementation plan for the Framework was agreed in May 2006, and has been followed through in 2006–07, 2007–08 and 2008–09.

The Reef Water Quality Protection Plan

A Reef Summit was held on 24 October 2008, jointly hosted by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts and the then Queensland Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation. The Summit brought together over 80 representatives of industry bodies, conservation groups, natural resource managers and researchers, to initiate work to update the Reef Water Quality


Coasts and oceans

Coasts and oceans

Protection Plan. This is a ten-year plan aiming to halt and reverse the decline in the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon from adjacent catchments. An updated Reef Plan is expected to be in place early in the 2009–10 financial year.

Marine pest management

In the area of marine pest management, the Australian Government is working with state and territory governments to establish a National System for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions. The National System has three major components: preventing new populations of marine pests establishing in Australia; a coordinated emergency response to new incursions and translocations; and the ongoing control and management of existing populations of marine pests. The department contributes to all aspects of the national system, but takes a coordinating role in the ongoing control and management of existing populations.

The National Partnership Approach for the Sustainable Harvest of Marine Turtles and Dugongs in Australia was developed to support regional arrangements to address the sustainable harvest of turtles and dugongs in northern Australia. Such regional arrangements include: the implementation of the Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships Program for the Great Barrier Reef; and turtle and dugong, community-based, management plans in Torres Strait.

Anti-whaling policy

Following a decision of the 60th annual meeting of the International Whaling

Commission (IWC60) meeting in Chile during June 2008, Australia actively participated, along with 32 other IWC members, in a Small Working Group to discuss the future of IWC. Australia’s approach to these discussions is consistent with proposals to modernise the IWC to make it more conservation focused and to work toward ending so-called ‘scientific’ whaling while preserving the global moratorium on commercial whaling. Recommendations of the Small Working Group were considered at the Intercessional meeting of the IWC, in Rome 9–11 March, and at the IWC 61 in Madeira, Portugal on 22–26 June 2009.

Australia announced the provision of more than $32 million over six years for national and international research, including over $14 million to facilitate international non-lethal whale research in the Southern Ocean. The Southern Ocean Research Partnership is the largest non-lethal whale research partnership in the world. It is the first truly international, circumpolar, multi-disciplinary research collaboration, with a primary focus on improving conservation outcomes for whales.

Australia intensified its diplomatic efforts and appointed Mr Sandy Hollway AO as the Special Envoy for Whale Conservation to undertake high level discussions with Japan and other key IWC members to encourage support for Australia’s position for reforming the Commission.

Australia supported cetacean conservation activities in the Asia Pacific Region through strategic funding of key initiatives, including the First International Marine Mammal Protected Area Conference, held in Hawaii on 30 March–3 April 2009, and the second


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meeting of signatories to the CMS Pacific Cetaceans Memorandum of Understanding, to be held in Noumea, New Caledonia on 20–29 July 2009.

At the national level, workshops were held with state government officials to progress development of a National Network of Whale and Dolphin Sanctuaries and to discuss cross-jurisdictional issues and management practices for all cetacean related matters.

Reef Rescue

As part of Caring for our Country–Reef Rescue, the Australian Government will invest $200 million over five years, to increase the resistance of the Great Barrier Reef to climate change by improving the quality of water entering the reef lagoon. This will be achieved by applying improved land management practices to reduce the run-off of pollutants from agricultural land in the reef catchment:

• in partnership with the Queensland Government, Reef regional bodies, industry and the World Wildlife Fund, the Australian Government has invested in projects that will achieve direct water quality benefits

• investments are designed to assist land managers to increase the uptake of successful approaches, such as: the use of precision agriculture to reduce soil compaction and erosion; managing and re-vegetating cane drains; and converting machinery to increase pesticide and fertiliser application efficiency.

• Specific examples of the improved management practices being implemented across regions and industries through the water quality grants include:

• converting machinery to improve the precision with which fertiliser and pesticides are applied (e.g. hooded sprayers, direct drilling of legumes, subsurface fertiliser application, variable rate application)

• irrigation practices (e.g. micro/auto irrigation and fertigation, moisture monitoring) that match irrigation inputs to crop requirements to minimise the loss of pesticide and nutrients to deep drainage and run-off, and

• training and education activities to enable farmers to develop skills to implement whole-of-farm practice changes, that improve water quality leaving farms and entering the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon.

On-ground works and partnership activities will be supported by the other components of Reef Rescue, which will:

• provide a baseline of current agricultural land management practices in the reef catchments

• monitor the reef lagoon and develop an integrated catchment to the reef monitoring program

• fund priority research projects required to support and enhance Reef Rescue delivery, and

• foster partnerships between Traditional Owners and reef managers, and develop Traditional Use of Marine Resource Agreements.

Community Coastcare

As part of the 2008–09 transition to Caring for our Country, the Community Coastcare initiative provided funding opportunities for coastal communities to participate in coastal


Coasts and oceans

Coasts and oceans

protection and restoration activities, and to support national projects. Projects funded included: protection and restoration of coastal habitats and native coastal vegetation communities; dune restoration and prevention of coastal erosion; improved water quality and restoration of coastal waterways; and prevention and control of invasive weeds and pests. The funded projects will also improve skills, knowledge and engagement of volunteers and communities, including Indigenous Australians, to protect and restore coastal environments and increase community participation in coastal management.

The Australian Government implemented 10 rounds of the Envirofund small grants program, from 2002 to 2008, as the local action component of the previous Natural Heritage Trust program. Envirofund rounds nine and ten supported over 276 projects worth more than $6.3 million, which, during 2008–09, directly contributed to the conservation of Australia’s coasts. Projects included: protection and rehabilitation of coastal dunes, through fencing, weed removal and revegetation works; installation of signage to raise awareness of coastal issues; and caring for coastal environments and community-run shorebird monitoring programs.

Tuggerah Lakes

The Tuggerah Lakes on the Central Coast of New South Wales are under pressure from rapid population growth and associated development. The Tuggerah Lakes Estuary Management Plan has been developed as a response. Caring for our Country is funding implementation of some elements

of the Plan for a period of five years. The work that commenced in December 2008 includes restoration activities that will improve ecosystem functions of the lakes by managing increasing sediment and nutrient loads through the control of stream-bank erosion, stormwater runoff and degraded foreshores. A Scientific Advisory Committee has been established to guide delivery of the project.

Evaluation

Bio-regional profiles

The release of the remaining bioregional profiles (North, North-west and East) during 2008–09, under the marine bioregional planning program, is a significant step in better protecting Australia’s marine regions. The profiles not only provide a basis for marine planning, they also provide a baseline snapshot of the environmental values of these areas to enable future evaluation of impacts and success of efforts to protect marine regions. In addition, the profiles assist both stakeholders and the department by informing decision-makers about the conservation values of Commonwealth waters.

Anti-whaling policy

The department played a central role in Australia’s growing international profile in marine conservation, with the implementation of the government’s anti-whaling policy agenda. This included significantly increased diplomatic efforts seeking an end to unilateral, so-called ‘scientific’, whaling, a permanent end to commercial whaling, and the development of the Southern Ocean Research Partnership.


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At the national level, the Australian Government continued to work with state and territory governments to maintain and enhance joint approaches to the conservation of whales and dolphins in Australian waters.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Structural Adjustment Package

The department commissioned an independent review of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Structural Adjustment Package and is considering the recommendations from the report.

Reef Rescue

To help monitor, and report on, the outcomes of Reef Rescue, the Australian Government, in partnership with the Queensland Government, is developing a paddock scale monitoring framework. This framework will be nested within a broader Paddock to Reef Monitoring Framework, to enable a system wide picture of Reef health.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has been engaged to conduct a study of current agricultural land management practices in the reef catchments. It will provide a baseline, against which the government can assess progress in increasing the uptake of improved land management practices over the five years of Reef Rescue.

In line with its Reef Rescue election commitment, the Australian Government is working with catchment NRM bodies, industry, the World Wildlife Fund and the state government, to develop a paddock to reef monitoring, modelling and reporting

framework. This, in the first instance, will measure and report the outcomes of Reef Rescue investment in high priority areas.


The Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement (MERI) Strategy for the Caring for our Country initiative was first released in April 2009. It provides an adaptive management framework, through which the Australian Government will monitor and evaluate the delivery of the initiative’s five-year outcomes. This will cover each of the six National Priority Areas, including the Priority Area of coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats. The strategy describes the roles of the Australian Government and proponents undertaking Caring for our Country projects, in analysing and reporting progress towards the outcomes. The Australian Government will use this information to inform and improve the implementation of the initiative to deliver on the five-year outcomes.

Community Coastcare

The 2008–09 Community Coastcare grants provided funding for 439 projects, including 370 small-scale projects and 69 larger-scale projects. The program was well subscribed, with 55 per cent of applicants receiving funding. Results from these investments will be included in the first Caring for our Country Annual Report Card, which is due to be released later this year.

Evaluation of project activities will be undertaken on completion of the projects.


Coasts and oceans

Coasts and oceans

The department is advancing the

Australian Government’s engagement and

support for the Coral Triangle Initiative

on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food

Security (CTI). This is a new multilateral

partnership to protect marine and coastal

resources and biodiversity for the 240

million people who rely on this biodiversity

hotspot. Uniting six neighbouring

countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua

New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon

Islands and Timor L’este–known as

the CT6), the CTI is a unique regional

partnership that promotes sustainable livelihoods and ecosystem health while easing poverty in the region.

To promote cooperation and development within the Coral Triangle, the Australian Government hosted the Coral Triangle Protection and Management Workshop in Townsville in November 2008. Representatives at the Workshop came from: the CT6, the United States Government, the Australian Government, the Asian Development Bank, the World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy,

Case studies

Case Study 1: Coral Triangle Initiative

Above: Map showing countries participating in the Coral Triangle Initiative.


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Conservation International, World Fish Centre, the Coral Triangle Initiative Program Integrator, CSIRO, the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Coral Geographic, University of Queensland and the CTI Regional Secretariat. The Townsville workshop allowed the CT6 to identify challenges that need to be addressed which will assist them to develop National Plans of Action.

The department also supported the Indonesian Government’s global endeavours, including the Manado Ocean Declaration, agreed to at the World Oceans Conference in May 2009 at Manado, Indonesia. This global initiative sets out a number of key objectives to be targeted in the future, including:

• long term conservation, management and sustainable use, of living marine resources and coastal habitats

• cooperation in furthering scientific research in the marine and coastal zones

• gathering and sharing information on threats from climate change

• promotion of increased community resistance to the effects of climate change

• promotion of developing affordable, environmentally sound, and renewable ocean technologies in developing countries

• continuing to establish and effectively manage Marine Protected areas, and

• further collaboration with international bodies, to integrate ocean consideration into the United Nation’s climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.

These activities have maintained Australia’s standing as a regional leader in marine conservation and management while strengthening ties with our neighbours. The CT6 countries, Australia, and other partner institutions, have a shared interest in building the knowledge, skills and capacity for dealing with regional environmental threats within the Asia-Pacific region. The CTI remains a major priority for both the department and the Australian Government.


Coasts and oceans

Coasts and oceans

The Lihou Reef is a unique and pristine coral reef atoll located approximately 700 kilometres east of Cairns, off far north Queensland. The Lihou Reef National Nature Reserve was declared in 1982 because of its significant and representative conservation values and unique beauty. It is zoned as International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Ia: a strict nature reserve with the highest level of protection afforded for a Commonwealth protected area under the EPBC Act.

The reserve is representative of remote oceanic atolls in the Pacific Ocean and is home to a diverse range of species and habitats. This includes internationally significant seabird breeding habitats, green sea turtle nesting, and a unique marine biodiversity. The reserve comprises about 8440 square kilometres of seabed and a horseshoe shaped reef system containing 18 cays. The 18 cays and islets range in size from 0.7 to 17 hectares and surround a 100 by 30 kilometres, 20 metre deep lagoon. Six of the group of atolls are vegetated with low lying shrubs and grasses. The remainder are mostly made up of sand and beach rock.

In December 2008 a multidiscipline research and monitoring team, the first of its kind for the reserve, left Gladstone on board the MV Iron Joy, for the two day journey to Lihou Reef. On board the vessel were teams of marine, terrestrial, genetic and remote sensing researchers, as well as reserve

managers and a four-person crew. The first cay visited was the vegetated Georgina Cay at the south-western edge of the reef. Then the vegetated Anne Cay, Lorna Cay and Turtle Islet were visited, with the unvegetated Middle Cay the last site visited.

Around 10 days were spent at the reserve, as the researchers undertook marine and terrestrial surveys, genetic sampling and ground-truthing of light signatures. The marine survey involved divers assessing the benthic community (including coral, sponges and algae), marine invertebrates and non-secretive fish. Genetic sampling was also undertaken by the divers to assess the connectivity of the Lihou Reserve with the broader region. The terrestrial survey involved an assessment of the vegetation, terrestrial invertebrate fauna, seabirds and nesting sea turtles on the cays and islets. The remote sensing team collected a range of light signatures given off by different habitats, marine and terrestrial, which they will apply to satellite imagery to develop a habitat map of the reserve. The two reserve managers on the trip erected metal information signs, collected, recorded and removed marine debris from the cays and islets, and rescued one stranded female green sea turtle at Middle Cay.

The marine survey recorded a wide variety of species: over 100 hard coral, 35 sponge, 10 trepang (sea cucumbers), 3 clam (including a new species for the reef) and 340 non-cryptic fish species. The amount

Case Study 2: Research and monitoring trip to the Lihou Reef National Nature Reserve – December 2008


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of live coral cover was around 15 per cent, which is typical of a remote oceanic atoll recovering from a previous disturbance. The previous marine survey of Lihou Reef in 2004 occurred during a bleaching event, with subsequent mortality leaving a live coral cover of only around seven per cent.

The terrestrial survey recorded: 10 species of flora that formed eight different vegetation communities; 15 seabird species, including 10 which are internationally significant; and 10 Orders of terrestrial invertebrates. The latter included species of cockroaches, butterflies, flies, beetles, pseudo-scorpions, grasshoppers, ticks, true bugs, ants and spiders.

The results of this research and monitoring trip to the Lihou Reef will be used by reserve management to inform future management

decisions. Future surveys and monitoring activities at the reserve will also use these results to compare and assess the condition of the natural environment of Lihou Reef.

Top: Map of Lihou Reef. Courtesy of Coastwatch

Middle right: Squirrel fish of Lihou Reef. Courtesy of Coastwatch

Bottom right: Georgina Cay, Lihou Reef. Courtesy of Coastwatch


Coasts and oceans

Coasts and oceans

The Coral Sea is internationally recognised for its rich biodiversity and important heritage values. In May 2009, the area of the Coral Sea under Australia’s jurisdiction was declared a Conservation Zone to provide interim protection while the area is being assessed for possible inclusion in one or more Commonwealth marine reserves.

The Coral Sea Conservation Zone covers approximately 972 000 square kilometres of Australian waters and seabed, east of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP), and out to the edge of Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

The environmental significance of the Coral Sea lies in its diverse array of coral reefs, atolls, deep sea plains and canyons, and the extent to which the region’s natural and heritage values have remained relatively undisturbed by direct human impact.

Recent international studies have revealed that the Coral Sea is one of the last remaining areas of the world’s oceans where large-scale and biologically rich ecosystems remain relatively intact.

The Coral Sea also has important heritage significance as it is the location of a number of historic shipwrecks and the scene of major naval conflicts in World War II.

By declaring a conservation zone in the Coral Sea, the Australian Government is demonstrating its commitment to protecting

one of Australia’s most biologically diverse and undisturbed marine environments.

The conservation zone will have no additional regulatory impact on most activities in the Coral Sea, such as commercial and recreational fishing, or cruise and merchant shipping. However, some commercial activities and scientific research activities will require a permit.

The Coral Sea lies within the East Marine Region, and assessment of the conservation zone will be undertaken as part of the East Marine bioregional process. This will involve extensive stakeholder consultation and a detailed analysis of the environmental, economic and social values of the area, as well as existing and potential future uses.

Marine bioregional planning will provide the foundation for conservation and sustainable management of Australia’s marine environment, including the development of new networks of marine protected areas.

Case study 3: Coral Sea Conservation Zone


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Above: Map of the Coral Sea Conservation Zone.

Above: Coral, Coral Sea Conservation Zone. Above: School of Sharks, Coral Sea Conservation Zone.


Coasts and oceans

Coasts and oceans

Reef Rescue was a $200 million election commitment in 2007 that is being delivered under the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative. The delivery arrangements for Reef Rescue are unique. Peak agricultural industries, coastal regional bodies, non-government organisations, farmers and graziers, and the Queensland and Australian Governments, have come together in an unprecedented way to deliver

clear and targeted objectives; all in the name of helping the Great Barrier Reef become more resistant to the impacts of climate change.

The outcomes expected from the investment are reductions in the quantities of nutrients, chemicals and sediments leaving agricultural lands and entering the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon.

Case Study 4: Reef Rescue hits the ground!

Above: Newly converted biodunder variable rate spreader which significantly reduces application rates of nutrients on sugar cane farms in the Great Barrier Reef regions. Courtesy of CSR Ethanol, Sarina.


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partnership of six regional natural resource management (NRM) bodies and six peak agricultural industry bodies. The groups have joined together to promote integrated delivery of programs and improve the uptake of sustainable farming practices under Reef Rescue.

This integration continues at the regional level, but Reef Rescue is not managed as a ‘one size fits all’ model. Each regional NRM body has developed a comprehensive network of delivery arrangements with key industry providers to harness the local skills and knowledge of regionally-based NRM practitioners, and to ensure relevance to local industries and production systems. Through Reef Rescue investment and regional NRM body coordination, landholders are able to access an expanded network of support, to encourage and assist them to undertake significant changes to their production systems to improve the quality of water leaving their properties. More than 900 landholders have been engaged in the delivery of Reef Rescue projects in the first year of the program and there has been strong competition for the available funding.

In 2008–09 Reef Rescue has focused on: equipping land managers with the skills to implement farm-scale change through on-farm risk assessments; and supporting the implementation by land managers of prioritised on-ground works programs. Most activities have focused on production system changes that result in

reduced nutrient and chemical inputs, and more effective management of stock and pastures to reduce erosion. Farmers are required to contribute at least 50 per cent of the total project cost in either cash or in-kind contributions. Other components of Reef Rescue include: research and development; monitoring and evaluation; and Indigenous Land and Sea Country Partnerships.

One example of a strategic, multi-farm and industry, project being funded is the Colonial Sugar Refineries (CSR) Ethanol Biodunder project. Biodunder is a high nutrient by-product of ethanol production. Variable rate nutrient application technology has been fitted to 12 contractor vehicles, to ensure precision application of recycled biodunder on sugar cane crops.


Coasts and oceans

Coasts and oceans

Case Study 5: Engaging coastal communities in southern Tasmania

The Southern Coastcare Association of Tasmania (SCAT) received $49,984 in 2008–09, for a Caring for our Country Community Coastcare project, which will facilitate community engagement in the protection and rehabilitation of coastal habitats. The funding will enable SCAT to provide practical, on-ground support and advice to community groups undertaking works in coastal areas in southern Tasmania.

SCAT is a not-for-profit, incorporated organisation representing over 30 passionate Coastcare groups in southern Tasmania, from Dover, to Port Arthur, to Swansea. In 2008 at the prestigious National Landcare awards held in Canberra, the group was awarded the Australian Government Coastcare Award, for its groundbreaking work to bridge the gap between Coastcare groups, government agencies and environmental organisations. As an umbrella organisation, SCAT provides member representation and a strong community voice, to policy changes and program development for the southern coastal regions of Tasmania.

To implement its Caring for our Country Community Coastcare project, SCAT will engage a part-time facilitator, to improve the skills and knowledge of volunteers by sharing best practice techniques at working bees and training days.

Techniques for dune restoration and stabilisation, weed and feral pest control and the prevention of coastal erosion will form part of the training; as well as encouraging

consideration of the impact of climate change on coastal management. SCAT training days will also promote knowledge sharing between its Coastcare groups, local land managers and other stakeholders.

Working alongside the Tasmanian Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, SCAT also raises awareness of Aboriginal heritage issues. An Aboriginal Heritage Officer will be engaged to perform assessments of at least four different coastal sites across southern Tasmania. This will enable Coastcare groups to plan future works without impacting on sensitive Aboriginal sites. The Aboriginal property of Murrayfield, on Bruny Island, will be the central meeting point for one community engagement workshop. Training will demonstrate best-practice techniques in planning works on culturally sensitive environmental areas of the coast. This workshop will facilitate knowledge sharing between volunteer groups, while also encouraging new community members to participate in the sustainable coastal practices supported by SCAT in caring for the coast and its heritage. For more information on the Southern Coastcare Association of Tasmania see: www.scat.org.au.


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Output Group 1.3: Conservation of the coasts and oceansPerformance Indicator Target

2008–09 results

A national coastal policy that effectively integrates biodiversity conservation

Draft of the national coastal policy agreed across relevant Australian Government agencies

As the first step in meeting its Caring for Coasts election commitment, the Australian Government provided a reference to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts Inquiry into Climate Change and Environmental Impacts on Coastal Communities. The findings of the Inquiry will be a critical input to the development of the national coastal policy. The Inquiry is expected to report in late 2009.

Effective engagement in international forums to deliver the Government’s biodiversity conservation goals

Australia has worked tirelessly in the IWC, and bilaterally with Japan and other key IWC countries, to develop strategies to reform the Commission into a 21st century cetacean conservation organisation and to end lethal ‘scientific’ whaling. Australia has engaged effectively in other key international forums including: Convention on Migratory Species; Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species; Convention on Biological Diversity; Coral Triangle Initiative; Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation; the World Oceans Conference; and numerous bilateral engagements.

Marine Bioregional Planning is effectively Implemented

Marine Bioregional profiles are completed for four marine regions

4 Bioregional Profiles have now been released, with substantial progress towards development of draft Marine Bioregional Plans, including draft proposals for regional networks of Commonwealth Marine Reserves.

The National Reserve System of Marine Protected Areas is effectively managed

Management plans in place for all Commonwealth Marine Reserves

8 Commonwealth Marine Reserves and one Reserve network (of 14 reserves), are being managed under interim management arrangements until the development of network management plans. 3 Reserves have management plans in place.


Coasts and oceans

Coasts and oceans


2008–09 results

Effective conservation measures are in place for marine and migratory species protected under the EPBC Act

Assessments and plans identify key actions required to ensure the protection of species

Plans

Completed

Threat Abatement Plan (TAP) for the Impacts of Marine Debris on Vertebrate Marine Species

Under development

Wildlife Conservation Plan for dugongs

National Recovery Plan for Albatrosses and Giant Petrels 2009-2014

Australian Sea Lion Recovery Plan

Multi-species recovery plan for sawfish and glyphis: Pristis microdon (freshwater sawfish), Pristis zijsron (green sawfish), Glyphis glyphis (speartooth shark) and Glyphis garricki (northern river shark).

Under review

Grey Nurse Shark Recovery Plan

Great White Shark Recovery Plan

Marine Turtle Recovery Plan

Assessments

The Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) is assessing five additional, commercially harvested, species under the EPBC Act:

Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) (nominated 2006)

Three deepwater dogfish (Harrison’s Dogfish, Endeavour and Southern Dogfish) (nominated by TSSC)

TSSC is also assessing: Damage to marine ecosystems by trawling in the area of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery, as a Key Threatening Process (KTP).

Coastcare grants available to communities across Australia

At least 300 community groups engaged in coastal protection and rehabilitation

Through Caring for our Country Community Coastcare, competitive grants provided funding for 439 projects involving communities in coastal protection and rehabilitation activities. Over 3000 groups and community members will be engaged in these projects, in activities such as: on-ground works, capacity building and knowledge and skills development.


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2008–09 results

Improved protection for Australia’s coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats

Increase in area of coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats protected and managed

At least 300 coastal protection and rehabilitation projects funded

Establishing a policy and governance framework to implement the Great Barrier Reef Rescue plan

At least $30 million invested in activities that will improve water quality of the Great Barrier Reef.

Caring for our Country Community Coastcare 2008–09 provided over $20.2 million in competitive grants. The activities funded included: weed removal and revegetation, to rehabilitate coastal waterways and wetlands; management of public access, to minimise disturbance to sensitive coastal areas; enhancing public awareness; and developing community skills, knowledge and engagement. These projects will contribute to the area of coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats protected and managed.

The 69 larger-scale Community Coastcare 2008–09 projects will make a substantial contribution to the protection and management of critical aquatic habitats, including nationally significant coastal wetlands.

The 439 Community Coastcare 2008–09 projects will all contribute to the protection and rehabilitation of coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats.

Reef Rescue is being implemented wholly within the broader Caring for our Country policy and administrative guidelines.

Regional natural resource management organisations in the reef catchments, in partnership with agricultural industry groups, are working on projects worth $23 million in 2008–09, to build partnerships and work with land managers to undertake targeted on-ground works.

Further Reef Rescue investment has been through development of a Multiple Criteria Analysis, a land management practices baseline study, investment in Indigenous Land and Sea Country Partnerships, the Marine Monitoring program, and a Paddock to Reef Monitoring and Reporting Framework.


Coasts and oceans

Coasts and oceans


2008–09 results

Pro-actively speak in support of Australia’s initiatives for whale conservation

Australia’s position on whale conservation is articulated internationally

The Australian Government has worked to develop proposals for improving and modernising the IWC–within the IWC and bilaterally with Japan and other key IWC countries. Central to these activities, is the development of reform proposals that will include closing the loophole that allows for scientific whaling. Key initiatives include: bilateral discussions by government ministers and senior officials; the activities of the Special Envoy for Whale Conservation; and the Southern Ocean Research Partnership.

The government published a report, in June 2009, on the global and regional conservation status of cetaceans; and the current economic value of cetacean conservation, including whale watching, as a sound basis for the development of future strategies and policies. The report was released at the IWC annual meeting.

Improved bilateral relations with key players in the International Whaling Commission (IWC)

Increased support for Australia’s whale conservation initiatives in the IWC

Active engagement in the IWC, particularly in reform activities, including membership of the Small Working Group for the Future of the IWC.

Bilateral engagement with key IWC countries, including contacts by government ministers and senior officials and through the activities of the Special Envoy for Whale Conservation.

Advancing Australia’s international cetacean conservation reform objectives, through the development, funding and implementation of the Southern Ocean Research Partnership.

The provision of regular reports to Government

Reports by the Special Envoy are provided following each mission undertaken

The Special Envoy for Whale Conservation has produced regular formal and informal reports to the government on his diplomatic efforts.


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2008–09 results

Regular meetings are held with key stakeholders and their views are considered

The department (and the minister and Special Envoy, as appropriate) holds regular meetings with relevant non-government organisations

The Cetacean Roundtable met three times in 2008–2009. The Roundtable provides for the exchange of information and views between Australian non-government conservation organisations and government officials, on current issues relevant to whaling and whale and dolphin conservation.

A workshop involving the Australian Government and all relevant state and territory governments was held in February 2009, to discuss cross-jurisdictional issues and management practices for all cetacean related matters.

Engagement of key IWC members in the Southern Ocean Research Partnership (SORP)

Participation of key IWC members at the SORP workshop in March 2009 and announcement of research partners over the course of the year

50 participants, including representatives from 12 countries, attended the SORP workshop held in Sydney in March 2009

Finalisation of the SORP work program

The agreement of research priorities by SORP workshop participants with the research plan for the Southern Ocean tabled at IWC61

An agreed five-year research plan was developed at the SORP workshop. The research plan will be submitted to the IWC annual meeting in June.

Through its implementation, SORP is developed as a model for coordinated non-lethal cetacean research

Purchase and development of equipment to undertake non-lethal whale research; and establishment of a database to collect and manage research data

Approximately $6 million was allocated in 2008–09 to advance Australia’s cetacean conservation research, including the purchase and development of equipment and data management tools for non-lethal whale research.

Effective fisheries assessments

Percentage of environmental recommendations implemented under the EPBC Act assessments of fisheries management

100%. Assessments have been completed for all Commonwealth-and state-managed fisheries and state-managed fisheries requiring approvals under the EPBC Act.

Recommendations for improvements in fisheries management were made through this process. Progress and adequacy of implementation of the recommendations will be considered during a reassessment. Assessments were completed for 40 fisheries in 2008–2009, with 8 being considered by the minister and the remainder under delegation.


Coasts and oceans

Coasts and oceans

Resources

Output 1.3 – Conservation of the coasts and oceansDepartmental Outputs Budget

2008-09 $’000

(a)


$’000 (b)

Variation $’000

(a)-(b)

Conservation of the coasts and oceans 39,712 35,320 4,392

Subtotal for Output 1.3 39,712 35,320 4,392


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Introduction

The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts identifies, protects and conserves Australia’s natural and cultural heritage places, including Indigenous and historic heritage.


• Develop and implement the government’s policies, programs and legislation to identify, protect, conserve and celebrate Australia’s natural, Indigenous and historic assets.

• Assist the Australian Heritage Council to assess places nominated for possible inclusion in the National Heritage List and Commonwealth Heritage List.

• Provide grant funding for high quality heritage projects to identify, conserve and protect Australia’s heritage.

• Through our membership of the World Heritage Committee lead Australia’s involvement in the World Heritage Convention, and work with countries in the Asia-Pacific region to help them identify and protect their heritage.

• Administer the Commonwealth’s obligations under: the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999; the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage 1972; the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984; the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976; and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993.

Heritage Division

OUTPUT 1.4Natural, Indigenous and historic heritage


Natural, Indigenous and historic heritageNatural, Indigenous and historic heritage

Highlights• In 2008–09, $6 million of heritage project

funding was made available as part of the $60 million heritage component of the government’s Jobs Fund. Heritage projects funded include: the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape Visitor Enhancement Project, Victoria; restoration and conservation of Old Government House at Parramatta, New South Wales; conservation and interpretation of John Curtin’s House at Cottesloe, Western Australia; restoration of the Rippon Lea grotto at Elsternwick, Victoria; and conservation and adaptation of the Wilcannia Post Office, New South Wales.

• The Adelaide Park Lands and City Layout; the Australian Alps; and the QANTAS Hangar, Longreach, were added to the National Heritage List. There are now 82 places in the List.

• The Australian Government, working closely with Papua New Guinea, has taken major steps to protect the Kokoda Track and Owen Stanley Ranges and to improve the livelihoods of local communities along the Track corridor.

• On 3 April 2009, at the Sydney Opera House, the minister opened the inaugural meeting of the Australian World Heritage Advisory Committee. This Committee advises heritage ministers on issues affecting Australia’s World Heritage properties and gives site managers a forum to share management information.

• The Australian-initiated workshop on the Future of the World Heritage Convention, held in Paris in February 2009, has been widely seen as the key initiative currently underway in the World Heritage Committee.

Objectives• Identify, protect, conserve and celebrate

Australia’s natural, Indigenous and historic heritage places that are of national and world significance.

• Identify, protect and conserve heritage places that are Commonwealth owned or leased.

• Promote Australia’s reputation internationally, strengthen the integrity of the World Heritage Convention and assist countries in Australia’s region with identifying and protecting their World Heritage.

• Increase knowledge and appreciation of Australia’s maritime heritage, while protecting shipwrecks and associated relics.

• Work with the Papua New Guinea Government to protect the Kokoda Track and Owen Stanley Ranges.

Results• Continued development of the National

Heritage List, with the addition of several new places, and work to build public awareness and appreciation of Australia’s heritage.

• Activities to promote public awareness of Australia’s heritage included:

Natural, Indigenous and

historic heritage


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itage• development of National Heritage List

interpretative products. More than 25 per cent of all listed sites have these products installed, including such iconic places as the Wet Tropics of Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef, Flemington Racecourse, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Warrumbungles National Park, Bondi Beach, and Fremantle Prison in Western Australia, and

• partnerships with corporate organisations and cultural institutions. Ten mini-documentaries on National Heritage List places were filmed in partnership with Screen Australia for the third of the ABC Television’s successful National Treasures series. The series aired on 6 August 2009.

• In 2008–09 ministerial heritage announcements and events included:

• coverage of the first 33 projects funded under the $60 million heritage component of the Australian Government’s Jobs Fund

• funding for World Heritage properties under the Caring for our Country program and for World Heritage projects in the Asia-Pacific region, announced by the minister at the time of the Pacific Island World Heritage Workshop in October 2008, and

• projects involving World Heritage properties announced by the minister on World Heritage Day (18 April).

• The Australian Government, working closely with the Papua New Guinea Government, through the Kokoda Development Program, has: refurbished the health centre at Efogi; upgraded the health radio network and trained health workers in villages along the Track; supplied school curriculum materials; and provided transport assistance to get teachers to villages. The department has provided assistance to help the new Kokoda Track Authority to operate professionally and to develop the Track as a world class trekking experience.

• The department, with the New Zealand Government and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Centre, co-hosted the Pacific Islands World Heritage Workshop in Cairns from 13–17 October 2008—the largest and most senior gathering of Pacific heritage experts to date. The workshop produced a number of outstanding results including; the development of preambular text for the 2010–2015 Pacific Action Plan; consensus on the purpose and objectives of a ‘sustainable financing mechanism’ to support the World Heritage Convention in the Pacific; and an initial paper on long-term approaches to increase heritage management capacity in the region.

• In recognition of its contribution to leadership in the World Heritage Committee, Australia was elected World Heritage Vice-President for the Asia-Pacific region.

• HMAS Sydney II and HSK Kormoran were permanently protected under the Historic Shipwrecks Act.

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• HMCS Mermaid was discovered and a protected zone placed around it; and the SS Florence D was identified and gazetted as a historic shipwreck with a protected zone.

• The department continued its work on heritage economics. In July 2008 it finalised a study into the economic contribution made by 15 of Australia’s World Heritage properties and, in early 2009, commissioned the first part of a valuation study for historic heritage places.

• The department, working with the Victorian Government, transferred ownership of the 90 hectare Point Nepean Quarantine Station from the Commonwealth to the state of Victoria.

• The department’s Heritage Division assessed 181 referrals for proposed actions that had, will have, or might have, a significant impact on the values of National or Commonwealth Heritage places.

Strategies

Australia’s World, National and Commonwealth Heritage places are of natural, Indigenous or historic significance or any combination of the three. They are important places to Australia’s sense of national identity and shared values; their ongoing protection and recognition benefits all Australians.

The Australian Government’s main legislation to protect heritage places is the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The Act protects the heritage values of places in the following lists:

• World Heritage List: listed places are of outstanding universal value and are inscribed under the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (usually referred to as the World Heritage Convention).

• National Heritage List: listed places are of outstanding heritage value to the nation.

• Commonwealth Heritage List: listed places are of significant heritage value and are owned or leased by the Australian Government.

The department manages the processes set up by the EPBC Act, provides heritage listing advice to the government, and advises property managers on heritage management plans and strategies. It supports the Australian Heritage Council in its assessment, advice, public information and awareness activities.

World Heritage List

Nominations for the World Heritage List are made by national governments and assessed for inclusion in the list by the World Heritage Committee. Australia has 17 World Heritage properties on the list.

In January 2008, the Australian Government lodged a serial nomination for 11 convict sites to be inscribed in the World Heritage List. The nomination was prepared with the support of the New South Wales, Tasmanian, Western Australian and Norfolk Island governments. An expert mission from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Body, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), is expected to evaluate the sites late in 2009.


historic heritage


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itageThe nomination states that the sites are of

outstanding universal value, as an exceptional example of the forced migration of convicts, an important stage of human history (criterion vi) and a significant example of global ideas and developments associated with the punishment and reform of the criminal elements of humanity (criterion vi).

The department is developing a new World Heritage nomination for the Ningaloo Coast in Western Australia. Working with state officials, the department is completing the nomination dossier and management framework and has undertaken extensive community consultation. The nomination is scheduled for submission by February 2010.

Australian World Heritage Tentative List

Under the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (2005), the Australian Government is responsible for preparing an Australian World Heritage Tentative List. The List is an inventory of Australian properties considered suitable for inscription in the World Heritage List over the next 10 years. On 1 July 2008, the Ningaloo Coast was added to Australia’s Tentative List. In May 2009, the Environment Protection and Heritage Council1 agreed that a revised Tentative List should be submitted in two stages to the World Heritage Committee. The first submission of properties for the Tentative List will be later in 2009; an update may be made in 2010 or 2011.

National and Commonwealth Heritage listings

Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the minister is responsible for including places in the National and Commonwealth Heritage Lists. In 2008–09, the minister called for public nominations for both lists. Nominations for the National Heritage List gave priority to the heritage theme of “A Free and Fair Australia”. Thirty-nine public nominations for the National Heritage List were received before the cut-off date of 3 February 2009, including several places re-nominated after their earlier nomination had lapsed. Five nominations were received for the Commonwealth Heritage List.

In 2008–09, the minister added three places to the national list: the Adelaide Park Lands and City Layout; the Australian Alps; and the QANTAS Hangar, Longreach. No places were added to the Commonwealth Heritage List. As of 30 June 2009, there were 82 national heritage places (including places from each state and territory) and 339 places in the Commonwealth list. Three places became ineligible for the Commonwealth list following their sale and were removed from the list.

Emergency listings

The minister can ‘emergency list’ places that may have National or Commonwealth heritage values if those values are under imminent threat. The Australian Heritage Council must

1 The Environment Protection and Heritage Council is a council of heritage and environment ministers from all levels of government in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea (with observer status). Its objective is to ensure the protection of the environment and heritage of Australia and New Zealand.

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assess emergency listed places, to allow the minister to decide on their future.

In 2008–09 the minister received requests to emergency list seven places in the National Heritage List: the Cairns Yacht Club; Catherine Hill Bay Conservation Area; Keyline Farming Development Site, Richmond; Blacksmith Workshop, Eveleigh; Jervis Bay and surrounding area, Nowra; the Dog on the Tuckerbox, Gundagai; and The Cliffe, Peppermint Grove, Western Australia. The minister considered and rejected the requests for the first six places in 2008–09 having found no evidence that the requests satisfied the legislative requirements for the places to possess national heritage values under likely and imminent threat. The minister made his decision on The Cliffe in July 2009 (rejecting the request).

There were no requests during 2008–09 to emergency list places in the Commonwealth Heritage List.

The minister’s decisions are reported on the heritage notices website at: www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/heritage_ap.pl.

World Heritage management

The Australian Government provided $8.705 million in 2008–09 from the Caring for our Country program to help the states manage world heritage properties so that their protection and promotion are consistent with undertakings under the World Heritage Convention. The program funded on-ground priority projects and management support, including community consultation and coordination.

National and Commonwealth heritage management

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 provides for the preparation of a management plan for each place in the National and Commonwealth Heritage Lists. In 2008–09, the department commented on eight management plans; three for National Heritage List places, and five for Commonwealth Heritage List places. It also advised on 11 plans being prepared for the serial nomination of convict sites to the World Heritage List.

The EPBC Act requires Australian Government agencies that own or lease places with listed or potential Commonwealth heritage values to prepare written heritage strategies for managing the places, to protect and conserve those values. In 2008–09, one agency completed its strategy, bringing to 14 the number of strategies completed. The department reminded a number of Australian Government agencies without completed strategies of their obligations under the Act. Twelve agencies advised the department that they expected to complete their strategies during 2009–10.

Under the EPBC Act, an Australian Government agency responsible for a place that has, or might have, Commonwealth Heritage values, must take all reasonable steps to assist the minister and the Australian Heritage Council to identify, assess and monitor the place’s Commonwealth Heritage values (section 341Z).

The department, working closely with the Victorian Government, transferred ownership


historic heritage


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itageof the 90 hectare Point Nepean Quarantine

Station from the Commonwealth to the state of Victoria. The Quarantine Station comprises a significant number of heritage buildings, and discussions focused on ensuring continuing protection for its National and Commonwealth Heritage values. The transfer took place on 8 June 2009.

The Australian World Heritage Advisory Committee

The Australian World Heritage Advisory Committee was established in November 2008. It provides federal and state heritage ministers with advice on strategic issues affecting Australia’s World Heritage properties. It also gives Australia’s World Heritage site managers a forum to share information on best-practice management and to improve protection of World Heritage properties. The Committee comprises representatives from each of Australia’s World Heritage properties, and two representatives from the Australian World Heritage Indigenous Network. The minister opened the Committee’s inaugural meeting on 3 April 2009 at the Sydney Opera House.

The Heritage Working Group

In November 2008 the minister established the Heritage Working Group to provide expert advice aimed at improving the protection, conservation, promotion and awareness of Australia’s heritage. The Working Group is looking at ways to build greater community awareness of the value of heritage. It also advises the minister on ways to increase the economic and social benefits of heritage, particularly through tourism, and to increase

private and public investment in conserving heritage assets.

The Working Group comprises members with a range of knowledge and experience in historic, natural and Indigenous heritage, tourism and economics. The eight members are: Mr Tom Harley (heritage); Dr Gaye Sculthorpe (Indigenous heritage); Associate Professor Peter Valentine (conservation and natural heritage); Ms Kristal Buckley (archaeology and heritage); Dr Graeme Blackman (heritage); Professor David Throsby (economics, heritage); Associate Professor Don Garden (social and environmental history); and Mr Chris Brown (tourism, business).

Cooperative National Heritage Agenda

In May 2006, the Environment Protection and Heritage Council agreed to develop a Cooperative National Heritage Agenda as the basis for enhanced national heritage cooperation. The department has responsibility for coordinating a number of priority projects: reaching national agreement on consistent heritage criteria and thresholds, completed with the publication (at the end of 2008) of A Guide to Heritage Listing in Australia–Thresholds for Different Levels of Heritage, to improve public understanding of heritage thresholds in Australia; and developing a comprehensive national heritage inventory and information portal (in development). The department also provided financial assistance to Heritage Victoria to develop and complete the Supporting local government, Heritage and environmental sustainability

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project (commercial heritage buildings) and the Professional and trade heritage training project. At its meeting in May 2009 the Environment Protection and Heritage Council agreed to add seven new projects and sub-projects to revitalise and expand the list of priority projects identified since 2006.

Kokoda Track

In 2008–09 the Australian and Papua New Guinea governments made significant progress in implementing the 2008 Joint Understanding on the Kokoda Track and Owen Stanley Ranges. A key element of the Joint Understanding is the Kokoda Development Program, which is focused on improving basic services (including health, education, water and sanitation) for Track communities. In 2008–09, the program: re-furbished the health centre at Efogi (a village about half-way along the track); upgraded the health radio network; supplied school curriculum materials; and flew teachers into villages for the new school year. The Papua New Guinea Government established a new Kokoda Track Authority Management Committee. Three Australian-funded experts are now working for the new Authority to build capacity and develop the Track as a world-class trekking experience. The department also helped Papua New Guinean and Australian trek operators to develop a Kokoda Track Code of Conduct. It deployed two Australian Government advisors to the Papua New Guinea Department of Environment and Conservation to assist its National Taskforce implement the Joint Understanding. There have also been successful placements of staff members

from Papua New Guinea in Australia, to build technical expertise in Papua New Guinea.

World Heritage Committee membership

Australia was elected to the World Heritage Committee in October 2007 for a four-year term. Primary objectives for Australia during its term are to improve heritage management capacity in our region and strengthen the integrity of the World Heritage Convention.

Australia achieved significant results at its first meeting on the committee (the 32nd Session of the World Heritage Committee in Quebec, July 2008). The Committee: agreed to Australia’s proposal to convene a workshop to discuss the future of the World Heritage Convention; elected Australia Vice-President for the Asia-Pacific region; and assigned Australia a leadership role in working groups on buffer zones, periodic reporting and the finances of the World Heritage Centre. Australia was also a constructive participant in discussions on the inscription of new sites to the World Heritage List and the review of the state of conservation of listed properties.

The department continues to work within the World Heritage Convention to identify, protect and conserve Australia’s natural and cultural heritage. During 2008–09, the department made a significant contribution to developing World Heritage policy by participating in international expert meetings on: the future of the World Heritage Convention; sustainable tourism; buffer zones; the finances of the World Heritage Centre; and serial national and transnational natural World Heritage sites.


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itageThe Future of the World Heritage

Convention

As a result of Australia’s proposal, and with Australian sponsorship, a workshop was held in Paris in February 2009 to consider the future of the World Heritage Convention in the light of its forthcoming 40th anniversary (2012), and the anticipated inscription of the 1000th property on the World Heritage List around that time. The workshop was attended by 186 experts from 72 countries and identified a range of key challenges for the Convention. Discussion on this item continued at the 33rd Session of the World Heritage Committee (Seville, June 2009), with decisions to be made on the next steps at the 17th General Assembly of States Parties (October 2009).

Pacific Islands World Heritage Workshop

The department co-hosted the Pacific Islands World Heritage Workshop in Cairns from 13–17 October 2008. The workshop brought together 85 participants from 17 Pacific Island countries and territories, plus World Heritage advisory bodies, New Zealand and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

At the workshop the minister announced a government commitment of $1 million to help build World Heritage capacity in Pacific Island countries. The meeting also: produced a draft “2010–15 Pacific Action Plan”; finalised an agreement to investigate models for sustainable funding arrangements for Pacific World Heritage activities; and agreed to a strategy to improve capacity in the Pacific Island states to address World Heritage issues.

This was the largest and most senior gathering of Pacific World Heritage experts to date.

Support for World Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region

Since 2007 Australia has provided $2.5 million to UNESCO to support World Heritage initiatives internationally, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

The department is working with UNESCO and Cambodia to better protect the World Heritage site of Angkor. The Australian Government contributed $1.13 million to a project to help maintain the site. The aim is to ensure that visitors can continue to access it appropriately, in a way that will continue to bring major economic and social benefits to Cambodia. The project will help local communities boost their income and strengthen the technical expertise and governance arrangements in Cambodia.

Australia also supports World Heritage through the Asia-Pacific Focal Point, a regional network for World Heritage managers, established to help Asia-Pacific countries adopt and implement the World Heritage Convention. It promotes best-practice in heritage management and helps World Heritage managers share information and experience, and to identify and secure funding for World Heritage activities.

The department provides the secretariat for the network and, through it, supports regional activities and projects. In 2008–09, it provided support for several projects, including:

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• an Australian training expert to attend the 2009 United Nations Institute for Training and Research workshop on Management and Conservation of World Heritage Sites, in Hiroshima

• technical assistance for Kiribati’s development of a World Heritage nomination for the Phoenix Island Protected Area

• Pacific Islanders funded to attend the conference, Pacific Island Archaeology in the 21st Century: Relevance and Engagement, in Palau, and

• a heritage and tourism project in Vanuatu to assist the Lelema community with the development of a cultural tour of Chief Roi Mata’s Domain, recently added to the World Heritage List.

Publications

The Australian Heritage Council commissioned Dr John Hirst to develop a study about the history of democracy in Australia and the places where its defining events occurred. The Council published the study, titled Building a Free Australia: Places of Democracy, for distribution in May 2009.

Indigenous heritage

The department works with other government agencies and the community to protect the cultural heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The work includes: providing advice on proposals referred under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999; supporting projects to identify, conserve or promote Indigenous heritage; and providing emergency protection to areas and objects of cultural and traditional significance in Australia.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984

Under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984, the minister can protect places and objects of traditional significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders from threats of injury or desecration. This ‘last resort’ protection is available only when there is no effective protection under state or territory laws.

In 2008–09 the department dealt with 22 applications for protection of places. Eight had been submitted in the previous year, 14 were new. Three applications were withdrawn following successful mediation under section 13(3) of the Act. Following extensive investigations and natural justice processes, the minister found there was insufficient evidence for him to provide protection for the eight applications for emergency protection and one application for longer term protection that he considered. The minister is awaiting the independent reports that he must consider before making a decision on longer term protection for six areas. He is affording procedural fairness to parties before making decisions on the remaining applications.

Indigenous Heritage Program

The department administers the government’s Indigenous Heritage Program. The Program helps identify, conserve and to promote, where appropriate, the Indigenous heritage values of places important to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The department also helps to identify places likely to have outstanding Indigenous heritage value to Australia; that


historic heritage


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itageis, places suitable for inclusion in the National

Heritage List.

The department received 126 applications seeking funding from the $3.576 million available in 2008–09. The minister approved funding for a diverse range of projects across Australia: eight in New South Wales, 12 in the Northern Territory, 10 in Queensland, seven in South Australia, two in Tasmania, two in Victoria, and 16 in Western Australia. Examples of funded projects include:

• $98,651 for the Ngadjuri Heritage Committee to identify, record, manage and promote cultural heritage places on the traditional lands of the Ngadjuri people in the mid-north region of South Australia.

• $41,500 to build a boardwalk around a freshwater mussel midden site, install three interpretive signs and construct protective barriers around a scarred tree in far North Queensland.

• $72,400 to help protect sites of significance such as burials, campsites, bora grounds and hunting grounds in the Walgett region in New South Wales.

• $90,000 for the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, to develop a Cultural Heritage Database system for the Yued region in Western Australia. It will incorporate cultural heritage site mapping; oral histories; cultural resource mapping; an integrated geographic information system (GIS); and photographic information.

Indigenous heritage projects are also supported through shared responsibility and regional partnership agreements with Indigenous communities. The agreements

provide services to Indigenous communities under the Australian Government’s whole-of-government arrangements for Indigenous affairs and involve both government and community contributions.

Australia’s maritime heritage

Historic shipwrecks

The department administers the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 and the Historic Shipwrecks Program.

In November 2008 the minister announced that the historic shipwrecks of HMAS Sydney II and HSK Kormoran, off the Western Australian coast, were now fully protected under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976. This protection makes it an offence to disturb or damage these nationally important ship wrecks, that are also final resting places of many servicemen lost in battle in 1942.

In January 2009 the minister announced the discovery of HMCS Mermaid and declared a protected zone around it. One of the greatest of Australia’s early maritime surveyors, Lieutenant Phillip Parker King RN, commanded the Mermaid in voyages from 1819 to 1822, surveying the Australian coastline. Parker King conducted the first reliable survey of the Great Barrier Reef Inner Route, opening the passage to commercial traffic. Ironically, after the completion of King’s surveys, and under another commander, it was on the Great Barrier Reef that the Mermaid ran aground and was wrecked on 13 June 1829.

In April 2009 the minister declared that SS Florence D, a 2600 tonne merchant ship, found

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off Bathurst Island in the Northern Territory, was a protected historic shipwreck. On 19 February 1942, the SS Florence D was running armaments to American forces in the Philippines when Japanese bombers, returning from the first air attack on Darwin, caught and sank her.

In May 2009 the M24 midget submarine, one of three midget submarines that attacked Sydney Harbour in the late afternoon of 31 May and morning of 1 June 1942, was declared a historic shipwreck under the Act.

During 2008–09 the department developed a public interface for the Australian National Shipwrecks Database, including a GIS component and online application forms. This provides public access to a centralised database of Australia’s historic shipwrecks and relics.

In February 2009 the department hosted two AusAID Australian Leadership Award fellows: Mr Erbprem Vatcharangkul, Director Thailand Underwater Archaeology Division and Mr Nady Phann, Deputy Director General Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, Cambodia, to learn about Australia’s approach and systems for management of underwater cultural heritage.

The Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 has been highly successful in protecting known and unknown shipwrecks in Australian waters. However the Act is over 30 years old and no longer reflects current best practice heritage management. The Act is currently under review to bring it up to international standards.

Historic Shipwrecks Program

The Historic Shipwrecks Program funds the day-to-day administration by states and territories, of the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976. This covers protection, conservation and preservation of historic shipwrecks and relics, and the ongoing discovery, survey and documentation of historic shipwreck resources.

The department administers the program in collaboration with the states, the Northern Territory, and Norfolk Island. In 2008–09, the department provided $440,322 to the program to support the work of state and territory based Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976 delegates and the Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology.

Evaluation

Heritage Economics

In 2007 the department hosted a workshop for economists, heritage experts and policy makers, to discuss further research into the value of heritage and the costs and benefits of heritage listing.2 This led to a number of projects on heritage economics being undertaken in 2008–09. The department commissioned a study into the economic activity associated with Australia’s World Heritage properties. The report, finalised in July 2008, highlights the contribution that 15 of Australia’s World Heritage properties make to Australia’s national, regional and local economies (it does not cover the Great Barrier Reef and Heard Island and

2 Papers presented at the workshop are available on the department’s website, along with key documents on heritage economics, at: www.environment.gov.au/heritage/about/economics/index.html.


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3 The report is available on the department’s website at: www.environment.gov.au/heritage/publications/report/index.html.

the McDonald Islands), finding Australia’s World Heritage places contribute $12 billion to the economy annually and support over 120 000 jobs across the country. 3

In early 2009 the department allocated $140,000 through the Commonwealth Environment Research Facility’s Environmental Economics Hub, to undertake the first part of a valuation study of historic heritage places. Professor David Throsby, from Macquarie University, will conduct the first part of the study in 2009–10, developing a methodology and valuation survey. The second part, to be undertaken in future years, will involve data collection and analysis, to develop a set of transferable estimates of value for various historic heritage attributes.

Case study

QANTAS Hangar, Longreach Queensland

On 22 May 2009 the minister included the QANTAS Hangar at Longreach in the National Heritage List. The hangar, a modest galvanised-iron building, is a key site in Australia’s aviation history. It was here, in 1922, that QANTAS started its operations with two small planes. It is closely associated with Hudson Fysh, Paul J McGinness, Fergus McMaster and Arthur Baird; central figures in the establishment of the airline.

The hangar is also important for its association with the Aerial Medical Service (Royal Flying Doctor Service), which started in 1928. QANTAS supplied the first planes for the Flying Doctors and provided logistical support from the Longreach hangar.

From its humble beginnings in this modest hangar, the ‘flying kangaroo’ has grown to become a major international airline.

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Above: QANTAS Hangar, Longreach Queensland.




Output Group 1.4: Conservation of natural, indigenous and historic heritagePerformance Indicator Target

2008–09 results

Australia’s Heritage areas are identified and protected

1 World Heritage area submitted for Listing None submitted for listing–but Ningaloo nomination being finalised.

10 National Heritage places listed 3 National Heritage places listed.

6 Commonwealth Heritage places listed No Commonwealth Heritage places listed.

Enhanced protection of Australian Government heritage listed places

95% of requests from owners and states and territories, for assistance with the completion of management plans for the:

• World Heritage List;

• National Heritage List; and

• Commonwealth Heritage List, responded to within 20 working days

95% of requests responded to within 20 working days.

Continuing to invest in the management of World Heritage areas

$8.705 million was allocated to state managed natural and mixed (both natural and cultural) World Heritage properties, from the Caring for our Country program.

Governance arrangements with states and territories are streamlined by the end of 2008

Governance arrangements with states and territories were streamlined through the establishment of the Australian World Heritage Advisory Committee and agreement to Management and Funding Principles for Australia’s World Heritage places-which was approved by the Environment Protection and Heritage Council in November 2008.


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itageOutput Group 1.4: Conservation of natural, indigenous and

historic heritagePerformance Indicator Target

2008–09 results

Applications under Australian Heritage laws are considered and processed

100% of applications or referrals considered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 are processed and considered within statutory timeframes

98% of EPBC Act referrals processed within statutory timeframes.

100% of applications under the ATSIHP Act dealt with before threatening activity commenced.

100% of applications considered under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 were processed in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

Note: Performance indicator from the Portfolio Budget Statements 2008–09 reworded to more accurately reflect the requirements of the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986.

100% of applications considered under the PMCH Act were processed in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

Australia’s historic shipwrecks are managed in accordance with funding agreements

All funding agreements with NSW, Vic, Qld, WA, SA, Tas, NT and Norfolk Island to implement the Historic Shipwrecks Program are negotiated

All agreements negotiated.

Agreement with Papua New Guinea Government to help protect the Kokoda Track

Agreement reached with Papua New Guinea by mid-2008 on practical steps to be undertaken to protect the Kokoda Track

Joint Understanding signed with Papua New Guinea in April 2008, agreeing a two-year work program to protect the Kokoda Track.

Australia’s Indigenous Heritage areas are Protected

Funding for 30 projects to conserve Indigenous Heritage

Funding of $3.576 million awarded for projects to identify, conserve and promote Indigenous Heritage.

54 projects funded for the identification, conservation and promotion of Indigenous heritage. All Indigenous Heritage project funding was committed and spent.

Australia’s international reputation on heritage is enhanced

3 cooperative projects with countries in Australia’s region

$1.3 million to assist the Cambodian Government to better protect the Angkor Wat World Heritage site.

Co-hosting the Pacific Islands World Heritage Workshop, bringing together participants from 17 Pacific Island countries to improve World Heritage capacity.

Support to World Heritage Initiatives in Kiribati, Vanuatu and Palau.

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Resources

Output 1.4 – Conservation of natural, indigenous and historic heritageAdministered items Budget

2008-09 $’000

(a)


$’000 (b)

Variation $’000

(a)-(b)


National Trust Partnership Program 911 911 –

National Heritage Investment Initiative 200 199 1

Indigenous Heritage Programme 3,576 3,576 –

Point Nepean Community Trust and rental Guarantee 300 300

Point Nepean Heritage Program – 16,800 (16,800)

Point Nepean Heritage Assets – 61,943 (61,943)

Kokoda Track 3,651 2,258 1,393

Jobs Fund Heritage 6,000 5,999 1

Special Accounts

National Cultural Heritage (Administered) 500 371 129


Conservation of natural, indigenous and historic heritage 22,332 24,986 (2,654)

Subtotal for Output 1.4 37,470 117,043 (79,573)


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Introduction

The department works with all levels of government, the community and with industry to minimise the impact of human settlement and industrial processes on Australia’s environment and biodiversity.

The department helps to protect and improve urban air quality by reducing emissions of major air pollutants. It ensures that chemicals and other hazardous substances are managed safely, to protect the environment and human health. It also works with all levels of government and industry to develop national approaches to the reduction of environmental impacts in priority areas, such as tyres, oil recycling, electronics and packaging.

The department administers the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) which provides a framework for the protection of matters of national environmental significance. The seven matters protected are: World Heritage properties; National Heritage places; wetlands of international importance; listed threatened species and ecological communities; migratory species protected under international agreements; Commonwealth marine areas; and nuclear actions (including uranium mines).

OUTPUT 1.5Human settlements


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• National Waste Policy and product stewardship

• Air quality, fuel standards and vehicle emissions

• Hazardous substance regulation and management

• Chemical policy and risk assessment

• Protection of the ozone layer

• Biotechnology risk assessment

• National Pollutant Inventory

• Education for Sustainability

• Support for the Environment Protection and Heritage Council and the National Environment Protection Council

Environment Quality Division

• Supervision of uranium mining in the Alligator Rivers Region Supervising Scientist Division

• Species listings, recovery plans and information

• Environmental assessments and approvals

• Permit approvals and wildlife management, and

• Compliance and enforcement

Approvals and Wildlife Division

Highlights• The Australian Government gained the

support of state and territory environment ministers for the development of a national waste policy during 2009.

• At the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Governing Council/Ministerial Environment Forum 25th Regular Session in February 2009, agreement was reached to form an intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC) to develop a global, legally binding, instrument on mercury. Negotiations will commence in 2010 and conclude prior to the UNEP Government Council/Ministerial Forum 27th Regular Session, in 2013.

• At the fourth Conference of the Parties to the Stockholm Convention in May 2009, parties agreed to list nine new chemicals under Annexes A and B, for elimination or severe restriction. This is the first time that chemicals have been added to the Convention since Australia ratified it in 2004.

• A Bill to amend the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 was introduced into Parliament. The amendments address a number of recommendations from the first statutory review of the Act, including improvements to the process for granting approvals under section 13 of the Act, and more effective and efficient monitoring and enforcement powers.


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• The Fuel Standard (Automotive Diesel) Determination 2001 was amended to allow up to 5 per cent biodiesel in diesel supplied in Australia, as a first step in the management of biodiesel blends under the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000.

• The National Action Plan for Education for Sustainability, ‘Living Sustainably’ was released in April 2009. The Plan sets out how we can equip Australians with the knowledge and skills required to live sustainably.

• The department continued to monitor the concentration of uranium measured in surface water downstream from the Ranger mine and the Jabiluka mineral lease. Work to date indicates that the environment of the Alligator Rivers Region remains protected from the impacts of uranium mining.

• The Australian Government signed the two remaining bilateral assessment agreements, with Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The bilateral agreement with the ACT entered into effect upon signature, on 4 June 2009, while the bilateral agreement with Victoria entered into effect upon signature on 20 June 2009. The completion of these agreements represents the fulfilment of an important commitment by the Council of Australian Governments. It means the Australian Government will have bilateral assessment agreements in place with each of the states and territories, to streamline environmental impact assessment for proponents.

• Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, 763 conservation advices were completed. This fulfilled the department’s obligation to have a conservation advice in place by 31 December 2008, for those listed species and ecological communities that were not already covered by a recovery plan.

• The Australian Government signed agreements with the Victorian and ACT governments to undertake strategic assessments under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The assessments will look at the impacts associated with the revision of Melbourne’s urban growth boundary, and the proposed urban development within Molonglo and North Weston, in the ACT.

• An independent Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999, led by Dr Allan Hawke and supported by an expert panel, was announced in October 2008. This is the first review of the Act since its commencement in 2000 and aims to assess its operation and the extent to which its objectives have been achieved. A discussion paper was released on 31 October 2008 and 220 written submissions were received by the Review Panel. An interim report was published on 29 June 2009. The final report is due to be presented to the minister by 31 October 2009.


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Objectives

Pollution prevention strategies• Provide a cleaner and healthier environment

through environmental standards, regulation and monitoring of the management and use of wastes, hazardous substances, air pollutants, ozone depleting substances and synthetic greenhouse gases.

• Ensure Australian Government involvement in the Environment Protection and Heritage Council and the National Environment Protection Council is appropriate, timely and ensures national approaches to environmental and heritage issues are achieved.

Supervision of uranium mining• To protect the environment of the Alligator

Rivers Region from the impacts of uranium mining.

Species listings, recovery plans and information• Support the Threatened Species Scientific

Committee in providing advice to the minister on listing species, ecological communities and key threatening processes, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

• Develop recovery plans and conservation advices for listed species and ecological communities.

• Maintain up-to-date information on listed species and ecological communities to support quality decision making.

Environmental assessments and approvals• Protect matters of national environmental

significance through assessment of the impact on the environment of proposed developments. Advise the minister on whether or not to approve these proposals, and, if so, under what conditions.

Wildlife protection and management• Protect Australia’s biodiversity, including

wildlife species and their habitats, through listings, recovery plans, regulating trade, developing conservation agreements and considering permit applications.

• Protect the marine environment through management of sea dumping in accordance with the London Convention and London Protocol.

• Meet Australia’s international obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Compliance and enforcement• Protect matters of national environmental

significance through compliance, audit, enforcement and seizure.


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Results• Australia exceeded its obligations to

phase-out the use of ozone depleting substances. Total imports in 2008 were 128.8 ozone-depleting tonnes, a decrease of approximately 84.5 per cent since 1999, when imports peaked at over 800 tonnes. This result was significantly less than our Montreal Protocol obligation of 405.1 tonnes.

• In 2008–09, the department supervised the collection of approximately 2500 kilograms of halon in Australia. In addition, 2.5 tonnes of mixed waste refrigerants were imported from New Zealand for disposal.

• The Second National In-Service Emission Testing program was completed. This study is the most in-depth testing and analysis of in-service emissions from petrol powered vehicles ever undertaken in Australia. It provides evidence of the effectiveness of regulating air quality emissions from these vehicles.

• A New South Wales fuel supplier was convicted of nine offences against the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000. The court ordered $121,000 in fines. Another NSW fuel supplier agreed to an injunction in the Federal Court for offences under the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000. Costs were awarded to the Commonwealth.

• The National Action Plan for Education for Sustainability was released in April 2009. Implementation activities are under way, including the provision of funding of $572,643 for projects under the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative and $378,800 to support five best-practice projects, which will deliver education, training and capacity building for sustainability.

• During the 2008–09 wet season, the maximum uranium concentration measured downstream from the Ranger mine was 0.370 micrograms per litre, a value consistent with the result from previous years. This value is only 6 per cent of the local ecotoxicologically-derived limit of 6 micrograms per litre, and less than 2 per cent of the 20 micrograms per litre guideline for potable water.

• Under the EPBC Act, the department commenced a strategic audit program, focusing on approved mining projects, commercial and residential projects in coastal areas, and seismic surveys.

• In November 2008, legislation was amended to make the EPBC Act the primary basis for environmental impact assessment in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The amendment established the marine park as a matter of national environmental significance, with effect from 25 November 2009.

• The minister approved the 2008 Finalised Priority Assessment List (FPAL), which commenced 1 October 2008, for assessment of the threatened status of 20 species and seven ecological communities, and of two key threatening processes, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The minister also approved the listing of 29 threatened species and eight ecological communities from the 2007 and 2008 FPALs. A call was made for new nominations for listing and 49 nominations were received.


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• The minister approved one and rejected two applications to amend the live import list under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

• Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, 438 referrals were submitted to the department for assessment and 52 actions were approved. One action was not approved and five actions were determined to be clearly unacceptable.

• Three strategic assessments under the EPBC Act are now under way: with the Western Australian Government for the Browse Basin Common-User Liquefied Natural Gas Hub Precinct; and with the Victorian and ACT governments for urban expansion proposals.

• Approval was given for: two new wildlife trade management plans; five wildlife trade operations (non-fisheries); eight new and two revised artificial propagation programs; nine captive breeding programs; ten cooperative conservation programs; and two aquaculture programs, as regulated under the EPBC Act.

• The department issued 1969 permits to export or import wildlife specimens (both native and non-native), including 422 multiple consignment permits.

• The department issued eight sea dumping permits under the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981; and two permit exemptions under the Sea Installations Act 1987.

• There were 522 new incidents reported to the department and assessed for compliance with the EPBC Act. It also undertook 17 audits and nine post approval inspections; report summaries were published on the department’s web site.

Strategies

National Waste Policy and Product Stewardship

The Australian Government, with the support of the Environment Protection and Heritage Council, is leading the development of a National Waste Policy and a State of Waste report. The National Waste Policy is being developed in consultation with: key industry leaders; environment groups; state, territory and local governments; and the wider community. To inform stakeholder input, a consultation paper was released in April 2009 and public meetings were held in all capital cities and selected regional centres. A discussion paper on a draft National Waste Policy Framework was also released for comment in July 2009.

Although the state, territory and local governments have primary responsibility for managing wastes in Australia, the department works with them on a number of wastes of national significance, including: end-of-life tyres, televisions and computers, degradable plastics, and packaging.

End-of-life tyres

The development and public release of the Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement


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for End-of-Life Tyre Management was a key step forward in establishing a national product stewardship approach to end-of-life tyres. In addition, a comprehensive tyres data study was undertaken, establishing the current situation for end-of-life tyres in Australia.

Televisions and Computers

The Environment Protection and Heritage Council Electrical Equipment Product Stewardship working group, which the department leads in conjunction with officials from New South Wales’, progressed two key pieces of work: a Choice Modelling study, which quantifies the community’s values and beliefs concerning recycling of televisions and computers; and the development of a draft consultation regulatory impact statement, including a full cost benefit analysis of a number of options. Their completion is required before ministers can make a decision on product stewardship for televisions and computers.

Degradable plastics

The department has commissioned research to underpin development of Australian Standards for degradable and biodegradable plastics. The research will ascertain the toxicity of any residues from the breakdown of degradable plastics and examine the rate and extent of that breakdown in the Australian environment. The development of Australian Standards for degradable and biodegradable plastics will assist in the protection of the environment and enable consumers and businesses to be confident that the products perform as claimed.

Packaging

The key national initiative supported by the Australian Government for managing packaging waste in Australia is the National Packaging Covenant (the Covenant). The department has contributed to the mid-term review of the Covenant, which found that Australia is on track to meet its targets. The Covenant’s targets include, by 2010: a 65 per cent recycling rate for packaging materials; no increase in the amount of packaging disposed of to landfill, and a 25 per cent recycling target for packaging materials that were previously not recycled, or recycled at very low rates.

The Australian Government was a signatory to the Covenant at its inception in 1999. In December 2008, a new Australian Government National Packaging Covenant Action Plan was agreed, covering the period July 2008 to June 2010. The previous Action Plan covered the period July 2006–June 2008.

The department hired a consultant in June 2008 to develop a reporting tool for use by Australian Government agencies. This reporting tool has facilitated the collation of more robust whole-of-government packaging waste and recycling data, as required under the Action Plan. It was first used for the 2007–08 reporting year. There was a substantial improvement in the response rate over previous years, with over 92 per cent of agencies providing data.

Product Stewardship for Oil Program

About 520 million litres of lubricating oil are sold each year in Australia and about 280 to 300 million litres of used oil are generated.


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If disposed of incorrectly, this oil can cause serious damage to the environment by contaminating the soil, groundwater, streams, rivers, lakes and drinking water.

The Product Stewardship for Oil Program aims to reduce this damage, by encouraging used oil recycling through benefit payments to used oil recyclers. The department has policy responsibility for this program, while the Australian Taxation Office administers the levy and benefit elements of the program.

A total of $38.9 million in product stewardship benefits was paid to recyclers for recycling 269 million litres of used oil in 2008–09, an increase of $4.9 million from 2007–08.

Industry estimates that about 150–165 million litres of used oil were being recycled before the program began on 1 January 2001. Since then used oil recycling has increased by about 70 per cent.

A small number of projects funded by transitional assistance grants are continuing. All projects will be completed by mid–2010.

Air Quality, Fuel Standards and Vehicle Emissions

While Australia’s air quality is generally good, there are still challenges in keeping our air clean. The department is continuing to work with the states and territories to reduce ground-level ozone and particles, which remain relatively high in some cities. The department’s work focuses on tackling the major sources of air pollution that can be addressed at the national level.

Reducing vehicle emissions through improved fuel quality

The Australian Government regulates fuel quality in Australia to facilitate the advanced emissions control technology required to: meet tighter vehicle emission standards; reduce the level of harmful pollutants in fuel; and ensure the efficient operation of engines. Fuel quality standards are established under the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000. Standards have been set for petrol, diesel, biodiesel and autogas sold in Australia.

During the year, a Bill to amend the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 was introduced into Parliament, to implement a number of recommendations from a major review in 2005–06. Amendments to the Regulations under the Act were also implemented, including a new fee structure for section 13 approval applications.

The Fuel Standard (Automotive Diesel) Determination 2001 was also amended to allow up to five per cent biodiesel in diesel supplied in Australia. This was a first step in the management of biodiesel blends. Blends higher than five per cent are being managed through the section 13 approvals process of the Fuel Quality Standards Act.

A review of the Fuel Standard (Autogas) Determination 2003 also commenced, with the preparation of a public discussion paper on the adequacy of the existing autogas standard for current and emerging LPG vehicle technology. The discussion paper is at: www.environment.gov.au/atmosphere/fuelquality/index.html.


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Monitoring compliance and enforcement of fuel standards

The department monitors fuel at outlets, including terminals, depots and service stations. These inspections help to ensure that fuel quality standards are being met, increasing consumer confidence and preventing poor quality fuel having negative effects on vehicle operability and air quality.

In 2008–09 the department took 3825 fuel samples and 96.5 per cent complied with fuel standards. Depending on the seriousness of the offence, incidents of non-compliance were dealt with either through administrative actions (warnings and education), civil action or prosecution.

The department facilitated the granting of 24 ministerial approvals for the supply of fuel that does not meet a fuel quality standard. These included the supply of: racing fuels; diesel/biodiesel blends; and diesel used in specialist applications, such as winter mix for colder parts of Australia. A total of $327,825 in fees was collected from applicants seeking approvals.

A full report on the operation of the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 is in the second volume of this set of annual reports.

Alternative fuels

The department continued work to assess the potential benefits and risks of alternative fuels, including biofuels, on human health, the environment and the operation of motor vehicles. In addition to the introduction

of management arrangements for diesel/biodiesel blends, progress in 2008–09 included:

• In August 2008, the department released the results of a study into the health impacts of the use of ethanol-blended petrol in Australia. Although the study estimated marginal health cost savings, overall the benefits of E10 (petrol blended with 10 per cent ethanol) appear to be marginal and will reduce over time as new vehicles with advanced emission technology replace older vehicles.

• Work commenced on consideration of the need for a B20 (diesel blended with 20 per cent biodiesel) fuel quality standard.

• A preliminary process has also commenced to determine whether a fuel quality standard for E85 (85 per cent ethanol blended with 15 per cent petrol) should be developed as part of Australia’s future fuel mix.

In-service emissions from motor vehicles

In addition to monitoring the quality of fuels supplied to the current vehicle fleet, work has continued on key projects to help manage emissions from the vehicles themselves.

The $2.5 million Second National In-Service Emissions (NISE2) study has been successfully completed. The main findings showed that increasingly stringent regulation of petrol vehicle exhaust emissions has significantly reduced air pollutant emissions from individual in-service vehicles, but carbon dioxide emissions from individual vehicle classes are not reducing.


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Work is now under way on scoping a similar study for diesel engine vehicles. It will give a better understanding of the in-service emissions from these vehicles and improve our ability to model the impact on air quality outcomes of potential actions in this area.

Managing woodsmoke pollution

Woodheaters are the major source of particle pollution in many regions of Australia during the cooler months of the year. The department is leading work, under the Environment Protection and Heritage Council, to develop a nationally consistent approach to woodheater management. It is consulting with the industry to more accurately gauge its size and complexity, to allow better management of the potential impact of improved standards for woodheaters.

Emissions from non-road engines

The department is also leading work, through the Environment Protection and Heritage Council, to consider options for managing emissions from a range of non-road engines, including lawnmowers and other garden equipment, and outboard motors. A study to measure emissions from garden equipment engines was completed and found that engines certified to overseas standards generally produce significantly lower emissions than uncertified engines. The study is available at: www.environment.gov.au/atmosphere/airquality/publications/dta-small-engines.html. A consultation regulatory impact statement is being prepared, for consideration by the Environment Protection and Heritage Council late in 2009.

Clean Air Research Program

The $1.4 million Clean Air Research Program, which funded 13 research projects to address major research gaps in the management of air quality, was completed in 2008–09. A national workshop was held in Canberra in October 2008, to present the findings of the research. The results will inform the future management of air quality in Australia. More information on this program can be found at: www.environment.gov.au/atmosphere/airquality/research/carp.html.

Hazardous substance regulation and management

The Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 permits the import, export and transit of hazardous wastes under certain conditions, including the environmentally sound management of the waste to protect both the environment and human health. The Act implements Australia’s obligations under: the Basel Convention on the Control of the Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal; and the Waigani Convention to Ban the Importation into Forum Island Countries of Hazardous and Radioactive Wastes and to Control the Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within the South Pacific Region.

Chemical Policy and Risk Assessment

Every year, the department assesses hundreds of chemicals for the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority and the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme. It provides advice


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on, and input to, improvements in chemical safety, especially on regulatory issues. The department also contributes to each agency’s reform agenda, by contributing to improved systems for the regulation of chemicals and the department’s role in those systems. Specific strategies include: increasing expertise in modelling techniques for rapid assessment of existing chemicals; the development of criteria for identifying persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals; finalising manuals documenting the environmental chemical risk assessment process; participating in the international work-share process for parallel assessment of chemicals between several countries; and contributing to the reform process under way for industrial chemical assessment.

Protection of the Ozone Layer

The department is responsible for ensuring that Australia meets its Montreal Protocol phase-out obligations. Under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989, the department controls the manufacture, import and export of all ozone-depleting substances and their synthetic greenhouse gas replacements. It also regulates end-uses, to minimise emissions to the atmosphere. The department works with industry and the community to implement programs to phase-out ozone-depleting substances and to minimise emissions of these substances and their synthetic greenhouse gas replacements.

Biotechnology Risk Assessment

The Gene Technology Regulator, within the Department of Health and Ageing,

regulates genetically modified organisms under the Gene Technology Act 2000. The Gene Technology Act 2000 requires the regulator to seek advice from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts on each intentional release of a genetically modified organism into the environment. The department prepares briefing to assist the minister with his advice to the regulator on the risk assessment and risk management plan. This ensures that environmental risks are adequately assessed and managed. To stay abreast of developments in this evolving field, the department is managing a number of research projects to improve basic knowledge of environmental risks associated with genetically modified organisms. The department also supports the minister’s involvement in the Commonwealth Biotechnology Ministerial Council.

Biotechnology research and trade in its products is an international issue. The department is involved with biotechnology issues in the Convention on Biological Diversity, the associated Cartagena protocol on Biosafety and a variety of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) working groups. Its work includes preparation and finalisation of international scientific guidance documents for the OECD.

Nanotechnology

Like biotechnology, nanotechnology is a relatively new field that has the potential to provide human health and environmental benefits. It is important, however, that appropriate regulatory arrangements are in place to manage any human health or environmental risks resulting from this


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technology. The department is currently involved in the Health, Safety and Environment Working Group under the National Nanotechnology Strategy, contributing to the ongoing development of policy and risk analysis in this rapidly evolving area.

National Pollutant Inventory

The department hosts the National Pollutant Inventory (NPI), which is a free, publicly available, database of chemical emissions information. People use it to find out the types and amounts of chemical substances being emitted into the air, land and water, from industrial processes and other activities. The 93 substances included in the inventory have been identified as important because of their possible health and environmental effects. The database is available at www.npi.gov.au.

The NPI National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) is the statutory basis for the NPI. The NEPM requires industry to report to state and territory environment agencies if emissions exceed certain levels. It requires the department to publish the results each year in the NPI. One of the aims of the inventory is to encourage government, industry and the community to improve their environmental performance by reducing emissions.

Main achievements

In 2008–09, the department focused on improvements to the systems and processes that are essential to the NPI. Some of these included:

• updating and improving guidance materials for industry reporting, to reflect changes in emission factors as well as industrial processes

• providing training to users of the new NPI Online Reporting System–around 470 industry reporters in total attended throughout the 54 training sessions conducted around Australia, and

• redesigning the NPI website.

Annual results

• The 2007–08 NPI facility data were published on 31 March 2009. Each year the number of facilities reporting continues to rise.

• In 2007–08, 87 substances were reported to the NPI from 4116 facilities. Of the 87 NPI substances reported by facilities, 49 showed a decrease compared with 2006–07.

• The 2007–08 dataset includes new information, as a result of the variation to the NPI NEPM. This covers reporting of new substances, such as acrolein and particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), and the reporting of mercury at the recently lowered threshold level of 5 kilograms used per annum.

Variation to the NPI National Environment Protection Measure

In November 2008, a variation was made to the NPI NEPM, to remove interim greenhouse gas and energy reporting requirements now covered by the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007. The NPI NEPM was varied to fulfill the NPI’s potential as a major tool for environmental management and cleaner production. One key change required industry to report the transfer of NPI substances in waste.


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Education for Sustainability

The department undertakes and supports a number of programs to encourage the Australian community to live more sustainably, including: the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI); the Australian Research Institute in Education for Sustainability (ARIES) (at Macquarie University); and the Education for Sustainability Grants program.

The National Action Plan for Education for Sustainability was released in April 2009 as a blueprint for disseminating the knowledge, tools and skills Australians need to make decisions that create a more sustainable society.

To assist in the plan’s implementation, the National Council for Education for Sustainability was reconstituted and re-convened in April 2009. Chaired by Mr Greg Bourne, the council will advise the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts on national needs and priorities

Number of NPI reporting facilities EQD

0

500

1000

2000

1500

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04

Year

2004–05 2005–06 2006–08 2007–08

on education for sustainability, and will champion key national initiatives.

A number of national research projects were completed by ARIES during 2008–09 to improve understanding of effective community education for sustainability. Topics included: embedding sustainability into the training of potential industry leaders through partnerships with corporations and business schools; improving the sustainability of supply chains in the food and construction sectors; and embedding sustainability within teacher education in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

The Education for Sustainability Grants program funds best practice projects to deliver education, training and capacity building for sustainability. The projects in 2008–09 included sustainable marketing in the retail industry; establishment of a Responsible Investment Academy; an e-waste training package for business and local


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government; and development of sustainability education resources for small-to-medium sized enterprises.

Australia continues to contribute to the education for sustainability activities in the Asia-Pacific region. A Statement of Cooperation was signed with the Japanese Ministry of the Environment for sustainable development in December 2008. It provides for sharing of resources, and experiences and the development of collaborative projects.

Environment Protection and Heritage Council

During 2008–09 the department supported the Australian Government’s role as member and Chair of the Council and its Standing and Strategic Committees. The Australian Government’s engagement in Council decision-making achieved:

• Support for the development of a national waste policy which will provide clarity and national consistency for the management of waste in Australia.

• Approval of the Environmental Guidelines for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Geological Storage–2009. The guidelines provide a nationally consistent approach to environmental assessment of carbon capture and storage proposals and will assist Australia reduce its carbon footprint.

• Agreement to develop a set of national windfarm development guidelines. The guidelines, which will be developed in collaboration with the Local Government and Planning Ministers Council, will provide national consistency and transparency in the planning, assessment, approval and environmental monitoring of wind farms.

• Variation of the Diesel Vehicle Emissions National Environment Protection Measure to adequately reflect the availability of new technologies, and building on experience gained in implementing the measure.

Supervision of uranium mining

The Supervising Scientist is a statutory office under the Environment Protection (Alligator Rivers Region) Act 1978 and the occupant of the office is the head of the department’s Supervising Scientist Division. The Division supervises uranium mining in the Alligator Rivers Region (which includes Kakadu National Park) and works closely with the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism and the Northern Territory Department of Regional Development, Primary Industries, Fisheries and Resources, in fulfilling this role.

The department has specific roles and responsibilities under the Act to protect the environment of the Alligator Rivers Region from the potential impacts of uranium mining. The roles and responsibilities include environmental monitoring, supervision, and research into the impact of uranium mining.

The Alligator Rivers Region, some 220 kilometres east of Darwin, contains a number


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Above: Map of the Alligator Rivers Region, Northern Territory.


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of former, current and potential uranium mines, including:

• Ranger, which is currently in operation

• Nabarlek, where mining has ceased and rehabilitation is under way

• Jabiluka, which has been in long-term care and maintenance since December 2003, and

• Koongarra, a potential mine that is the subject of discussions between the traditional Aboriginal owners and the mining company, Koongarra Pty Ltd.

These four sites are not part of Kakadu National Park. However, there are a number of very small former uranium deposits, mined out during the 1950s and 1960s, that are located in what is now the southern portion of Kakadu National Park.

To achieve its objectives, the Supervising Scientist Division:

• plays a key role in supervising the environmental aspects of regulatory arrangements applying to uranium mining within the region

• works closely with the Northern Territory Government’s regulatory body and other stakeholders, to ensure that regulatory decisions are based on the best available scientific knowledge. This also ensures that they are in accordance with the environmental requirements attached to the Australian Government approvals for the mining activities.

• undertakes a comprehensive regime of regular audits and inspections of existing and former uranium mine sites within the region

• undertakes detailed, independent, scientific investigations into incidents, breaches of approval conditions and environmental requirements of uranium mining operations

• oversees the regulation of uranium mining in the region, to ensure that the government and community can be confident that regulation is meeting expected standards

• undertakes an ongoing independent, comprehensive, chemical, biological and radiological monitoring program, designed to detect any potential effects of uranium mining in the region

• undertakes targeted scientific research, to optimise the monitoring programs and to provide early warning of any potential effects of uranium mining on the environment of the region.

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the Australian Government’s key piece of environmental legislation. The objectives of the Act include: to provide for the protection of the environment; promote a cooperative approach to the protection and management of the environment; and to assist in the implementation of our international environmental responsibilities. The department works with a wide range of stakeholders, including government, industry groups and proponents, non-government organisations, the community, land-holders and indigenous peoples, in administering the Act.

There are seven matters of national environmental significance to which the


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Act applies. On 12 November 2008, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2008 was passed, establishing the environment of the marine park as a new, eighth, matter of national environmental significance. As a result, the environmental impact assessment and approval provisions of the EPBC Act will apply to actions that have a significant impact on the environment of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park from 25 November 2009.

Further details on the EPBC Act can be found in Volume 2.

Species listing, recovery plans and information

The EPBC Act provides for the listing of nationally threatened native species and ecological communities, native migratory species and marine species. There are a total of 1752 threatened species and 46 ecological communities currently listed under the Act.

The Auditor-General, in Audit Report No. 31 of 2006–07, reported on the administration of measures to protect and conserve threatened species and ecological communities including the listing process and recovery plans. Key findings showed that there were substantial inconsistencies between Australian Government and state and territory lists of threatened species and ecological communities; information backing listings was in many cases deficient; and that there were excessive delays in consideration of assessments of nominated marine fish by the minister. The department continues to address these audit findings, and actions over the past year are included in the information below.

Protecting threatened species and ecological communities

Under the EPBC Act, any person may nominate a native species, ecological community or threatening process for listing. The minister makes the final decision on listed species and ecological communities based on advice by the Threatened Species Scientific Committee.

In 2008–09, the Threatened Species Scientific Committee completed assessments of species and ecological communities, which the minister had included in the finalised priority assessment lists. The minister made a number of decisions involving the new listing, delisting and status of species and ecological communities. Fifty-three species and eight ecological communities were listed during the year. Assessments of five marine species started in 2008–09. In January 2009 the minister listed Eastern Gemfish and School Shark as conservation dependent, and, in May 2009, the minister decided not to list the Patagonian Toothfish as a threatened species, because it is being managed in a sustainable manner.

In 2008–09, the department undertook assessments, using amendments to the EPBC Act made in 2006, to focus on: species and ecological communities in greatest need of protection; clearly defined assessment timeframes; and more open public nomination and consultation processes.

Under the theme of ‘Rivers, wetlands and groundwater dependent species and ecosystems of inland Australia’, nominations were received for 39 species, one key threatening process and nine ecological


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communities. An audit of state and territory lists of ecological communities was undertaken, in consultation with state and territory governments, to identify ecological communities of highest priority for future assessment under the EPBC Act.

In 2008, the National Koala Conservation Strategy was reviewed by a steering committee comprising the Australian Government, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia governments and the Australian Koala Foundation. The revised strategy, incorporating a new implementation plan, was approved for public consultation by the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council. Public consultation commenced in June 2009 and is due to conclude in August 2009.

Concurrent with this review, and at the minister’s request, the Threatened Species Scientific Committee is again considering listing the koala under the EPBC Act with a decision due by September 2010.

For all newly listed ecological communities a policy statement is produced, and distributed to all key stakeholders as an information brochure. Listing and conservation advices, and distribution maps for each ecological community, are made publicly available on the department’s web site. Two ecological community policy statements were published and distributed, drawing a very good response from stakeholders on the usefulness of these publications.

Improving species information

To achieve consistency between Australian Government and state and territory threatened species lists, and to increase the exchange of

information, the Australian Government has Species Information Partnerships in place with the governments of South Australia, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Tasmania and Victoria. The partnerships allow for targeted expenditure of limited conservation resources and facilitate the best possible conservation outcomes for threatened species.

In 2008–09, information provided by the states and territories under the partnerships, supported listing decisions under the EPBC Act for 24 Western Australian species, 11 Tasmanian species and one Victorian species.

The department also instigated discussions with all state and territory jurisdictions on better ways to align lists in the longer term and reduce duplication of effort. These discussions have been positive and are continuing.

Recovery plans and conservation advices

In 2008–09, the minister approved 30 recovery plans, covering 30 species, under the EPBC Act. A total of 490 species and 15 ecological communities have recovery plans in force.

During 2008–09, the Australian Government provided $1.9 million to the states and territories to develop and implement plans to recover terrestrial threatened species. In addition, $2 million was directed to saving the Tasmanian Devil through the Caring for Our Country program, which also provides opportunities to contribute to the recovery of threatened species through general funding for biodiversity and natural icons.

The Conservation Advice Project was completed in December 2008, with 763 conservation advices published on the


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department’s web site. This fulfilled the department’s obligation under the transitional arrangements, as outlined by the 2006 amendments to the EPBC Act, to have in place by 31 December 2008, a conservation advice for those listed species and ecological communities identified as not yet having a recovery plan.

Education and information

The Species Profile and Threats Database (SPRAT) consolidates available information about species and ecological communities listed under the EPBC Act. The database, which is publicly available, helps the department, proponents and stakeholders comply with the Act.

There are 2267 species listed in the database. Data added or reviewed in 2008–09 included the updating of 437 species profiles, and the addition of 35 new species profiles. Profiles for 283 species and 10 ecological communities were publicly released.

The department supported the Threatened Species Network, a community-based program, administered by World Wide Fund for Nature–Australia and funded under Caring for Our Country, at a cost of $1.5 million. Network activities during the year benefited more than 40 species and ecological communities listed under the Act and included 25 new projects. The Network also provided advice on threatened species to more than 63 advisory panels, recovery teams, assessment panels, and survey and research teams.

The department funds an out-posted staff member, the National Farmers Federation

Environment Liaison Officer. The occupant works closely with the Federation’s staff, state farm organisations, individual farmers, state government officers and other natural resource managers. The position gives assistance on a wide range of national environmental issues, and facilitates strong links between the Federation and key staff members within the department. Providing information on the EPBC Act continues to be one of the highest priorities for this role, particularly advice on the implications for landowners of listings of species and ecological communities.

Environmental assessments and approvals

Many industry sectors undertake activities with the potential to impact matters of national environmental significance. The EPBC Act provides for consistent and transparent regulation for activities from all industry sectors, which may have such effects. The Act has strict statutory timeframes and well established processes to deliver acceptable and timely environmental outcomes.

The department works proactively with proponents to facilitate their decision-making on whether to refer an action under the EPBC Act, and to determine innovative approaches in developing mitigation measures and solutions to protect the environment. Only those projects that are likely to have a significant impact on a matter of national environmental significance require further assessment and approval under the Act before they can proceed. The Act also has the flexibility to select an assessment approach that is most appropriate to the complexity and scale of the


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project. Where appropriate, assessments are also conducted in collaboration with state and territory assessment processes to minimise duplication for proponents and increase public transparency.

The department works closely with proponents to ensure the requirements of the environmental assessment process under the EPBC Act are well understood. It strongly encourages proponents to discuss projects early in their development, so issues can be highlighted for them in their decision-making and planning.

The EPBC Act provides a highly transparent process–with all activities referred made available for public comment via the department’s website. This transparency helps to ensure that environmental assessments take full account of community concerns as well as the widest range of expert opinion. These contributions in turn help to improve the quality of environmental regulation and protection.

Referrals and approvals

During 2008–09, 438 referrals were received, a five per cent increase on last year, and 52 actions were approved, a two per cent increase on last year. One action was not approved compared to two last year. Five actions were determined to be clearly unacceptable compared to one last year. Seventeen referrals were withdrawn by proponents following decisions that they required assessment and approval under the Act.

Since the EPBC Act commencement in July 2000, a total of 3133 actions have been

referred for assessment of their effects on matters of national environmental significance.

The EPBC Act prescribes timeframes for decision-making through the referral, assessment and approval process. See Volume 2 for more detail on environmental referrals, assessments and approvals.

Strategic assessments

Under section 146 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the minister may agree to conduct a strategic assessment of potential actions under a policy, program or plan. A total of three strategic assessments were commenced or progressed in 2008–09.

In February 2008 the Australian and Western Australian governments reached an agreement to make a strategic assessment of a plan for a common-user liquefied natural gas processing precinct in the Kimberley. After an extensive and consultative shortlisting process covering over 40 sites, James Price Point, north of Broome, was identified as the preferred site. The site is now subject to a thorough and rigorous environmental, technical and social impact assessment, to determine its suitability as a location for the precinct.

In September 2008 the minister and the ACT Minister for Planning announced a strategic assessment of the proposed development of Molonglo and North Weston in the ACT. This assessment will identify: the impacts on matters of national environmental significance; strategies to avoid, mitigate or offset those impacts; and arrangements to secure desired environmental outcomes in the long term. This


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will be supplemented by broader strategies for ecologically sustainable development and biodiversity conservation in the Molonglo Valley.

In March 2009 the Australian and Victorian governments signed an agreement to undertake a strategic assessment of the impacts associated with the revision of Melbourne’s urban growth boundary and associated transport infrastructure. The assessment offers the opportunity to identify and protect matters of national environmental significance early in the planning process, so that conservation strategies can be put in place before individual developments commence. Protecting the listed Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plains ecological community will be an important priority for this project.

Education and information

In February 2009, the minister approved the National Assessment Guidelines for Dredging, replacing the 2002 National Ocean Disposal Guidelines for Dredged Material. The Guidelines assist applicants and assessors by:

• incorporating current best-practice methods and approaches

• providing guidance on assessing the impacts of loading dredged material

• aligning the assessment process with international obligations, including consideration of alternatives to sea disposal and beneficial uses, and

• providing greater guidance on physical impact assessment.

The National Assessment Guidelines for Dredging should be read in conjunction with

the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981, and Australia’s international obligations outlined in: the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matters (the London Convention) and the London Protocol (on sea dumping).

The National Assessment Guidelines for Dredging were well received internationally. Other countries are likely to draw on the guidelines when conducting their own assessments and approvals. The 32nd meeting of the Scientific Group under the London Convention and the third meeting of the Scientific Group under the London Protocol, in May 2009, noted support for inclusion of a weight-of-evidence approach, acknowledgement of uncertainties in toxicity testing, and the benefits of presenting detailed technical information in an easy to read document.

A Wind Farm Industry Policy Statement was developed, to assist operators in the wind farm industry to decide whether or not proposed actions require assessment and approval under the EPBC Act.

This is one of a series of EPBC Act policy statements, aimed at providing more detailed guidance on how the Act may apply to specific places, species, ecological communities, or industry sectors and activities.


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Permit approvals and wildlife management

Sea dumping and sea installations permits

The Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 fulfils Australia’s international obligations under the London Protocol, which aims to protect and preserve the marine environment from pollution, especially from dumping at sea. In 2008–09, eight sea-dumping permits were issued by the department, for the disposal of dredged material.

The Sea Installations Act 1987 regulates construction and operation of human-made devices, equipment and other installations in the marine environment. It ensures they are operated safely and are environmentally sound. In 2008–09, two permit exemptions were issued by the department for sea installations.

Ocean fertilisation

Ocean fertilisation has emerged as a new technology, which involves “fertilising” large surface areas of the ocean with nutrients, such as iron, nitrogen or phosphorus, to stimulate primary productivity as a means of mitigating climate change or enhancing fisheries. The magnitude and duration of impacts on the environment and other species are, however, unknown at present.

The Australian Government has responded to the emergence of ocean fertilisation with a precautionary policy position. Noting its commitment to protecting the marine environment, the need to enhance our understanding of the role of oceans in the global carbon cycle, and the uncertainties

about potential environmental impacts, the Australian Government will:

• pursue the global, effective, transparent and precautionary regulation of ocean fertilisation activities

• promote the London Protocol and Convention as the appropriate global regulatory mechanisms for ocean fertilisation in all forums

• promote research on natural analogues to ocean fertilisation (regions that already receive elevated nutrient inputs), as a low-risk way to address the uncertainties about environmental impacts

• ensure Australian activities are undertaken in accordance with international legal obligations, including the Antarctic Treaty System

• remain informed about all relevant ocean fertilisation activity in our region, and

• provide clear advice to Australian stakeholders and international organisations on this policy.

The Australian Government will pursue this agenda domestically by regulating ocean fertilisation activities in Australian waters under the EPBC Act and the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981. The government is also pursuing this approach internationally through the London Protocol and Convention.

Wildlife trade

The department protects native animal and plant species and ecosystems by regulating: the import of live specimens, the import and export of wildlife and wildlife products listed under the Convention on International Trade in


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Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and the export of Australian native species or products from them, under Part 13A of the EPBC Act.

In 2008–09, the department received six applications to amend the ‘live import list’, which lists species that can be legally imported into Australia without assessment (provided quarantine requirements are satisfied). The minister decided to make one amendment to the live import list, to add the Common Eggfly Butterfly and rejected two further proposals to import live exotic specimens, the savannah cat and the large earth bumblebee. A number of taxonomic changes to the live import list were also made.

The Ornamental Fish Management Implementation Group continued the implementation of a strategic approach to control the illegal import of noxious ornamental aquarium fish species. This group has representatives from all jurisdictions and includes representatives from the department, as well as the industry and hobby sectors.

The department is developing a revised national strategy for the commercial harvest of kangaroos. A consultancy was undertaken in 2008–09, with a draft report made available to jurisdictions for discussion in June.

The department led the development of the Code of Practice on the Humane Treatment of Wild and Farmed Australian Crocodiles, which was endorsed by the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council on 21 May 2009. On 7 November 2008 the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council endorsed two National Codes of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and

Wallabies—one for Commercial and one for Non-Commercial purposes. Following an intensive review by a working group of the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council, which included a public comment period, these codes replaced the 1990 code.

The department ensures that certain Australian animals exported to overseas zoological institutions receive appropriate levels of care. In 2008–09, there were 40 assessments involving transfers of live animals for exhibition in zoological institutions and the department finalised a series of conditions for the overseas transfer of macropods, koalas and koala semen.

Species listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, are further assessed by ensuring that international transfers involving these species are contributing to global conservation efforts, through the approval of Cooperative Conservation Programs. The department approved ten Cooperative Conservation Programs in 2008–09.

Improved education on wildlife trade and products

In combating illegal trade, the department works closely with partner agencies, sharing intelligence and resources. The department works with: state and territory wildlife authorities; the Australian Customs Service; the Australian Federal Police; CITES management authorities in other countries; Interpol; and some non-government organisations.


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The department ran information booths at:

• the Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Council of Australia Annual Conference and Travel Expo 2009, to raise wildlife trade awareness amongst the public and the industry, and

• at the Australasian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Annual Conference 2009, to inform traders and professionals of obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, relating to trade in international wildlife products.

Feedback from these activities was very positive from the general public and indicated that awareness of wildlife trade issues had been increased.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

As part of Australia’s obligations under the Convention, the department hosted the 2009 Oceania Capacity Building Workshop for a number of Pacific island countries. The workshop led to greater awareness among Pacific island countries of their obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Follow up activities included working with relevant New Zealand authorities on CITES species identification products for the region. It also prepared a whole-of-government response to the recommendations of the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Treaties on several amendments agreed by the 14th Conference of the Parties to

the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

The department led a number of other wildlife trade initiatives. One of these was continuing wildlife trade enforcement training provided to Australian Customs.

Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT)

The department undertakes the obligations associated with Australia’s membership of the CAWT. The Coalition was initiated by the United States and includes a number of country and non-government organisation members. CAWT partners have agreed to jointly and separately: reduce consumer demand for illegally traded wildlife; improve wildlife law enforcement; and catalyse high level political will to fight wildlife trafficking.

Compliance and enforcement

Environmental regulation under the EPBC Act is undertaken within the framework of the department’s compliance and enforcement policy. Compliance and enforcement activities range from education and audit, to investigation and court proceedings, where appropriate.

The department undertook 17 compliance audits through the EPBC Act’s compliance auditing program. A full report can be found in Volume 2.

There were 522 new incidents reported to the department and assessed for compliance with the EPBC Act. The department considers all incident reports referred to it, in accordance with the DEWHA Compliance and


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Enforcement Policy. An initial assessment is made on whether the Act is likely to apply, and the potential for harm to a matter of national environmental significance. The department has a graduated response to all incidents, from caution letters to detailed investigations. A copy of the DEWHA Compliance and Enforcement Policy is at: www.environment.gov.au/about/publications/compliancepolicy.html. This year a number of the enforcement remedies, introduced by the amendments to the Act which came into force in 2007, were used for the first time. A full report is in Volume 2.

Joint compliance

The department engages with other environmental regulators, particularly state and territory environmental agencies, through the Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators Network (AELERT), sharing information and raising awareness of the department’s regulatory role. During the year, the department assumed responsibility for the Secretariat to AELERT. The costs of this function are shared between participating agencies, with the Australian Government paying half.

During 2008–09 the department engaged in a joint compliance project with three New South Wales government agencies, to examine illegal water diversion structures in the Macquarie Marshes Ramsar wetland. This area is protected under both state legislation and the EPBC Act. Four field operations were undertaken over a ten month period, and enforcement action has been commenced by state agencies under relevant legislation. The department’s presence in the field emphasised

a whole-of-government approach to impacts caused by water diversion and theft.

Evaluation

Ozone Protection

The department achieved its objectives for protection of the ozone layer. Australia has exceeded its international obligations to phase-out the use of ozone-depleting substances. All statutory requirements of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 were met. Detailed performance results on the operation of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 are in the second volume of this set of annual reports.

Product Stewardship for Oil

The report of the second independent review of the Product Stewardship (Oil) Act 2000, conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, was tabled in Parliament on 14 May 2009. The report reflects positively on the Product Stewardship for Oil Program and the achievements made in oil recycling, while making a number of recommendations on data collection, communication, administration and future direction of the program. The Australian Government will respond to these recommendations in due course.


During 2008–09, the Supervising Scientist Division continued to conduct research, monitoring, supervision and audit activities. Following trials, further research and statistical testing during the 2006–07 and 2007–08


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wet seasons, the Division revised its water monitoring program. It implemented an in situ biological monitoring methodology and discontinued the former creekside method. The primary sampling site in Magela Creek was moved slightly downstream, to better align with the location of the continuous monitoring equipment. These refinements provide a more streamlined and internally consistent monitoring system, without compromising data quality and continuity (see Case study 1).

All findings to date indicate that the environment of the Alligator Rivers Region remains protected from the impacts of uranium mining. Detailed performance results are provided in the Supervising Scientist’s annual report on the operation of the Environment Protection (Alligator Rivers Region) Act 1978, at: www.environment.gov.au/about/publications/annual-report/.

ANAO audit

In 2006, the Australian National Audit Office undertook an audit of the department’s administration of the EPBC Act, and made recommendations in four key areas. These were: improved progress in nomination of commercial fish species; comprehensiveness of lists of species and ecological communities; improvements in the completion, review and reporting of recovery planning; and improved compliance and enforcement of the Act, especially through promotion and auditing processes.

The department continues to implement these recommendations. A full report can be found in the EPBC Act report in Volume 2.

Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)

In October 2008 the minister commissioned an independent review of the EPBC Act, as required under section 522A of the Act. The Review is examining: the general operation of the Act; the extent to which the objectives have been achieved; the appropriateness of current matters of national environmental significance; and the effectiveness of biodiversity and wildlife conservation arrangements. This is the first review of the Act since its commencement on 16 July 2000 and is being undertaken by Dr Allan Hawke, supported by a panel of experts. Further details can be found in the EPBC Act report in Volume 2.


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Each northern wet season, the Supervising Scientist Division conducts an intensive stream monitoring program, to assess the effects of runoff water from the Ranger uranium mine on the adjacent waters in Magela Creek. One of the methods employed is a form of ‘early warning’ biological monitoring – known as toxicity monitoring. Here, reproductive output (egg production) of the freshwater snail, Amerianna cumingi, is measured. Since 1991 this approach has involved pumping a continuous flow of water from the creek to tanks containing test animals, located under shelters on the creek’s bank. However, there were a number of significant issues with the deployment of this method, particularly the high staff resourcing demands and the need to maintain complex infrastructure prone to damage from flooding and other weather-related impacts.

The constraints of the creekside program led to a systematic evaluation of the viability of in situ testing – that is, deploying floating containers, containing the same snail species, in Magela Creek itself. The key research challenge was to ensure that the in situ method was capable of providing results comparable with the creekside monitoring test data collected since 1991–92. A three-year period was set

aside for this evaluation: in situ method development in the first wet season and comparative testing of the two methods in the second and third wet seasons.

For both in situ and creekside testing, groups of snail pairs were exposed to creek waters both upstream and downstream of the Ranger mine site. Figure 1 shows the mean number of eggs per snail pair, and upstream–downstream difference values for each testing method. The results showed greater snail egg production in the in situ method compared to the creekside method, probably due to the greater availability and accumulation of food (such as algae and detritus) in in situ containers. However, the critical measurement is the upstream-downstream ‘difference’ value, because possible mine-related effects on snail egg production are detected by comparing, statistically, a set of difference values associated with a mine ‘event’, with those values known not to be associated with mining activities. Notably, the upstream-downstream difference values produced by the in situ and creekside testing methods were not significantly different over the two seasons of comparative testing.

These positive results led to the decision to replace creekside with in situ toxicity monitoring, beginning in the 2008–09

Case Study 1: Development of cost-efficient, ‘early warning’ techniques to monitor and assess mining impact

Case studies


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wet season. In situ monitoring is now providing a more environmentally-relevant testing method, with greatly reduced staff resources and no need to maintain costly and complex weather-prone infrastructure.

The ease of deployment and flexibility of the in situ method also lends itself to ready deployment at sites elsewhere.

Above: Comparison of snail egg production for creekside and in situ toxicity monitoring, for the 2005–06, 2006–07 and 2007–08 wet seasons. In March 2007 a flood severely damaged creekside infrastructure. After this, only the in situ method could be used for the rest of the season.


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Australia has up to 12 million feral cats, which threaten the survival of unique native animals, such as the eastern barred bandicoot. In recognition of this, feral cats have been listed as a Key Threatening Process under the EPBC Act and a Threat Abatement Plan is currently being implemented.

The savannah cat is a relatively new type that crosses domestic cats with wild African servals. Several cat breeders wanted to import and breed these hybrid animals for the ‘designer’ pet trade, appealing to those people wanting to own more exotic and wild-looking animals. African servals are currently only maintained in zoos or equivalent bodies in Australia, under high security facilities.

In July 2008 the minister used his powers under the EPBC Act to amend the “List of Specimens taken to be Suitable for Live Import” (live import list) to prohibit the import of savannah cats and other serval cat hybrids. This was the first time in the history of the Act that the minister had initiated a proposal for an assessment of the potential environmental impacts of a proposed imported specimen.

The department undertook a comprehensive environmental assessment of the risks that this hybrid cat could pose to our native wildlife. Two petitions with approximately 9,500 names, over 500 written public submissions, and nine state and territory government submissions were received, in response to the draft assessment report. These were overwhelmingly in favour of a prohibition on importing savannah cats.

Although cat hybrids are already imported into Australia, the savannah cat is genetically different to both the domestic cat and other hybrids. The department’s findings indicated that there was an extreme risk that savannah cats could eventually establish and become integrated into the feral domestic cat population in Australia. Not only could the savannah cat itself have an adverse environmental impact, but feral domestic cats could increase in size and hunting prowess, due to an inheritance of serval genes from savannah cat matings. This would mean they would be likely to cause more damage than currently occurs and could pose further risks to native fauna and species not currently preyed upon by feral cats.

In determining whether to amend the live import list to prohibit the importation of the domestic cat and serval hybrid specimens, the minister considered the final assessment report, available scientific evidence, and public and government agency comments, as required under the EPBC Act. The definition of domestic cat on the live import list was amended to exclude domestic cats and (reproductive material) that contained serval genes, including the savannah cat.

The effect of this amendment is that importation into Australia of cats with serval genes is now an offence under the EPBC Act. The importation of such a specimen may result in seizure of the specimen and prosecution action.

Case Study 2: Threat Abatement Plan–Savannah Cat


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In July 2008, the minister rejected an application under the EPBC Act for a residential development near Mission Beach in far north Queensland. This was done to protect the southern cassowary. It was the first time the minister had rejected a proposal at the referral stage for ‘clearly unacceptable’ impacts on a matter of national environmental significance.

Scientific studies on the Mission Beach cassowary population indicate that this population is under severe threat. Land clearing and development has meant that most of the former cassowary habitat has been lost.

The planned development included the subdivision of Lot 66 at Rockingham Close into 40 residential lots. It would have involved clearing vegetation, earthworks and the construction of a new access road. The proposed development was through a critical cassowary movement corridor,

between the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and important coastal habitat.

This outcome was achieved through a great deal of work in far north Queensland to protect this unique and severely threatened animal. It included projects by the department with the local community and other stakeholders to protect and re-establish habitat linkages for the cassowary.

Cassowaries are recognised for the crucial role they play in sustaining the rainforest. In the Cape York Peninsula and the Wet Tropics, the southern cassowary eats rainforest fruits like native laurels, lilly pilly and palms, and disperses the seeds in its droppings. The survival of the species is important for the long-term viability of rainforest communities in the Wet Tropics region.

Case Study 3: Decisive action to protect Mission Beach Cassowaries


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Output Group 1.5: Response to the impacts of human settlementsPerformance Indicator Target

2008–09 results

The (i) median and (ii) maximum concentration of uranium measured in surface water downstream of Ranger mine

The number of times the guideline concentration limit for uranium of six micrograms per litre was exceeded

(1) 0.043 micrograms per litre

(2) 0.370 micrograms per litre 0

Ambient concentrations of key air pollutants in major urban areas

Effective monitoring of key air pollutants in major urban areas

Monitoring has continued under the National Environment Protection Measures for both Ambient Air and Air Toxics. Particle and ozone levels continue to exceed national standards in some major cities.

National Environment Protection Measures (NEPM) for air quality are implemented and reviewed to provide world’s best-practice in the protection of community health

Review of the Ambient Air NEPM is completed

The Ambient Air NEPM review has been delayed and is currently scheduled to finish in late 2009.

Number of fuel samples under the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000

2500 fuel samples taken and analysed

3825 fuel samples taken and analysed

Road transport fuels are covered by a fuel quality standard, and the potential benefits and risks of emerging fuels are assessed

Determination of fuel standards for biodiesel blends and fuel ethanol

During the year the diesel standard was amended to allow up to 5% biodiesel as a first step in the management of biodiesel blends. Work commenced on consideration of the need for a B20 standard.

Work also commenced to consider the need for an E85 fuel quality standard.

Government contributes to the implementation or development of product stewardship policies in agreed national priority

Consultation on the proposed national tyre recycling scheme completed. The proposed national scheme is presented to the Environment Protection and Heritage Council

Consultation on a proposed national tyre recycling scheme was completed, along with follow-up work emerging from the public process. A decision regulatory impact statement is to be presented to the Environment Protection and Heritage Council in November 2009.

The Government contributes to the mid-term review of the National Packaging Covenant

The mid-term review of the National Packaging Covenant was completed and published.


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2008–09 results

Volume of waste oil recycled

Detailed performance results appear in annual reports on the operation of the Product Stewardship (Oil) Act 2000

267 million litres of used oil was recycled in 2008–09.

Environmental impact of chemicals and genetically modified organisms

Complete all assessments of impacts on time for national regulators

1) 141 industrial chemical assessments completed.

2) 69 agricultural and veterinary environmental risk assessments completed.

3) approximately $1.67 million in fees cost-recovered for these assessments.

All gene technology assessments completed in the required timeframe.

Levels of chemicals of concern in the environment

National monitoring sites established and chemicals of concern sampled and measured

Extensive scientific and expert input has been obtained for the design of a national sampling strategy, involving national monitoring sites. Chemicals of concern have been sampled in some biota and air samples, with analytical results pending.

Safe management of international movement of hazardous waste

Meet all statutory requirements and international obligations for regulating imports and exports to ensure sound environmental management

In 2008–09 the department processed 50 applications for permits to import and export hazardous wastes (17 exports, and 15 imports). Twenty permits were granted, one application was refused and 17 were withdrawn; 12 applications were still to be resolved as at 30 June 2009.

All permit applications were processed within the statutory timeframes.

Use and emissions of stratospheric ozone depleting substances and synthetic greenhouse gases

Meet all statutory requirements and international obligations for regulating imports, manufacture, emissions, recycling and destruction, so that use and emissions are reduced

Imports of 128.8 ozone-depleting potential (ODP) tonnes in 2008, compared to Montreal Protocol limits of 405.1 tonnes for Australia in 2008.


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2008–09 results

Number of actions potentially affecting matters of national environmental significance under the EPBC Act, whose adverse environmental impacts have been addressed

95% of assessments completed within the statutory timeframe

Under Part 3 of the EPBC Act, 462 matters were protected through the referral, assessment and approval process. This is an increase of 27 matters from 2007–08.

76% of assessments completed within the statutory timeframe.

Number of audits and post approval inspections of approved actions

18 audits and 18 post approval inspections

17 audits and 9 post approval site inspections completed.

Number of plans/policies/programs that are the subject of strategic assessment or engagement

18 activities

Strategic assessments underway in: the Kimberley, WA; Molonglo ACT; and Melbourne Vic.

5 draft policy statements released for public comment (western ringtail possum, spiny rice-flower, golden sun moth, growling grass frog, tiger quoll (SE mainland): 1080 baiting).

9 more in preparation.

Number of species, ecological communities and threatening processes assessed for listing, delisting or change of listing category

50 assessments

53 species added to the list

6 species uplisted

6 species downlisted

2 delisted

2 ineligible

2 assessed with status unchanged

18 ecological communities under active assessment.

8 ecological communities added to the list

1 ecological community de-listed

Percentage of listed species or ecological communities for which a recovery plan or conservation advice exists or is in preparation

100%

100%


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Resources

Output 1.5 – Response to the impacts of human settlementsAdministered items Budget

2008-09 $’000

(a)


$’000 (b)

Variation $’000

(a)-(b)

Appropriation Bill 1Biofuels taskforce 100 98 2

National Environment Protection Council 429 429 –

Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities 25,395 25,364 31

Special AccountsOzone protection and synthetic greenhouse gas (Administered) 4,127 4,848 (721)

Departmental OutputsResponse to the impacts of human settlements 101,873 104,870 (2,997)



Outcome 2Antarctica


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Introduction

The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts is responsible for advancing Australia’s interests in Antarctica by supporting Antarctic and Southern Ocean programs, participating in international forums, and conducting scientific research.

The department’s Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) is responsible for leading Australia’s Antarctic program.

Main responsibilities for this outcome:

• Antarctic Treaty System

• Antarctic and Southern Ocean environment protection

• Australian Antarctic Territory and Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands administration

• Antarctic and Southern Ocean research

Australian Antarctic Division

OUTCOME 2Antarctica

Highlights• The International Polar Year (IPY) activities

concluded at the end of the 2008–09 season. Australian scientists participated in 72 of the 228 endorsed IPY projects; leading eight and co-leading three projects.

• Australia actively participated in the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and made a key contribution by:

• leading the Parties to agree to improved Treaty-level arrangements for the conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora

• securing an update to the Antarctic protected area management plans for Mawson’s Huts.

• The Australian Antarctic Division provided eight flights to the United States Antarctic Program, in return for support from a United States ski-equipped Hercules Aircraft in its medical evacuation of an injured expeditioner from Davis Station at the start of the season. The flights moved a total of 570 passengers between Christchurch and McMurdo Station.


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Objectives

Antarctic policy• Maintain the Antarctic Treaty System,

to enhance Australia’s influence in that system.

• Enhance international protection for Antarctica as a zone of peace and science.

• Protect the environment of Antarctica, the Southern Ocean and the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands, including marine living resources and seabirds.

Antarctic science• Improve understanding of Antarctica’s role

in the global climate system.

• Conduct and support science projects to protect the Antarctic environment and Southern Ocean ecosystems.

• Support practical and important Antarctic scientific research.

• Provide data to Australian and international institutions and support them in undertaking research.

Results• The first Australia–Antarctic Airlink flight

for the 2008–2009 Austral Summer occurred on 1 Jan 2009. The delay was due to an urgent medical evacuation from Davis Station, at the start of the Austral summer. The Aurora Australis was diverted to provide assistance and this diversion delayed deployment of the Wilkins Aerodrome Team, which prepared the runway for use during the Austral Summer.

• The Australian Antarctic Division made a visit to the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands in December 2008, providing for ongoing compliance and environmental monitoring and scientific data collection.

• Revised management plans for three sites of high conservation value in the Australian Antarctic Territory were submitted to, and adopted by, the 32nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.

• During the meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources in October–November 2008, measures were adopted to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems. Further work was also begun to ensure the orderly development of the krill fishery and revised catch limits.

• Australia currently convenes three of the four working groups established by the Advisory Committee on the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels. This body was established to implement the work program under the Agreement. The Australian-led working groups address taxonomy, seabird bycatch and population status and trends.

• Australia completed the actions needed to bring into force the Headquarters Agreement for the establishment of the permanent Secretariat to the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) in Hobart on 2 December 2008.


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• The third Meeting of ACAP Parties was held in Bergen, Norway, from 26 April to 1 May 2009. Parties agreed to include the three northern hemisphere albatross species in Annex 1 of ACAP. All of the world’s 22 albatross species are now protected under ACAP. In a demonstration of their commitment to the urgent conservation actions needed for albatrosses and petrels, and despite difficult global financial circumstances, the Parties also agreed to a sound conservation work program, and a slightly increased budget, for the coming triennium (2010–2012).

• At the April 2009 Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM), held in Baltimore, USA, the Australian delegation led discussions on a broad range of legal, policy and environmental protection matters under consideration by both the ATCM and the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP). Australia tabled eight working papers and four information papers, and was successful in obtaining consensus agreement to each of its proposals. Significantly, Australia drove to a conclusion the revision of Annex II to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, which has been in progress for 8 years. It now provides enhanced protection for Antarctic fauna and flora. An Australian Antarctic Division officer holds the position of CEP Vice-chair.

• The Australian Antarctic science program supported 119 projects, which led to 320 publications, including 157 in peer-reviewed journals.

• As part of Australia’s contribution to the International Polar Year, the following projects—led by Australia—were successfully undertaken during 2008–2009:

• Aliens in Antarctica, and

• Solar Linkages to Atmospheric Processes.

• Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991 compliance statistics:

• Eleven incidents reported to Comcare, in accordance with section 68 of the OHS Act (1991).

• One direction was issued under Section 45; a direction of ‘Do not Disturb’ for a period of time.

• No notices were given under Sections 29, 46 or 47.

• No internal investigation reports were provided to Comcare, but there is one outstanding.

• One reactive investigation was initiated, under section 41 of the OHS Act (1991).

• Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 compliance statistics:

• Fourteen new claims were reported to Comcare during 2008–09, and there were 21 open claims.

The Australian Antarctic Division’s Environmental Management System (EMS) was recertified to international standard ISO 14001:2004 in September 2008 for a further three years. External auditors inspected AAD facilities at Kingston, the Port of Hobart, and Casey Station in January 2008. Australia is the only Party to the Antarctic Treaty System that has achieved such certification across all of its operations.


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• Annex IV and Article 15 of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty requires Parties to develop contingency plans for marine pollution response in the Antarctic Treaty area. Annex VI requires Parties to establish contingency plans for environmental incidents. To comply with these requirements, the Australian Antarctic Division completed a major review of its Fuel Spill Contingency Plans and produced new editions for Casey, Davis, Macquarie Island and Mawson Stations.

Strategies

Policy

The department, through the Australian Antarctic Division, actively participates and leads discussion in key forums including: the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting; the Committee for Environmental Protection; the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources; and the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels.

Australia is committed to valuing and protecting Antarctica, and demonstrates this commitment by: pursuing agreement by Treaty parties to internationally accepted environmental protection measures through the Antarctic Treaty system; developing, implementing and managing practical ways to minimise the effects of our own activities; restoring past work sites; and undertaking research to ensure that management of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean is based on sound scientific principles and the best available scientific knowledge. Australia’s research also contributes to understanding environmental systems and the effects of global climate change. Australia has a significant role in combating the illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing of sub-Antarctic and Antarctic marine living resources, by proposing new measures to prevent pirate fishing and block access to markets for such catches.

Above: Cover of the revised fuel spills manual. Courtesy: AAD


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Antarctic science

Australia continues to undertake scientific research in accordance with: the Science Strategy for Australia’s Antarctic program (2004–05 to 2010–11); Australia’s National Research Priorities; and the nation’s policy interests and associated government goals. This priority science supports Australia’s interests in environmental protection, determining the role that Antarctica plays in the global climate system, and gaining an understanding of how organisms and ecosystems are adapting to an extreme and changing environment.

In 2008–09, the final year of the International Polar Year (which actually ran over two years), Australia undertook a highly collaborative and internationally based scientific program. The following results were achieved during the year:

• A total of 119 projects from 31 institutions undertaken as part of Australia’s Antarctic program. The projects involved collaboration with a further 242 institutions from 28 countries.

• A total of 104 scientists utilised Australia’s logistic system in 2008–09. In its second season the new Antarctic Air Link transported 19 scientists to Antarctica to undertake research at Australia’s Casey station.

• Of the 104 scientists who travelled south in 2008–09, 94 were from Australia, including 47 from the department’s Australian Antarctic Division and 10 from overseas (6 from the United States and 4 from the United Kingdom).

• The Australian Antarctic program supported 141 higher degree students, including 98 PhD students.

• During the 2008 calendar year 337 publications were produced under the auspices of the Australian Antarctic program. This total includes: 168 that were published in peer-reviewed international literature, 21 papers that contributed to supporting Australia’s position in the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), three papers contributed to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and three papers contributed to a joint CCAMLR–IWC workshop.

The Australian Antarctic Division was also actively involved in conducting research in high priority areas of Antarctic science. These included: climate change; sustainability and environmental protection; and providing a depository and primary source of Australian Antarctic information. The department also took a lead role in coordinating and managing logistic support for the Australian Antarctic program, including permanent stations, marine science, field bases, transport, communication and medical services.

Included within the high priority research, was a major collaborative project entitled ICECAP (Investigating the Cryospheric Evolution of the Central Antarctic Plate), which commenced field operations in 2008–09. This project was supported by the Australian Antarctic Division, the United States National Science foundation, and the United Kingdom’s National Environmental Research Council. During three weeks in January and February, the team flew


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over 30 000 kilometres of aerogeophysical survey lines out of Australia’s Casey Station. They made 14 flights and gathered over a terabyte of data. Preliminary data processing has already revealed that the Aurora Subglacial Basin region contains a wide variety of landscapes beneath the ice; from smoothly rolling plains to large mountain ranges cut by deep valleys to new lakes beneath the ice.

International Polar Year activities

Australia played a major role in the International Polar Year, by leading and participating in a wide range of domestic and international projects. Australia’s role in the projects fostered international collaboration and strengthened Australia’s position in the Antarctic scientific community and Antarctic Treaty System.

Two Australian led projects ‘Aliens in Antarctica’ and ‘Solar Linkages to Atmospheric Processes’, conducted field work in Antarctica during 2008–09. Both were conducted in collaboration with other nations.

In addition, the Australian Antarctic Division provided significant logistic support and co-led Antarctica’s Gamburtsev Province Project (AGAP). This project was a multinational collaboration between the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, China, Japan and Canada, studying the evolutionary history of the Gamburtsev sub-glacial mountain range. This large mountain range is approximately the same size as the European Alps but is hidden under 600m of ice and snow. Little was known about the area prior to this project.

Australia’s participation in IPY was very successful in the four major goals of the IPY—advances in polar knowledge (by participating in 72 of the 228 endorsed IPY projects); providing a legacy of infrastructure (with the commencement of the airlink) and observational systems; inspiring a new generation of scientists; and public outreach (through projects such as the Census of Antarctic Marine Life).

Australian Antarctic Data Centre

The Australian Antarctic Data Centre (AADC) continues to publish Antarctic and sub-Antarctic marine and terrestrial data to global data networks, such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and SCAR-MarBIN (an Antarctic themed node of the Ocean Biogeographical Information System – OBIS). To date over 800 000 observations have been contributed to these networks to enable the international scientific community to access them. The AADC also advertises Australian datasets; via 2000 metadata records that reside in the Australian node of the global Antarctic Master Directory (AMD) system (see http://gcmd.nasa.gov/KeywordSearch/Home.do?Portal=amd_au&MetadataType=0).

In the past 12 months the AADC has established a service to host the Antarctic community’s place names gazetteer, which now holds approximately 36 000 place names. This collaborative service is physically maintained by Australia but content is moderated by Italy. The place names gazetteer is closely coupled to a Feature Catalogue service that provides unique identifiers for, and descriptions of, Antarctic objects, which are usually geographic features (e.g. mountains,

http://gcmd.nasa.gov/KeywordSearch/Home.do?Portal=amd_au&MetadataType=0

http://gcmd.nasa.gov/KeywordSearch/Home.do?Portal=amd_au&MetadataType=0


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glaciers). The AADC has also established an international online catalogue of maps, with over 5700 items registered, and a catalogue of aerial photographs and images with approximately 48 000 entries. This year, an international sea-ice database was developed and launched, to aid the international scientific community in collating disparate data on sea ice thickness and extents.

Antarctic Operations

During the 2008–09 Antarctic season the Australian Antarctic Division conducted a range of shipping, air, training and infrastructure activities in support of the Australian Antarctic program, including:

• equipping, training and moving 440 people to and from Antarctica

• completing 18 capital works projects

• operating, maintaining and developing our four permanent research stations

• four major voyages provided logistical support to the Australian Antarctic program during 2008–09: for station resupply; scientific programs and projects; and conducting marine science research.

• supporting the conservation of Mawson’s Huts

• general cargo moved to Antarctica consisted of 14 tonnes by air and 4916 tonnes by sea. Total general cargo returned to Australia was 1525 tonnes

• 10 successful A319 flights took place between Hobart and Antarctica (following the disruption mentioned earlier), with the last flight of the season occuring in late February 2009; these flights carried 219 expeditioners in total

• CASA 212 fixed-wing intercontinental aircraft flew over 320 hours, with helicopters flying 1025 hours in support of the Australian Antarctic Program during the 2008–09 Austral Summer. An estimated 3500 flights were conducted during the 2008–09 season, and

• in December 2008 and January 2009, Helicopter Resources, in partnership with the Australian Antarctic Division, were contracted by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (J.A.R.E.) to resupply Syowa Station and for additional tasks in support of the J.A.R.E. summer program.

Evaluation

Despite a delay to the 2008–2009 AAp at the start of the Austral Summer, due to an urgent medical evacuation from Davis Station, the Australian Antarctic Division successfully:

• completed all scheduled non-science projects for Casey (rescheduled to fit into the revised shipping and air arrangements)

• rescheduled the majority of planned science projects; undertaking 15 out of 20 land-based science projects, and 12 out of 15 planned marine science projects

• approved 125 science projects, of which 70 were related to climate and climate change.

As part of its focus on improving performance, the Australian Antarctic Division has outlined a 2020 roadmap to achieve the following outcomes:

• be recognised as an international leader in:

• science focused on national needs

• environment and Occupational Health and Safety Management, and


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• a healthy Antarctic Treaty System and related forums

• have an effective policy and administrative framework for the Australian Antarctic Territories (AAT)

• have an enhanced capability to deliver Australian Antarctic priorities

• have an enhanced community understanding and buy in for the Australian Antarctic program (AAp), and

• have fulfilled, capable, motivated and empowered staff.

In pursuit of these outcomes a set of pathways has been developed, which cover the development of: integrated planning processes; flexible capability; a marketing strategy; alignment of organizational culture; resolution of legacy issues; optimisation of international collaboration; and securing whole-of-Government buy in.

The following activities have already begun:

• Establishment of a project to help define the top-level objectives, to 2020, for Australia’s engagement in Antarctica. The project’s scope includes Australia’s science, environment, policy, legal, operational and economic interests in the Antarctic region.

• Commissioning of the development of a Preliminary Operating Concept document which aims to: inform discussion around organisational management; control processes and structures; and provide capability development pathways to improve the operational performance of the AAD.

• A re-evaluation within the organisation of strategic thinking around the:

• science strategy, including collaborative efforts to bring together researchers to determine mutually agreed: research priorities; research methods; population status and trends; data collection; data management; and collaborative initiatives

• way we can utilise our airlink capability to increase collaboration with other nations on shared logistics, and working effectively in these very challenging economic times, and

• way we work to achieve better coordination with a range of government areas: for example with Science, Climate Change, Defence, Customs, and the Attorney General’s Department.


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Case studies

The AAD undertook a number of research projects during the year on the state of balance of the ice mass in Antarctica and its role in sea level change.

Two of the larger projects were airborne geophysical surveys in East Antarctica, undertaken as international collaborations to which Australia contributed as part of the International Polar Year 2007–2008. One of these multinational collaborations surveyed an area of nearly 1 million square kilometres of the Aurora and Wilkes sub-glacial basins inland from Casey. A specially instrumented aircraft was used to measure: ice sheet elevation and thickness; internal ice structure; gravity; and the geomagnetic field. The Aurora Basin includes potentially the deepest, oldest ice and lies within the Australian Antarctic Territory. It also includes the Totten Glacier, east of Casey Station. The surface of the lower part of this glacier has been lowering at a rate of up to 0.6 metres per year, over the last 20 years, and contributing to sea level rise. The aerial survey data complement earlier Australian land-based measurements and satellite laser altimeter measurements of changes to the Totten Glacier, one of the few regions in East Antarctica that is losing ice.

The second international aerial ice sheet survey completed the first comprehensive

study of the sub-glacial Gamburtsev Mountains (in the interior of East Antarctica beneath the highest part of the ice sheet). The survey involved partners from the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, China, Japan and Canada. Working from two remote inland ice camps, one of which was operated by the AAD, instrumented light aircraft surveyed about 2 million square kilometres of the ice sheet.

The knowledge gained from both these airborne surveys will underpin a new generation of ice sheet models, allowing better estimates of future contributions of the ice sheet to sea-level rise. The surveys also help locate potential sites where an Antarctic ice core could be obtained that would provide a record of past climate over more than one million years.

During the 2008–09 ice sheet program a 130 metre long ice core was retrieved from Law Dome near Casey. This will produce improved records, which reflect the southern ocean and mid-latitude climate over the last 250 years. Further short ice cores were also collected from remote sites on the Totten Glacier and on Mill Island, in the Shackleton Ice shelf, 400km west of Casey. These cores provide a short snapshot of snowfall variability over the past few years to a decade, and also an assessment of suitability for future deeper drilling.

Case study 1: Studies of the Antarctic Ice Sheet in the Australian Antarctic Territory


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Aliens in Antarctica! It sounds like a science fiction thriller, but, in fact, Aliens in Antarctica is the first major investigation of the risk that people may inadvertently cause the invasion of Antarctica by alien (non-native) species from the other continents. The International Polar Year project, that began in the summer of 2007–08, is examining the type and amount of ‘propagules’ (seed, spores and eggs) that are unintentionally imported into the region (on clothes, shoes or hand luggage), as well as how many propagules are likely to be deposited and whether they will germinate and grow.

Staff members from the Australian Antarctic Division’s Environmental Protection and Change program, have been active in the leadership and implementation of this international project. An Australian pilot study conducted a few years ago, found an array of seeds from grasses and other plants, moss spores, plant fragments and soil particles, which could potentially hitch-hike to Antarctica on travellers’ belongings. An international team of scientists from nine nations was assembled to investigate the size of the problem across the Antarctic region. In the 2007–08 Antarctic season, passengers on over 40 ships and planes from many Antarctic nations participated in a survey to determine where they had travelled in

the last 12 months and hence the risk that they had picked up invasive species. The outdoor clothing and belongings of nearly 1000 expeditioners and tourists were probed with special vacuum cleaners in the search for propagules. Analysis of this enormous amount of samples will provide the first quantitative overview of the threat posed by humans entering Antarctica and bringing in alien species.

Staff and graduate students at the Antarctic Division, also examined over 2000 items of fresh fruit and vegetables destined for Australian Antarctic stations. Eighty-nine per cent of these items were clean, while most of the remaining 11% showed some level of infection by blue moulds (Penicillium sp). Cargo destined for Antarctic stations was also examined over the same period, with some interesting discoveries, including live springtails and mites in packaging material. The material was scheduled to be fumigated, but it demonstrates how important it is to be vigilant in these situations. The organisms found were from taxonomic classes that are already represented in the fauna of Antarctica, suggesting that these non-Antarctic species may be able to live under Antarctic conditions.

Case study 2: On guard against an alien invasion in Antarctica


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With rapid climate change occurring in some parts of Antarctica, greater numbers of alien introductions and more successful invasions by aliens are likely, with consequent increases in impacts on ecosystems. The Aliens in Antarctica project provides the first opportunity to properly assess the threat of alien propagule transfer to the Antarctic region through human activity.

Once the urgency of the threat is established, appropriate methods can be formulated to combat the risk. Data and information gathered during this project will be reported to the Antarctic Treaty’s Committee for Environmental Protection in 2010. It will be used to develop practical preventative methods, which will be proposed jointly by Australia, France and New Zealand.

As part of the Aliens in Antarctica project an experiment was set up to determine the likelihood of propagules attached to clothing being deposited in Antarctica. Here ABC Television’s Catalyst presenter Paul Willis has his boots laced with seeds by Dana Bergstrom, before walking through a patch of sand, a typical action of an Antarctic tourist. Photo: Mat Oakes


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Output Group 2.1: Antarctic policy Performance Indicator Target

2008–09 results

Australia’s policy objectives are met through international forums

Actively participate in the following Antarctic Treaty forums:

• Antarctic Treaty Consultative meeting

• Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources

• Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals

• Committee for Environmental Protection

• Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research

• Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs

• Standing Committee on Antarctic Logistics and Operations

• Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels

Australia was active in the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, and, in particular, led the successful negotiation on improved arrangements for the conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora:

• Through the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, Australia was successful in achieving beneficial outcomes on furthering the orderly development of fisheries and greater protection for benthic ecosystems and the declaration of two Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems in the Southern Ocean. Australia also continued to play a lead role in developing measures to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing of toothfish.

• Australia played a leading role in the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP), where it holds the position of Vice-chair, and obtained agreement to its proposals on preventing the introduction of non-native species; protecting and monitoring the Southern giant petrel; a study of the environmental effects of Antarctic tourism; and updated management plans for Mawson’s Huts.

• Australia was a major contributor of research and other work on seabird conservation issues central to work under the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels. It worked closely with several other Agreement Parties. Australian contributions:

• established population levels and trends for species protected under the Agreement

• helped to develop new and improved measures to reduce or avoid seabird bycatch in longline fisheries, and

• helped to develop co-operative relationships under the Agreement with the management organisations of regional fisheries.


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Effective environmental protection measures are in place and are utilised

That environmental protection measures arein place, utilised and performance managedvia the Australian Antarctic Division

Environmental Management System. Performance will be monitored by:

• the number, type and scale of environmental incidents reported

• the number of reported incidents that remain unresolved after three months

Significant dieback has been observed this year in the endemic Azorella macquariensis cushion plant species on Macquarie Island. The cause is unknown and investigations are continuing. Stringent measures have been implemented to reduce the risk of spread of the pathogen by humans, including the requirements for all who travel off-station to scrub all boots and outer gear with a virucide/biocide agent. This was also used to clean helicopter blades that may have contacted the pathogen during operations in the field on Macquarie Island.

Only two minor fuel spills (15 and 30 litres) occurred in Antarctica this year, reflecting expeditioner awareness gained through training and improvements in infrastructure, standard operating procedures and equipment. These occurred on stations and were cleaned up immediately using fuel spill gear.

Over 1000 safety and environmental incidents, hazards and improvement suggestions have been logged since the electronic reporting system was launched in October 2004. About one-third of these are environmental incidents. Of these, only 10 incidents still require some action to resolve. They involve possible alien species, minor spills, packaging and cleaning of equipment. There are 3 hazard reports associated with fuel transport, storage and handling in Antarctica that require significant resources to resolve. There are also 16 improvement suggestions remaining to be resourced or otherwise progressed.

Effective administration of the Australian Antarctic Territory and the Territory of Heard Island and MacDonald Islands

Territories under Australian jurisdiction are administered in accordance with relevant legislation and guidelines (including management plans where appropriate)

All new research and operational activities in the Territories were assessed for their environmental impacts.

Public comment was invited on the environmental impact assessment of the proposed replacement of the ageing incinerators at Mawson, Casey and Davis stations.

Australian Antarctic Division initiatives to prevent introduction of non-native species via Australian operations were given effect, with the assistance of Quarantine Tasmania.

The Australian Antarctic Division convened a meeting of Antarctic Treaty Parties operating in the Larsemanns Hills, Princess Elizabeth Land, to review the conduct of activities in this Antarctic Specially Managed Area.


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Maintenance of an effective communications strategy, which provides Australians with a connection with Antarctica, via:

• the continued provision and maintenance of one of the world’s leading online sources of Antarctic information

The main Antarctic Division web site at www.aad.gov.au provided more than 14 million page views during the financial year, with an estimated 2.5 million visits to the site.

A new Australian Marine Mammal Centre web site was launched in January 2009 at www.marinemammals.gov.au.

The Antarctic Data Centre continued to provide a wide range of data through their site at data.aad.gov.au.

• the active promotion of Australia’s activities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean

Australian Antarctic Division Public Affairs deals with a range of media reporting. During 2008–09, an average of three to four media releases was issued each month.

Greatest reach was achieved through continued building of relationships with local, national and international media outlets.

Major AAD initiatives covered in 2008–09 included International Polar Year projects:

• Census of Antarctic Marine Life

• Aliens in Antarctica

• Solar Linkages to Atmospheric Processes

• the provision of the Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowships to allow Australian artists to travel to and experience Antarctica

Visual artist Stephen Eastaugh was announced as the Australian Antarctic Arts Fellow for 2009. He will spend a year in Antarctica, the first Arts fellow to do so.

• the publication of the Australian Antarctic Magazine on a biennial basis

2 editions of the Australian Antarctic Magazine were produced. A total of 4000 magazines are produced per issue, plus online publication.

Effective administration of sites of recognised heritage significance

Sites are effectively administered, as demonstrated through achievements against the DEWHA Heritage Strategy

Drafting of a plan for the protection of the Commonwealth heritage listed values of the original (circa 1954) station buildings at Mawson commenced.

Work continued on the restoration of the original Mawson station living quarters, ‘Biscoe hut’.

A work plan was developed to guide the Mawson’s Huts Foundation’s 2008–09 summer conservation works, on the 1911–14 Australasian Antarctic Expedition huts and artefacts at Cape Denison.

In accordance with the management plan, tourist visits to the Cape Denison historic site were supervised by approved guides.

Monitoring, to assist in detecting any changes to the natural and cultural heritage values of the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands, was undertaken during a visit to Heard Island made in December 2008.


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Output Group 2.2: Antarctic science (AAD)Performance Indicator Target 2008–09 results

Successful completion of elements of the Antarctic Science Strategy 2004–05 to 2009–10

Demonstrated by:

• the number of projects undertaken as part of the Australian Antarctic program (110 during 2008–09)

119 projects undertaken in 2008–09

• the number of domestic and international institutions involved in the Australian Antarctic program (150 during 2008–09)

242 institutions from 28 countries

That scientific research of practical, economic and national significance is undertaken

Demonstrated by:

Australian Antarctic program scientists undertook significant research in support of policy goals. Major scientific contributions were made in support of Australia’s activities in the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), in the area of fish stocks, and also marine conservation, with two Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems being declared by CCAMLR following an AAD led marine science voyage.

• the total number of papers produced in the previous calendar year, including peer reviewed papers and conference papers (300 during 2008)

337 papers

• the number of scientists active in Antarctic and Southern Ocean science (100 during 2008–09)

104 scientists active in Antarctica and Southern Ocean science

• the provision of collaborative data services to the global Antarctic science community via the activities of the Australian Antarctic Data Centre

Antarctic and sub-Antarctic marine and terrestrial data have been provided to global data networks including the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research Marine Biodiversity Information Network (an Antarctic-themed node of the Ocean Biogeographical Information System.

In the past 12 months, the Australian Antarctic Data Centre (AADC) has established a service to host the Antarctic community’s place names gazetteer, which now holds approximately 36 000 place names.

The AADC has also established an international online catalogue of maps, with over 5700 items registered and a catalogue of aerial photographs and images, with approximately 48 000 entries.

This year an international sea-ice database was developed and launched, to aid the international scientific community in collating disparate data on sea ice thickness and extents.


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Output Group 2.2: Antarctic science (AAD)Performance Indicator Target 2008–09 results

Extent to which science outcomes lead to achievement of Antarctic policy goals

The provision of high quality scientific advice as required to support and underpin Australia’s Antarctic policy goals at international forums

• 21 scientific working papers were provided to the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, 3 to the International Whaling Commission in 2008–09, and 3 papers contributed to a joint Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources – International Whaling Commission (CCAMLR – IWC) workshop.

• Australian scientists facilitated the CCAMLR-IWC workshop in 2008, including the coordination of three review papers, that assembled data for ecosystem models to be used for evaluating conservation strategies for whales and the ecological sustainability of the Antarctic krill fishery

• Facilitated consideration, review and adoption of measures to mitigate bottom fishery impacts on vulnerable marine ecosystems in the Southern Ocean, in line with the requirements of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 61/105.

• CCAMLR adopted measures to curb over-exploitation of toothfish fisheries in the Southern Indian Ocean based on Australian data/papers.

• CCAMLR adopted measures ensuring the ecological sustainability of fisheries in the vicinity of Heard Island and McDonald Islands based on Australian data/papers.

• Australia proposed two areas identified during the Collaborative Eastern Antarctic Marine Census – Climate of the Antarctic and Southern Oceans International Polar Year voyage, as clear examples of vulnerable marine ecosystems with photographic evidence of complex habitat structure and high biodiversity. These areas were endorsed and have been placed on a register of vulnerable marine ecosystems held by the CCAMLR Secretariat.

• Australian scientists led International Whaling Commission initiatives including the Whales and Climate Change meeting in Italy in February.

• The Southern Ocean Research Program was developed by Australia and held its first workshop in Sydney in March.


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Resources

Output 2.1 – Antarctic PolicyDepartmental Outputs Budget

2008-09 $’000

(a)


$’000 (b)

Variation $’000

(a)-(b)

Antarctic Policy 48,389 47,927 462

Subtotal for Output Group 2.1 48,389 47,927 462

Output 2.2 – Antarctic ScienceDepartmental Outputs Budget

2008-09 $’000

(a)


$’000 (b)

Variation $’000

(a)-(b)

Antarctic Science 102,828 103,327 (499)

Subtotal for Output 2.2 102,828 103,327 (499)


Outcome 3Water


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Introduction

The department, through the Water Group, implements Australian Government policies and programs designed to achieve:

• Sustainable rural communities

• Urban water security

• Environmental improvement of our rivers and wetlands.

The priority in 2008–09, was to implement Water for the Future, the Australian Government’s 10-year, $12.9 billion investment in strategic programs, improved water management arrangements, and a renewed commitment to deliver a range of water policy reforms in both rural and urban areas.


• Progressing the national program of water reform, including implementation of the National Water Initiative, to achieve better functioning water markets and planning, and new Murray-Darling Basin institutional arrangements

• Delivering infrastructure investment programs, to increase the efficiency of rural water use and prepare irrigation communities for climate change

• Purchasing water entitlements, to assist the transition to lower diversion limits expected under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan

• Helping secure water supplies for towns and cities and assisting households and businesses to use water more efficiently

• Acquiring and managing the Commonwealth environmental water holdings to restore and protect the health of rivers and wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin

• Assisting states, territories and landowners to improve their management of rivers and wetlands, particularly sites of international and national importance

• Implementing other water-related measures as required by the government, such as further development of the National Water Quality Management Strategy and management of the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme

Water Group: Water Efficiency, Water Reform and Water Governance Divisions

OUTCOME 3Water


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Highlights• The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA)

(established under the Water Act 2007) commenced operations on 8 September 2008. Board Members were appointed on 14 May 2009.

• The Intergovernmental Agreement on the Murray-Darling Basin was finalised and signed on 3 July 2008. The Water Amendment Act 2008 came into force on 15 December 2008 giving new responsibilities to the MDBA.

• The first major infrastructure project under the Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure program was delivered, when a potable water pipeline servicing the eastern side of the lower lakes of South Australia was opened on 18 February 2009.

• New urban water programs, including the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan and the National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative, were launched and projects started under the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns.

• The program to buy water entitlements to help restore the Basin environment was extended and accelerated. Through the water purchase tenders conducted in 2008–09, the Commonwealth has secured the purchase of 408 gigalitres of water entitlements, worth over $612 million.

• The first release of water from the entitlements purchased by the Australian Government for the environment, occurred during March 2009. During the year a total of 10.9 gigalitres of water was delivered to 10 environmental sites in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria.

• Throughout the year, the minister and senior departmental officials travelled extensively to engage with stakeholders. Each catchment and region within the Murray-Darling Basin has been allocated a named departmental official to provide a single point of contact on all issues. Three stakeholder reference panels have been established addressing water purchasing and use, irrigation efficiency and urban water reform.

Objectives

The department’s objectives in water reform, as set out in the Portfolio Budget Statements for 2008–09, were to work with governments, industry and community stakeholders, to address environmental issues associated with water resource management and to increase the efficiency with which water resources are allocated and used.

Water for the Future, which is the basis for the work program of the Water Group, focuses on four key priorities:

1) Taking Action on Climate Change

• Reduced water availability is a reality for both rural and urban Australia. Reforms need to occur now to assist industry and communities to adapt to lower water availability.

2) Using Water Wisely

• Making efficient use of available water supplies in both urban and regional areas, to assist industries and communities adapt to a future with less water.

3) Securing Water Supplies

• Sourcing alternative water supplies for towns and cities to reduce reliance on rainfall.


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4) Healthy Rivers and Waterways

• Improving the health of the environment by returning water to rivers and wetlands.

Results

In addition to the highlights, significant results for 2008–09 include:

National Program of Water Reform• Implementation of water market and water

charge (termination fee) rules for the Murray-Darling Basin (the Basin). These rules promote water trade in the Basin by removing trade restrictions imposed by irrigation infrastructure operators, and provide a uniform approach to setting termination fees. The rules were signed by the Minister for Climate Change and Water on 10 June 2009.

• The department began negotiations with states and territories on Commonwealth-State Water Management Partnership Agreements. These agreements will set out the arrangements for Australian Government funding of state priority projects and the commitments of the states to water reform.

In Rural Areas• Undertook extensive work with the states

to encourage the development of business cases for a range of infrastructure projects across the Basin.

• Assisted the New South Wales Government to purchase Toorale Station in north-western New South Wales. Through this purchase, an average of 20 gigalitres of water will be returned to the Darling River each year.

• Two new programs were announced in 2009 to assist irrigators and communities in the Murray-Darling Basin. The On-farm Irrigation Efficiency program will provide grants to irrigators in the southern Basin, and the Strengthening Basin Communities program will help communities plan for a future with less water.

• The establishment of the Water Recovery and Environmental Use Stakeholder Reference Panel, to provide a forum for discussion on water entitlement purchasing and the use of water for addressing environmental needs.

In Urban Areas• Established the National Rainwater and

Greywater Initiative that provides rebates to households for rainwater tanks or greywater systems, and provides grants to surf life-saving clubs to improve and increase water efficiency.

• Commenced a competitive tender process for the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan. This plan will provide funding for desalination, stormwater harvesting and reuse, and water recycling projects. Funding for a Centre of Excellence in Desalination in Perth was announced by the Australian Government on 15 May 2008.

• The commencement of 11 projects under the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns, to help secure the water supplies of communities of 50 000 people or less.


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• Increased the number of product models registered with the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme to more than 11 900. And commenced consultation with the public and industry on proposals to implement minimum water efficiency standards for whitegoods (for example, washing machines and dishwashers).

• The establishment of the Urban Water Stakeholder Reference Panel to provide advice on urban water issues and the implementation of urban programs.

Healthy Rivers and Wetlands• Established the Environmental Water

Scientific Advisory Committee to advise the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder on the priorities for the use of environmental water.

• Commenced the development of a rolling review for Australian Ramsar sites.

• Invested over $140 million over the life of The Living Murray Initiative towards the recovery of 343 gigalitres of water, as at June 2009, to return to six icon sites on the River Murray.

• Established a taskforce to work with the South Australian Government, to urgently address the environmental issues facing the Coorong and Lower Lakes in the mouth of the River Murray.

Strategies

The National Water Initiative (NWI) is endorsed by all Australian jurisdictions and is the blueprint for national water reform. The NWI aims to achieve a nationally compatible market, regulatory and planning-based system of managing surface and groundwater resources that optimises economic, social and environmental outcomes in rural and urban areas.

Water for the Future sets out the Australian Government’s 10-year, $12.9 billion national agenda for water reform, consistent with the National Water Initiative. It is built on four key priorities: taking action on climate change; using water wisely; securing water supplies; and supporting healthy rivers.

The Water Act 2007 took effect on 3 March 2008, and provides the legislative framework for the implementation of many of the elements of the National Water Initiative, including the establishment of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA).

In July 2008 the four state and one territory governments of the Murray-Darling Basin signed an Intergovernmental Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform (IGA). As a result, the Basin states and the Australian Capital Territory referred powers to the Commonwealth, which enabled the MDBA to take on the responsibilities of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission, in December 2008.


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Strategic approach in 2008–09

The department has four interlinked approaches:

A national program of Water Reform

The department is negotiating Commonwealth-State Water Management Partnerships, under the IGA, with basin states and the Australian Capital Territory. These will include funding commitments by the Australian Government, subject to due diligence, of State Priority Projects; and commitments by states and territories to deliver the reforms agreed to under the National Water Initiative.

The department is working with key partners to implement new management and information frameworks for the entire Murray-Darling Basin, including:

• The MDBA to deliver a Basin Plan in 2011, which will include: new sustainable diversion limit; sustainable limits on surface and groundwater use; allowance for critical human water needs of communities that use water from the Murray River and its tributaries; an environmental watering plan; and a water quality and salinity management plan.

• Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to provide advice on water market, charge and trading rules, as well as monitor and enforce the market and charge rules.

• Bureau of Meteorology to develop national water information systems and a national water account.

• National Water Commission to conduct audits to confirm that water plans are implemented, including auditing the effectiveness of the implementation of the Basin Plan.

In 2008–09, the department also started work with governments on: a National Water Knowledge and Research Plan, to coordinate research across all jurisdictions; a National Hydrological Modelling Strategy; and a National Innovation Plan. A strategic review of the National Water Quality Management Strategy Guidelines was also commenced.

The department is working with jurisdictions to deliver an enhanced urban water reform agenda, agreed to by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in November 2008, which will improve urban water security.

In Rural Areas

Irrigators across Australia are facing a future with significant reductions in water availability, as a result of a combination of factors, including: prolonged drought; climate change; and efforts to return our surface and groundwater systems to sustainable levels of extraction. The department is assisting the transition to lower diversion limits expected under the Basin Plan through:

• Increasing the efficiency of water use in irrigation by 25 per cent by 2017, through the $5.8 billion Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure program. A proportion of the water savings will be returned to irrigators, assisting them to be in a more sustainable position.


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• Purchasing water entitlements from willing sellers to improve the health of the Murray-Darling Basin’s rivers and wetlands, through the $3.1 billion Restoring the Balance in the Murray-Darling Basin program, which was accelerated during 2008–09.

Outside of the Murray-Darling Basin, the department extended the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Sustainable Yields program, to provide governments with the scientific information to assist them in planning and managing water sustainably. The completion of Stage 2 of the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative in 2008–09, and the planned commencement of Stage 3 early in 2009–10, are examples of the department working to improve the management of rural groundwater resources.

In Urban Areas

Urban water security has become a critical national issue, with many cities and towns on prolonged and severe water restrictions. Diversification of water supply is a priority for many communities, particularly those that have relied on rainfall. In 2008–09, the strategy has been to effectively deliver existing and new programs and projects to:

• secure water supplies, by investing with states and territories in upgrading infrastructure, diversifying sources, and by adopting and developing new technologies, such as aquifer storage. The key focus in 2008–09, has been the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns and the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan (including Centres of Excellence for Desalination and Water Recycling). Preparations began for a new program of Stormwater Harvesting and Reuse Projects worth $200 million to start in 2009–10.

• help all Australians use water more efficiently. The key focus in 2008–09 has been to implement the National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative and Green Precincts Fund, and to increase the effectiveness of existing projects, such as the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme.

The department has also continued to deliver existing programs, in particular Water Smart Australia that encourages the development and adoption of new technologies and practices in water use.

Healthy rivers and wetlands

Helping to improve the management of freshwater aquatic ecosystems across Australia is a priority. The department leads the development of national policies on implementing the Ramsar Convention, river health, and aquatic ecosystems (including developing a national framework for High Conservation Value Aquatic Ecosystems). It also supports the development of Water Quality Improvement Plans for coastal


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Murray River. Photo: John Baker

The Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Water on 25 February 2009. In this capacity he has assisted the Minister for

Climate Change and Water to work in consultation with stakeholders to develop and implement innovative policy solutions to ensure Australia’s water sustainability.

New Parliamentary Secretary for Water


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hotspots, and building public awareness and support for wetlands nationwide. All national policy is developed through working groups under the Natural Resources Management Ministerial Council.

The environmental health of the aquatic ecosystems in the Murray-Darling Basin has been well documented. In the Sustainable Rivers Audit 2004–07, it indicated that 20 of the 23 designated valleys in the Basin are either in poor health or very poor health. The department is addressing this issue through the establishment of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) in the department, under the Water Act 2007, to manage the Commonwealth environmental water holdings. During the year, the first environmental water was allocated (see Case study 3) and, in total, 10.9 gigalitres were provided to 10 sites as a result of Australian Government programs. As at 30 June 2009, the Australian Government had acquired a total of 63.57 gigalitres of environmental water, an amount that will increase in future years.

Evaluation

The department delivers a high proportion of the administered appropriations for water reform through projects and grant schemes. In 2008–09 the department implemented a long-term program to embed best practice project management. Project plans include strategies for monitoring and evaluation. Key projects and grant schemes are monitored on a monthly basis by the Water Group Executive. They may be reviewed by internal or external audit when requested or required.

Major funding requests from states and territories must be supported by a sound business case. Each business case is subject to due diligence testing, to ensure they contribute to the governments’ water reform objectives.

In 2008–09 the department’s Internal Audit team reviewed the efficiency and effectiveness of the water purchase program, the Australian National Audit Office started a performance audit of Water Smart Australia, and a review of the second stage of the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative was completed. Such reviews are likely to increase in number as Water for the Future projects and programs mature. Preparations started for a review of the National Water Quality Management Strategy.

Internal and external reviews and evaluations are commissioned as necessary, and are likely to increase in number as Water for the Future projects and programs mature. A review of the second stage of the Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative was completed in 2008. Preparations started in 2008–09 for a review of the National Water Quality Management Strategy.

The National Water Commission conducts biennial reviews of the implementation of water reforms, as set out under the National Water Initiative, the framework within which Water for the Future operates. The COAG Reform Council is responsible for reporting to the Council of Australian Governments on the performance of the Commonwealth and the Basin States under Water Management Partnerships.


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The department’s purchase of water entitlements (Restoring the Balance in the Murray–Darling Basin) started in 2007–08. The aim of the program is to achieve a permanent rebalance between consumptive purposes and the environment. This will provide water for high-value environmental assets, including, where appropriate, leaving it within rivers to help enhance the overall health and sustainability of the river system.

Under the water purchasing program, $3.1 billion is to be spent over the 10 years 2007–08 to 20016–17 to purchase water entitlements. By the end of 2008–09 the program had increased the volume of secured purchases, through either settled trades or exchanged contracts), to 446 gigalitres of water entitlements, worth $663 million. In September 2008, a program was launched to help small scale irrigators leave irrigation (selling their water to the Commonwealth) but remain in their community.

In December 2008 the first combined purchase of land and water was undertaken. Toorale Station near Bourke, New South Wales was purchased by the New South Wales Government, with assistance from the Australian Government (see case study 2 for details). This was an important purchase, due both to the size of the water entitlements and the high-value environmental assets on the property. More than half the property has been gazetted as a Wildlife Refuge for more than 25 years, and the entire property will now become a part of the National Reserve System.

At the beginning of 2009 the water purchasing program was accelerated, as part of the Australian Government’s Nation Building and Jobs Plan, allowing the department to bring forward expenditure from future years to buy water.

In 2008–09 the water purchasing program far exceeded the ambitious acquisition and spending targets set at the start of

Case studies

Case study 1: Water Entitlement Purchasing

Benefits:

• Water purchased is used to restore and maintain the health of rivers and wetlands.

• Assists irrigators to transition to a future with less water.

• Smoother transition to the new, lower, sustainable diversion limits in the Basin, when the Basin Plan starts to take effect in 2011.

• Provides an additional selling option for irrigators and a potential capital injection for businesses.


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results in improving environmental outcomes; for example, through releases of environmental water in South Australia in March 2009 and later in New South Wales and Victoria (see Case study 3 on the use of Australian Government environmental water).

Transparency of the program is achieved by uploading key information to the

internet, such as: the criteria used to assess value for money; a summary of publicly available market price information; and water purchase outcomes. Extensive community consultation is also undertaken. The first round of community consultation was held in July 2008. The Water Recovery and Environmental Use Stakeholder Reference Panel gives a formal voice to those with an interest in the outcomes of the water purchasing program.


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The New South Wales Government purchased Toorale Station in December 2008, with assistance from the Australian Government. Toorale is a 91 383 hectare property situated at the junction of the Darling and Warrego Rivers, approximately 60 kilometres downstream from Bourke.

Toorale was a substantial user of water. It had more than 2000 hectares developed for irrigation and held entitlements to extract 14 gigalitres of water from the Darling River each year. It had additional licenses for a system of banks and levees. This system spreads moderate to high flows in the Warrego River across the floodplain and allows water to be stored on-farm, through a series of dams along the Warrego River.

The department has commissioned work to establish options to decommission existing infrastructure that will be value for money, and will result in maximising water returns to the environment, taking into account local cultural heritage and ecological values.

New South Wales is responsible for managing the land as an important addition to the National Reserve System. The water will be transferred to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder when a Water Sharing Plan is in place for the region. Each year, an average of 20 gigalitres of water will be returned to the Darling River, peaking at up to 80 gigalitres in flood years.

Following heavy rains in north-west New South Wales and south-west Queensland in February-March 2009, flows in the Darling River, downstream of Toorale, were boosted by an estimated 11.4 gigalitres, as a direct result of irrigation extractions having ceased at Toorale. This water flowed 1300 kilometres to the Darling-Murray junction, and the remaining 8.7 gigalitres (after evaporation or seepage) was made available for environmental use at five sites in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

Case study 2: Purchase of Toorale Station

Benefits:

• To date, 11.4 gigalitres returned to the Darling River and to sites in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

• An average of 20 gigalitres to be returned to the Darling River annually and 80 gigalitres in flood years.

• Structures to harvest water from floodplains and store water on-farm will be decommissioned; ensuring ongoing returns of water to the Darling River are fully realised, and available to be used for environmental purposes.


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Above: Toorale Station’s Irrigation Infrastructure will be decommissioned. Photograph: David Tonkin


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The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) manages the government’s environmental water holdings, to protect and restore the environmental assets of the Murray-Darling Basin (see separate Annual Report of the CEWH 2008–09 in Volume 2).

During 2008–09 the first use of Commonwealth environmental water occurred, through the purchase of water entitlements (see Case study 1) and from the purchase of Toorale Station (see Case study 2). In total, 10.9 gigalitres were allocated to 10 sites in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales to maintain stands of River Red Gums, pockets of healthy ecosystems in drought affected floodplains and wetlands, and refuges for threatened species. The sites were selected from proposals received from the states, and were assessed on merit, in consultation with the Environmental Water Scientific Advisory Committee. Key criteria included the:

• urgency of watering requirements

• ecological significance of the site

• expected outcomes from the watering

• degree to which Australian Government water would make a substantial contribution to the outcomes

• cost effectiveness of the watering, including financial and in-kind contributions provided by the states.

Sites chosen included Chowilla Floodplain in South Australia (see illustration), and the Hattah Lakes and Lindsay Island in Victoria. These sites are renowned for their wetland habitats, which provide shelter for threatened species, such as the Southern Bell Frog and the Regent Parrot.

Water was also provided to Paiwalla wetlands, listed in the Directory of Important wetlands in Australia, and Overland Corner, habitat for the nationally-listed Regent Parrot and the Southern Bell Frog. The Paiwalla wetlands site is owned and managed by a local community group, the Wetlands Habitat Trust, which over the past 10 years has restored the former dairy property to wetlands. Since 1997 the Overland Corner Wetland Group has also been implementing management actions to conserve floodplain wetland habitat.

Case study 3: Use of Commonwealth Environmental Water

Benefits:

• A total of 10.9 gigalitres of environmental water allocated to 10 sites in New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria.

• Water to maintain stands of River Red Gums, pockets of healthy ecosystems in drought affected floodplains and wetlands, and refuges for threatened species.


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The department is working closely with relevant state government agencies on environmental watering. One example of successful cooperation occurred at Hattah Lakes in June 2009. In total, 4.8 gigalitres of water were delivered, including 2.1 gigalitres agreed by the Australian Government (both from water entitlements directly purchased and resulting from the purchase of Toorale Station). The balance

of the water was provided by the Victorian Government and from The Living Murray Initiative. Hattah Lakes is a Ramsar listed wetlands site, and an icon site of The Living Murray Initiative, containing River Red Gums and habitat for water birds and threatened species, including the vulnerable Regent Parrot.

Above: The Chowilla Floodplain benefited from Environmental Watering. Photo: Mark Mohell


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Adelaide faces the risk of severe water shortages and there are a number of projects being supported by the department, to improve both water security and to reduce the demands on the River Murray. Previously, the Adelaide parklands have been irrigated using drinking water. However, the Glenelg to Adelaide Parklands Recycled Water Project, which will be completed in 2010, provides the infrastructure to supply two gigalitres of recycled water from the Glenelg wastewater treatment plant, for use in the parklands. This infrastructure can be

extended to provide recycled water to other users in the future.

The project will save precious drinking water, while maintaining the amenity of the parklands. There are also environmental benefits, from lower discharges of nutrients into Gulf St Vincent and better water quality in the Torrens River and Lake Torrens.

The Australian Government has contributed $30 million of the $75 million project. The funding is provided through the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan.

Case study 4: Glenelg to Adelaide Parklands Recycled Water Project

Benefits:

• Assists irrigation water providers and their members to identify opportunities to improve their water use efficiency.

• Assists in securing a long-term sustainable future for irrigation water providers and related communities.

• Assists irrigation water providers to transition to reduced availability of water in the future.


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The Irrigation Modernisation Planning Assistance Program (IMPA) provides assistance to irrigation water providers to develop long-term, strategic plans that consider how to improve their water use efficiency and respond to the challenges of climate change.

IMPA projects have been completed, and are currently underway, across New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia. The program includes large irrigation water providers, such as Goulburn-Murray Water and Murray Irrigation Ltd, through to smaller private irrigation districts, such as the Tenandra Irrigation Scheme. Irrigation water providers are encouraged to address the critical issues facing their system and region, to maximise the effectiveness of their modernisation planning process.

The first round of 13 IMPA projects, worth more than $4 million, is well advanced and nearing completion. A further four grants, valued at more than $560,000, have recently been agreed. Further funding will be available to allow other irrigation water

providers to complete modernisation plans for their irrigation districts.

An Irrigators’ Forum was held in April 2009, to bring together current and future participants in the IMPA program. The aim was to share lessons learned and consider the role that strategic planning can play in securing a long-term sustainable future for irrigation communities. The Forum confirmed the importance of modernisation planning as a tool to help irrigation water providers plan for the future and respond to reduced water availability in the years ahead. The Forum also highlighted the diversity and complexity of the challenges, and the range of possible solutions, including: infrastructure upgrades; system reconfiguration; and changes in crop type and on-farm irrigation efficiency delivery mechanisms.

IMPA complements a range of other Water for the Future programs. A number of IMPA participants have carried out irrigation hotspots assessments to help identify areas of high water loss in irrigation delivery systems. Irrigation water

Case study 5: Irrigation Modernisation Planning Assistance

Benefits:

• Assists water providers to consider using water wisely.

• Works to secure a long-term sustainable future for irrigation water providers and related communities.

• Delivers substantial and lasting returns for water to the environment.

• Facilitation of completion of infrastructure proposals.


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providers may also use their completed modernisation plan to support applications under other Water for the Future programs, including the Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program, by demonstrating that their project will deliver a long-term economic and environmental benefit.

Above: Irrigation Regulating Valve which allows water flows to be set accurately. Photo: John Baker


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Output Group 3.1: Sustainable management of water resources Performance Indicator Target 2008–09 results

Restoring the Balance in the Basin – volume of entitlements purchased

Continuation of the water entitlement purchase program in the Murray-Darling Basin

The program has been accelerated, by bringing forward $250 million as part of the Australian Government’s Nation Building and Jobs Plan, and expanded to include the northern and southern Basin, small-block irrigator exit grants, irrigator-led group proposals and purchases of land and water in partnership with state governments.

Reform for the Murray-Darling Basin

Bring together the MDBA and the MDBC as a new, single Authority, the MDBA

Progress appointment of MDBA members Develop and implement transition arrangements to ensure ongoing management of Murray-Darling Basin issues

Transition arrangements were effective. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) commenced operations on 8 September 2008. The MDBA assumed the powers of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC) on 15 December 2008, and discharged them effectively. The Board was appointed on 14 May 2009.

Completion of CSIRO Sustainable Yields project by end first quarter 2008–09, for catchments and aquifers in the Murray- Darling Basin

The project was completed and the results announced and made available to the public by the end of 2008. The project has been extended to Western Australia and Tasmania.

Contribute to the development of a new Basin Plan that will incorporate a new sustainable cap on diversions, for surface and groundwater use

The department is playing a key role in providing policy advice and practical support to the MDBA.

Support the Senior Officers Group on Drought Contingency Planning

The Basin Officials Committee, chaired by the Water Group Deputy Secretary and supported by the Group’s MDB Policy Team, has assumed the responsibilities of the Senior Officers Group. It has held three extraordinary meetings on drought contingency planning.

Effective environmental water use

Effective delivery of water managed by the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) to environmental priorities

The CEWH agreed the use of 10.9 gigalitres of water at ten sites during the year, with the objective of sustaining critical ecosystems during the drought. The choice of locations was made in consultation with states and the Environmental Water Scientific Advisory Committee.


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Improved management of protected wetlands

All Ramsar–listed wetlands have management plans in operation

For the Coorong and Lower Lakes, $3 million of the allocated $10 million was provided to assist the South Australian government to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study for the sustainable long-term future of this area. Initial work was done to implement the government’s $10 million bioremediation and revegetation program.

Improved water quality

Number of water quality improvement plans and associated interim projects completed or under development

7 of a total of 10 Water Quality Improvement Plans are complete, with the remaining plans at a final draft stage and seeking stakeholder review. All water quality interim projects that support the developed Water Quality Improvement Plans across 13 coastal hotspots, are complete.

National water policy reform

Develop a forward work program on water reform for COAG, to report in October 2008, including a revised implementation timetable for the National Water Initiative

A forward work program for water reform was developed for COAG in November 2008.

Assessment of Northern Australia land and water resources

Extend the CSIRO Sustainable Yields study to the key surface and groundwater systems and basins within the Timor Sea and Gulf of Carpentaria drainage divisions, and that part of the North East Coast drainage division, north of Cairns

This work is under way.

Implementation of the Great Artesian Basin bore capping program (third stage)

Improved engagement of groundwater resources in the Basin. Establishment of the Great Artesian Basin monitoring Network

Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative, Stage 2 has been completed. Preparations for the implementation of Stage 3 are well advanced. Stage 1 of the Great Artesian Basin Monitoring Network has been implemented. Stage 2 will be rolled out in 2009–10.

Implementation of the Living Murray Initiative

Progress towards Murray River Icon Site ecological objectives endorsed by Ministers

The total direct Australian Government spending in 2008–09 was $55.8 million. This has contributed to 342.5 gigalitres Long Term Cap Equivalent (LTCE) of water recovery measures listed on the Environmental Water register, as at 30 June 2009. Projects involving up to a further 163 gigalitres LTCE were being implemented at that time.


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Contribution to Water for Rivers (Joint Government Enterprise)

Increased environmental flows in the Murray and Snowy Rivers

Continued support for the activities of Water for Rivers to meet its cumulative recovery target of 212 gigalitres of water entitlements for the environment through a contribution of $7.5 million in 2008–09.

Water Resource Assessment and Research Grants (WRARG)

The extent to which water resources assessment and research grants promote the sustainable use and management of water resources

Grants in 2008–09 have addressed the development of technical advice to irrigators on best pro-active water management (e.g. National audit of on-farm irrigation information tools, water-loss hot spots manual for irrigation systems), through to strategic policy advice on the operation of water markets, use of recycled water and groundwater availability in remote areas. The information gained supports the principle of fact-based decision making both for government and the department’s stakeholders.

Output Group 3.2: Achieving efficiencies in water usePerformance Indicator Target 2008–09 results

Achieving efficiency measures in rural water use

State priority projects due diligence assessments commenced

Commenced

Commonwealth–Basin State Water Management Partnership Agreements completed

Negotiations are advanced. Final agreements expected by the end of 2009.

Water loss hotspot assessments completed CSIRO developed a Technical Manual for Assessing Hotspots in Channel and Piped Irrigation Systems, achieving worlds-best practice standards. The Manual has been used as the framework for hotspots assessments by several private irrigation corporations across NSW and South Australia.


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Improved water security and efficiency in Australian cities and towns

National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns: funding has been approved and eleven projects are under way.

Specific project commitments are assessed, and commenced

National Urban Water and Desalination Plan: Funding has been approved for four projects.

Projects deliver water efficiencies and water savings Water Smart Australia: 75 projects are approved, and approvals and funding agreements are in place. Since 2005, $1 billion has been spent.

Projects increase the percentage of water recycled A competitive call for proposals has been launched under the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan, for major desalination, recycling and stormwater harvesting projects. Proposals were also assessed for the hosting of a Centre of Excellence in Water Recycling, which will be established in 2009–10.

Green Precincts projects demonstrate water and energy savings measures

Green Precinct projects were assessed and decisions have been made on allocation of funding. One project is already complete and a second project has commenced and on schedule to deliver water and energy savings.

Installation of rainwater and grey water systems

Projects deliver water savings and improved water security

The surf life-saving club element of the program was launched in October 2008. Clubs can apply for grants of up to $10,000, to install rainwater tanks and other water saving and efficiency devices.

From March 2009 households can apply for rebates of up to $500 to purchase and install rainwater tanks or greywater systems.

Uptake of smart technologies and practices

Ongoing program and component project management roles and responsibilities fulfilled

Projects are reviewed monthly by the Water Group Executive.

Projects help to advance the National Water Initiative (NWI)

Projects are delivering major NWI outcomes, such as reducing the over-allocation of groundwater entitlements in NSW.

Projects deliver water savings or new sources of supply Major projects have been substantially completed and are providing new sources of supply, such as the Western Corridor Recycling Scheme in South East Queensland, and the Goldfields Superpipe in Victoria. The Wimmera Mallee Pipeline in western Victoria is well advanced; it will save up to 100 gigalitres per year.


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Removing barriers to water trading

Easier ability to trade in water entitlements

The Water Market Rules 2009 and Water Charge (Termination Fee) Rules 2009, were introduced in June 2009.

All Basin states agreed to adopt maximum timeframes for processing allocation (temporary) and entitlement (permanent) trades, and to report publicly on their performance.

The Australian Government and Victoria reached an agreement to allow the Australian Government to pursue environmental water purchases above the four per cent limit in certain irrigation areas (expected to yield an additional 300 gigalitres of water entitlements to the Australian Government over five years from 2008–09). As part of the agreement, Victoria agreed to legislate to remove the 10% non-water user limit by 31 October 2009.

The Water Group also made substantial progress towards establishing the feasibility of a National Water Market System, to assist in the efficient management of water registry, transaction and market information functions.

Promote appliance efficiency standards and labels

Supporting legislative frameworks are in Place The department has commenced review of legislative issues and this will feed into the legislated review of the overall WELS scheme.

Number of product registrations under the WELS Scheme

By the end of June 2009 there were more than 11 900 product models registered with the scheme.

Increased industry and consumer awareness of the WELS Scheme

A communication strategy is in place aimed at ensuring industry and consumer awareness, including: published fact sheets; a 1800 telephone number; a consumer product search database; and regular InkWELS bulletins.


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Resources

Output Group 3.1 – Sustainable management of water resourcesAdministered items Budget

2008-09 $’000

(a)


$’000 (b)

Variation $’000

(a)-(b)


Water for the future – Restoring the balance in the basin 2,201 590 1,611

Great Artesian Basin 295 273 22

Murray-Darling Basin Commission 4,999 11,969 (6,970)

Murray Environmental Flows 7,500 7,500 –

Water for the Future – Living Murray Initiative 20,061 – 20,061


Great Artesian Basin – – –

Water for the future – The living Murray 45,033 45,033 –

Water for the future – Restoring the balance in the basin 16,122 16,122 –


Sustainable Management of Water Resources 27,008 25,317 1,691

Subtotal for Output Group 3.1 123,219 106,804 16,415


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Output Group 3.2 – Achieving efficiencies in water useAdministered items Budget

2008-09 $’000

(a)


$’000 (b)

Variation

$’000 (a)-(b)


Water for the future – Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure 7,552 10,200 (2,648)

Water Resources Assessment 175 146 29

Water for the future – Water smart Australia 181,953 144,068 37,885

Tackling climate Change – Green Precincts 3,000 500 2,500

Water for the future – National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative 867 620 247

Water for the future – National Urban Water and Desalination Plan 8,703 4,000 4,703

Water for the future – National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns 1,350 350 1,000


Water for the future – Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure 7,703 7,109 594

Water for the future – National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns 12,430 12,691 (261)

Water for the future – National Urban Water and Desalination Plan 26,797 6,000 20,797

Special Accounts

Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (Administered) 3,149 1,714 1,435

Environmental Water Holdings (Administered) 152 134 18


Achieving Efficiencies in water use 37,936 35,561 2,375



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Outcome 4Arts and Culture


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Introduction

The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts provides advice to the Australian Government on arts and cultural policy issues. It works closely with portfolio agencies, other departments, and state and territory agencies to develop and implement national arts and cultural policies and programs.

The National Portrait Gallery increases the understanding and appreciation of the Australian people–their identity, history, creativity and culture–through portraiture.

From 1 July 2008 Old Parliament House became an Executive Agency within the Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio, separating from the department and the Gallery. This, along with the relocation to its new purpose-built building in late 2008, resulted in changed reporting, support and staffing arrangements for the Gallery.


• Developing policy, research and statistics

• Administering legislation and funding

• Supporting the elite national arts training organisations

• Operating the National Portrait Gallery and Artbank

• Working with portfolio agencies to achieve the government’s objectives

• Providing oversight of the National Network, to deliver national Indigenous Arts, Culture, Languages and Broadcasting programs.

Arts Division, Culture Division and the National Portrait Gallery

OUTCOME 4Arts and Culture


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Highlights• The department successfully staged the

inaugural Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, with Mr Philip Jones and Mr Steven Conte winning the non-fiction and fiction awards, respectively.

• Artbank spent an unprecedented $1 million supporting emerging contemporary artists.

• Through the Cultural Ministers Council, the department drove the development of a national Indigenous Contemporary Music Action Plan. Its pilot project, Breakthrough, is funding five emerging Indigenous groups or musicians to produce broadcast quality recordings.

• Over 500 arts and culture jobs have been created during 2008–09 for Indigenous people previously engaged by Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) and located in regional and remote areas.

• On 4 December 2008 the National Portrait Gallery opened its new building to the public, allowing more of the collection to be displayed, along with the delivery of enhanced and expanded programs and visitor services.

Lady Ellen Stirling c. 1828 by Thomas Phillips, oil on canvas. Purchased with funds from the Ian Potter Foundation 2008. Collection: National Portrait Gallery, Canberra


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The Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, and the Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts, the Hon Peter Garrett AM MP, with award winners Philip Jones and Steven Conte.

Portrait of Cate Blanchett 2008 by David Rosetzky (b. 1970). Blu-ray digital video, colour, sound, duration 9 minutes, 56 seconds. Choreography by Lucy Guerin, sound design and composition by J David Franzke. National Portrait Gallery, Canberra. Commissioned with funds provided by Ian Darling 2008. © David Rosetzky


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Objectives• Develop policy and advice to the minister

on arts and cultural issues to promote excellence, access, participation and sustainability in the arts and cultural sector.

• Administer a range of programs that support arts and cultural activities including: Artbank, Indigenous arts and craft, broadcasting and language programs, philanthropy, elite arts training and film production.

• Support cultural agencies in the arts, cultural collections and film sectors; assisting them to achieve the government’s objectives and to meet their governance and accountability responsibilities.

• Coordinate Australian Government participation in, and provide secretariat services to, the Cultural Ministers Council which is an intergovernmental forum for ministers and officials responsible for culture and the arts in Australia and New Zealand. Manage a range of collaborative working groups.

• Develop and engage a national audience for the National Portrait Gallery, through exhibitions, education, research, publishing, public programs and online programs.

Results• The Resale Royalty Right for Visual Artists

Bill 2008 was introduced in the House of Representatives on 27 November 2008.

• Bilateral film co-production agreements with Singapore and China entered into force on 16 October 2008 and 19 December 2008, respectively.

• Artbank acquired 347 artworks from 169 artists worth $1,000,608. Of these artists, 129 were new to the collection and 37 were identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders.

• Triennial funding for the Indigenous arts and culture programs was introduced, to commence from 2009–10. Triennial funding will contribute to the further development and strengthening of community organisations involved in Indigenous arts, culture, language, and broadcasting activities.

• Since opening its new building to the public on 4 December 2008, the National Portrait Gallery has staged several major exhibitions and delivered a range of innovative education and public learning programs. Visitor numbers have greatly increased with 447 782 people visiting the Gallery from its opening to 30 June 2009.

• The Gallery acquired 119 portraits for the national portrait collection, produced a range of new printed material and significant publications and enhanced its online presence.

Strategies

Arts Policy

The department continued to develop arts policy to support excellence and access to Australia’s cultural activities, working closely with key bodies such as the Cultural Ministers Council and the Australia Council.

A National Arts and Disability Strategy is being developed with the Cultural Ministers Council. Public consultation was undertaken following


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the release of a discussion paper by the Cultural Ministers Council in October 2008, and more than 115 submissions were received. The Strategy is expected to be finalised in 2009–10.

The Resale Royalty Right for Visual Artists Bill 2008 was introduced in the House of Representatives on 27 November 2008. The legislation and related material aims to establish a resale royalty right and associated scheme for visual artists. This would entitle an artist to a royalty payment when a work of art he or she has created is resold. The Bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts, to examine the content and structure of the Bill and ensure it meets the objectives set out in the Bill. The Committee’s final report was handed down and the Australian Government’s response to its ten recommendations was tabled in Parliament on 28 May 2009.

The department is developing a Strategic Contemporary Music Industry Plan, as a means to enhance continuing cooperation within the industry. Preliminary consultation was undertaken with government and industry, including an Inter-Agency Working Group and the industry-convened Contemporary Music Working Group. The Strategic Plan is expected to be finalised in 2009–10.

The department initiated a joint research project with the Australia Council, to review the current state of artists’ incomes. The review examined patterns of employment and income levels for artists in Australia. The results of the review will inform further policy developments in this area during 2009–10.

Regional and touring programs

The department’s cultural touring programs continued to provide audiences across Australia, particularly in regional and remote areas, with access to high-quality performing and visual arts and other Australian cultural material. Funding was provided to major organisations, such as The Sydney Dance Company, The Australian Chamber Orchestra, The Australian Ballet and Bell Shakespeare Company. Smaller organisations were also supported, including Hidden Republic, which was funded to perform, promote and celebrate contemporary Australian Indigenous music in six regional venues in Queensland, including Thursday Island.

During 2008–09:

• The Playing Australia program provided $6.06 million for 34 tours. This program provides financial support for the touring of performing arts across Australia.

• The Contemporary Music Touring Program provided $250,000 for 24 tours. This program provides financial support for bands and musical ensembles to tour original live Australian music across Australia.

• The Contemporary Touring Initiative provided funding of $512,000 to five organisations, for the touring costs of five exhibitions of contemporary visual arts and craft.

• The Visions of Australia program provided $2.042 million, for the development and tour expenses of 30 high-quality exhibitions of Australian cultural material. Funding recipients included national and state organisations, as well as small regionally-based organisations. Experimenta Media Arts Inc and d/Lux/MediaArts, organisations focusing on new media art, also received funding.


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Regional cultural touring Programs: number of metropolitan (M) and regional (R) locations visited by touring exhibitions and productions in 2008–09 Program ACT NSW VIC SA QLD NT WA TAS

M R M R M R M R M R M R M R M R

Contemporary Music Touring program

13 0 1 85 2 33 0 12 2 24 0 14 0 42 0 8

Playing Australia

7 0 28 154 27 129 0 19 7 90 0 15 0 84 3 5

Visions of Australia

7 0 9 53 14 11 8 6 9 22 2 3 3 22 4 1

Contemporary Touring Initiative

1 0 5 10 3 3 2 3 2 12 0 2 1 0 2 1

Regional and touring program statistics 2008–09 Contemporary

Touring Initiative

Playing Australia

Contemporary Music Touring

Program

Festivals Australia


Number of funded/administered activities

5 34 24 85 30

% of applications processed within target timeframe

100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

% of payments on time 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

% of funding agreements acquitted

100% 67% 95% 96% 100%


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Festivals Australia

The Festivals Australia program assists the presentation of arts and cultural activities at Australian regional and community festivals. The emphasis is on supporting new projects which add to the quality and diversity of the arts and cultural programming of festivals. In 2008–09 Festivals Australia supported 66 new arts and/or cultural projects at established regional and community festivals, totalling $879,390 in funding.

Regional Arts Fund

In the 2008–09 Budget, the Australian Government announced funding of $11.8 million over four years, from 2008–09 to 2011–12. This funding enables ongoing cultural development in regional and remote Australia, and assistance for the professional skills development of regional artists.

Indigenous arts and culture programs

The department’s Indigenous arts and culture programs are delivered through a National Network, located throughout Australia in Indigenous Coordination Centres. The Network continued to focus on cross-government program delivery, identifying opportunities to participate in strategic initiatives under: broadcasting, language and arts and culture Indigenous programs.

The Maintenance of Indigenous Languages and Records program supported 69 projects across Australia, totalling $8.892 million, and incorporating about 200 languages.

• The Indigenous Culture Support program supported 140 projects, totalling $6.928 million.

• The National Arts and Crafts Industry Support program provided $8.23 million for 87 activities; including the provision of operational support for Indigenous art centres and Indigenous visual art peak bodies. This funding includes $2 million, as part of the $7.6 million increase to the program over four years, from 2007–08.

• The Indigenous Broadcasting program supported 71 activities nationally, worth $13.926 million. Funding of $15.081 million was allocated to the National Indigenous Television (NITV) service. NITV will be reviewed in 2009–10.

• Since its establishment, the Return of Indigenous Cultural Property Program, which is managed by the department on behalf of the Cultural Ministers Council, has supported the return of more than 1383 ancestral remains and 1358 secret sacred objects, to Indigenous communities.

2008–09 Indigenous Remote Radio Replacement (IRRR)

Under the IRRR program, the Australian Government provided $3.3 million over three years to 2008–09, to replace ageing radio infrastructure for Remote Indigenous Broadcasting Services. Most organisations are located in very remote areas of Australia and the Torres Strait Islands, where they often provide the only locally relevant news and community information in their communities.


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Negotiations to extend the IRRR program and expand the number of services receiving equipment upgrades were successful, as substantial savings were achieved through the bulk purchase of equipment. This has enabled the program to continue until December 2010. Additional services will be upgraded as a result.

Philanthropic support

The department encourages and facilitates sponsorship and philanthropic support for the cultural sector, through the delivery of the Register of Cultural Organisations, the Cultural Gifts Program and the funding of the Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF).

The tables below show the number and value of gifts made to organisations on the Register of Cultural Organisations, and gifts made through the Cultural Gifts Program, over the last five years.

Community language workers in far west SA introduce primary school students to local language Wirangu, being revived with assistance from the department’s MILR program. Photo: 2008, Scotdesco Community

AbaF promotes private sector support through its partnering, volunteering and giving programs. It was reviewed in 2008–09.

Register of Cultural Organisations – number and value of donations received* 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09

Number of donations 73 295 89 730 107 518 150 980 135 667

Total value ($m)** 38.2 46.6 60.7 63.5 60.0

Average value ($) 521 519 564 420 442

Notes: * Includes contributions from individuals, business, and charitable trusts/foundations. ** The number and value of donations received for these financial years may increase, as further statistical returns are received

from registered cultural organisations.

Cultural Gifts Program – number and value of donations processed* 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09

Number of donations processed 651 615 596 617 652

Total value ($m) 47.2 28.9 33.4 43.2 82.9

Note: * Donations entered into the department’s database and assessed by the Committee on Taxation Incentives for the Arts


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Art Indemnity Australia

During 2008–09 Art Indemnity Australia indemnified the following exhibitions:

• Turner to Monet: the triumph of landscape.

• Picasso and his collection.

• Degas: Master of French Art.

• American Impressionism and Realism: A Landmark exhibition from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

Exhibitions were displayed in Canberra and Brisbane.

National collecting institutions

The department continued to support the national collecting institutions in meeting their governance and accountability responsibilities. At the beginning of 2008–09 the National Film and Sound Archive was established as a national collecting institution. In collaboration with the Heads of Collecting Institutions forum, the department contributed to a number of initiatives, including guidelines for best practice in collecting cultural material, published in June 2009.

The department supported three regional programs managed by the national collecting institutions. In 2008–09, $80,000 was provided to support the Maritime Museums of Australia Project Support Scheme, managed by the Australian National Maritime Museum. The Community Heritage Grants program, managed by the National Library of Australia, was provided with $450 000. Support of $60,400 was provided to the Museums Australia 2009 National Conference, to support

Indigenous, regional and remote bursaries and conference speakers.

Support for the Bundanon Trust continued, with funding of $1.552 million in 2008–09, for operating, capital maintenance and preservation costs.

Arts training organisations

Seven national performing arts training organisations were supported through the Australian Government’s Cultural Development Program. The following organisations received operational funding totalling $14.994 million:

• Australian Ballet School (ABS).

• Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM).

• Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO).

• Flying Fruit Fly Circus (FFFC).

• National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA)

• National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA).

• National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA).

Operational funding provided to ANAM included a one-off amount of $0.5 million to assist with the development of an enhanced training program.

Cultural Diplomacy

The department contributed to the Australian Government’s cultural diplomacy strategy, through its work with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and, in particular, through its involvement in the Australia International Cultural Council (AICC). The AICC is Australia’s key cultural


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diplomacy body, comprising leaders from government, the arts and business, with a common interest in promoting Australia abroad through the arts and culture. The AICC met on 9 February 2009, co-chaired for the first time by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, the Hon Peter Garrett AM MP and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Stephen Smith MP. The meeting achieved agreement on AICC’s:

• regional priorities (in priority order) Asia, South Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and the Americas and Western Europe

• focus countries: the Republic of Korea in 2011 and India in 2012, in addition to the previously agreed focus countries of USA in 2009, and China in 2010, and

Educational Lending Right payments

Year of paymentNew claimants

receiving payments Creators PublishersTotal payments

($m)

2006–07 365 9887 374 $10.438

2007–08 372 10 275 383 $10.469

2008–09 320 10 385 394 $10.709

Public Lending Right payments

Year of paymentNew claimants

receiving payments Creators PublishersTotal payments

($m)

2006–07 380 8525 341 $7.091

2007–08 376 8575 363 $7.646

2008–09 385 8511 365 $8.155

• exploring the feasibility and potential costs of focus country programs for Africa and Latin America in 2013 and 2014.

The department continued to collaborate with DFAT on the development of the cultural program for Shanghai Expo 2010 and the 2010 focus country program in China in 2010–11.

In March 2009, the department signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Cultural Heritage Administration of the Republic of Korea. The aim of the MOU is to facilitate cooperation on cultural heritage matters.


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Educational Lending Right and Public Lending Right

The Educational Lending Right (ELR) and Public Lending Right (PLR) programs provide payments to eligible Australian creators (authors, editors, illustrators, translators and compilers) and publishers, whose books are held in educational and public lending libraries. Both programs support the enrichment of Australian culture by encouraging the growth and development of Australian writing and publishing.

In 2008–09, 768 new claimants registered with the ELR program, of which 320 received a payment. For PLR, there were 758 new claimants registered, with 385 receiving a payment. In the ELR program, 40 638 books registered received a payment in 2008–09, while 23 068 books were registered with the PLR program.

Artbank

Artbank continued to provide direct support to Australian artists through the acquisition, promotion and rental of artworks by Australian artists and craftspeople. The expanding Artbank collection is currently valued at approximately $35 million. It comprises nearly 10 000 works in a variety of styles and media by some 3000 artists, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. Forming a major public arts access resource, artworks from the Artbank collection are rented by nearly 700 private, commercial and government clients, as well as Australian embassies and high commissions around the world.

Film and Creative Industries

During 2008–09 the department assisted the two new agencies, Screen Australia and the National Film and Sound Archive, in their first year of operations since the Australian Screen Media Support Package was introduced in 2007–08. The Australian Film, Television and Radio School also completed its first year of operations, in its new state-of-the-art purpose-built facility at the Moore Park Entertainment Quarter in Sydney.

The department administered film tax offset programs that provide incentives for large budget film and television productions to locate in Australia and encourage post, digital and visual effect (PDV) production in Australia. It also continued administering the phase-out of the 10B and 10BA film tax incentive schemes. The department administered the foreign actor certification scheme and the government’s funding agreements with the Australian Children’s Television Foundation and Ausfilm.

Negotiation of a film co-production agreement with South Africa and the renegotiation of the Australia-United Kingdom co-production agreement were ongoing.

The department assisted with the establishment of the Creative Industries Innovation Centre at the University of Technology Sydney. The Centre was jointly launched by the Hon Peter Garrett AM MP, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, and Senator the Hon Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, in Sydney on 17 February 2009.


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The Culture Portal provided online access to Australian culture websites from all levels of government and the non-government sector. It is the premier online access point for Australian culture. Audience reach is now over 5 million visitors.

The Collections Australia Network (CAN) is an online resource providing access to Australia ‘s collecting institutions and their collections and a collaborative initiative of the Cultural Ministers Council. During 2008–09 CAN received 185 321 visitors and added 91 new partners.

National Portrait Gallery

Opening celebrations

A program of special events was staged to celebrate the opening of the Gallery building. Activities for families, children and young people included a gallery based drawing program to encourage active viewing, a trial to support the interpretation of the collection and activities that encourage participation by visitors of all ages.

In conjunction with the opening the sell out Annual Lecture by Rolf Harris AM OBE was enthusiastically received.

In all the Festival of the Face opening weekend celebrations on 6 and 7 December 2008 attracted more that 10,000 people.

Major exhibitions

From 4 December 2008, the National Portrait Gallery staged five major exhibitions:

• The Inaugural Hang (3 December 2008–1 March 2009).

• My Favourite Australian (3 December 2008–1 March 2009).

• Open Air–Portraits and Landscape (3 December 2008–1 March 2009).

• The National Photographic Portrait Prize 2009 (20 March–24 May 2009).

• Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1914–2007 (12 June–30 August 2009).

2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09

10BA provisional applications 214 351 250 664 80 0

10BA final applications 95 69 67 62 90 58

10B applications 63 58 74 165 15 0

Tax offset provisional applications 2 1 1 0 0 1

Tax offset final applications 5 5 6 3 7 9

Foreign actors certified 120 167 114 154 137 103


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Collection development

The Gallery acquired 119 portraits in 2008–09 through donation, purchase and commission. Significant acquisitions included:

• A portrait of Lady Ellen Stirling (c.1828), by Thomas Phillips.

• A portrait of boxer Lionel Rose (1968), by Indigenous photographer Mervin Bishop.

• A portrait of Sir Donald Bradman (1990), by Bill Leak, donated by L Gordon Darling AC CMG.

Education, public and online programs

The planned expansion of education programs was realised with Portrait School, a suite of 49 formal learning programs designed for students from preschool to tertiary level. Education programs attracted a wide range of schools and year levels, with increased visitation from local schools and a new audience from interstate schools. The Gallery delivered a wide range of well attended public learning programs, for families, children and adult lifelong learners, using various interpretive methods and tools. A digital storytelling project, supported by a donation, was developed and piloted in the Northern Territory in May 2009. The Gallery also produced a presentation of its identity and values online, at www.portrait.gov.au, including a new structure and branding.

Evaluation

Indigenous Broadcasting Program (IBP)

In May 2009, reviews were finalised for Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Media

Association Aboriginal Corporation (PY Media) and The Aboriginal Program Exchange (TAPE), for a total amount of $77,611. Both reviews reported on: the effectiveness of service delivery and value for money; operational capacity; financial management processes and financial viability; the appropriateness of the organisation’s structure, resources and governance; and any current or emerging issues requiring attention.

The department is working with both PY Media and TAPE, and will reflect the review findings in 2009–10 Program Funding Agreements.

Film

A review conducted by the Department of the Treasury, to examine the effect of the film tax offsets on the levels of domestic television broadcaster and independent production, was completed in April 2009. The review found that it is too early to draw any significant conclusions on the effect of the tax offsets on the levels and source of Australian television production, due to the short time the offsets have been in operation.

Australian Business Arts Foundation (AbaF)

A review of AbaF was undertaken during the year, in accordance with the Government’s 2007 election commitment to examine options for AbaF’s future, including a possible merger between AbaF and the Australia Council. The review was undertaken by independent consultants, McGrathNicol, who found that AbaF was operating on an appropriate, effective and efficient basis. In December 2008 the minister announced the findings of


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the review and the government’s decision to maintain current administrative and governance arrangements for AbaF.

National Arts and Crafts Industry Support (NACIS)

A draft report, prepared by the Office of Evaluation and Audit (OEA) into the National Arts and Crafts Industry Support (NACIS) program, was provided to the department in April 2009. OEA consulted with NACIS stakeholders, including: staff and artists from Indigenous arts centres; galleries distributing Indigenous art, peak industry bodies; and NACIS program administrators. The final OEA report will be submitted to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation in 2009–10.

National Portrait Gallery

In March 2009 a market research firm undertook a qualitative evaluation of visitor experience of the Gallery’s programs and activities. Overall, more than 90 per cent of those surveyed had a positive experience. The Gallery has worked to improve identified shortfalls, including general wayfinding, directional and informational signage and parking.

A structured ongoing in-house visitor evaluation program commenced, with initial results planned to be available in late 2009, with further independent targeted qualitative evaluations planned for 2009–10.


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rts and Culture Established in 1964, the Australian Ballet

School has an international reputation for its vocational, classical, dance training program. Graduates of the School can be found as principals and soloists in The Australian Ballet, and in many of the world’s premier dance companies.

The Australian Government has directly supported the School since 1989, and, in 2008–09, provided $1.133 million towards its operations. Prior to 1989 the School was supported through the Elizabethan Trust and later the Australia Council.

In 2009 the School has been celebrating its 45th year in style. Earlier this year, student Hannah O’Neil became the first Australian student to win the Prix de Lausanne, one of the world’s most prestigious classical ballet competitions. Almost simultaneously, the School completed an upgrade of its facilities and, for the first time, offered its fourth year of training on a full-time basis, aligning it with years five to eight. The School’s improved facilities, and the expanded fourth year program, have resulted in a record enrolment in 2009 of 160 students.

In 2007–08, the Australian Government committed up to $4.6 million, for the School to plan for the proposed expansion of its training program and to refurbish its

facilities to address occupational health and safety concerns.

The refurbishment was completed on time and with notable economy and efficiency, with the project coming in under budget. It included upgrading training studios, expanding and updating student change rooms, and developing new classrooms and health areas.

The School celebrated its 45th birthday in April 2009, at which time the minister officially opened the refurbished facilities.

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, the Hon Peter Garrett AM MP, and Level 6 students at the official launch of the Australian Ballet School’s refurbished training facilities. Photo: Sergey Konstantinov, 2009, courtesy Australian Ballet School

Case studies

Case study 1: Australian Ballet School


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Named after the traditional owners of the inner-Sydney area, the Gadigal people, Gadigal Information Service grew out of a need for an Aboriginal owned, controlled and operated media organisation. Established in 1993, Gadigal Information Service takes great pride in empowering Sydney’s Indigenous peoples and communities, through:

• providing a community based media, arts and information service for the Indigenous community in Sydney, which is home to Australia’s largest Indigenous population

• providing employment and training opportunities

Case study 2: Indigenous Broadcasting Program: Gadigal Information Service

Koori Radio’s new media complex in Redfern. Photo: Michelle Blakeney, 2009, courtesy of Gadigal Information


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• the engagement of Indigenous peoples at all levels of decision-making within, and on behalf of, the organisation, and

• offering effective and efficient services.

As an Indigenous arts/media organisation, Gadigal Information Service is committed to the development and promotion of Indigenous cultures. Gadigal Information Service provides this on a daily basis by means of its broadcast service, Koori Radio 93.7FM which has been funded by the department since 1998. Situated in Redfern, Koori Radio broadcasts out of the recently redeveloped media complex, the Black Theatre.

The Indigenous Broadcasting Program contributed $250,000 as part of a $7 million Shared Responsibility Agreement (SRA), to redevelop the Black Theatre site into a state-of-the-art Indigenous media complex. The contribution facilitated the acquisition of new equipment and the fit-out of the new radio station. The SRA has also

encouraged younger Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to enter the field of broadcasting, media and communications. As a result, Gadigal Information Service strengthened the identity of Koori Radio and developed fresh projects and events in its new premises, which have provided an essential space for Indigenous arts and media in Sydney.

DEWHA has also provided funding to support the Yabun Festival, through the Indigenous Culture Support program, which is run by Gadigal Information Service. The Yabun Festival is an Indigenous and non-Indigenous celebration of Aboriginal survival and culture in Sydney and surrounding areas, held on 26 January each year.


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Playing Australia is the Australian Government’s national touring program for the performing arts, enabling acts of a high standard to tour regional and remote centres and communities across the country. The program recently provided Tura New Music with a $131,900 grant, for a tour of Crossing Roper Bar by the Australian Art Orchestra.

The Roper Bar story is one of a truly cross-cultural experience. The Roper River is a magnificent waterway, flowing from Mataranka in the Northern Territory, 100kms south of Katherine, across the land of the Mangarayi and Yungman people. The water, before reaching the Gulf of

Carpentaria, passes through the remote town of Ngukurr in Arnhem Land, which is isolated for several months when the Roper engulfs the land. At other times, the Roper Bar is the point where it is possible to cross the river to Ngukurr. This was seen as a fitting metaphor for the collaboration between the Australian Art Orchestra and the Wagilak Gujarra/Nyilapidgi artists, which resulted in the performance of Crossing Roper Bar.

The Crossing Roper Bar 2008 tour consisted of eight members of the Australian Art Orchestra and eight Ngukurr artists. Throughout August and September 2008 the tour visited locations in Darwin,

Case study 3: Playing Australia Program: Crossing Roper Bar

Crossing Roper Bar performance–Artistic Director Paul Grabowsky, the young Wagilak group, members of AAO and Ruby Hunter at the Perth Concert Hall. Photo: Bohdan Warchomij, 2008 at the Perth Concert


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Katherine, Kunnunurra, Warmun, Fitzroy Crossing, Broome, Beagle Bay, Djarindjin, One Arm Point and Perth. Paul Grabowski’s Australian Art Orchestra, the musicians of Ngukurr and the celebrated Indigenous artist, Ruby Hunter, all collaborated to produce the Crossing Roper Bar tour. The collaboration created a concert program featuring traditional Wagilak song, jazz and classical music, and the voice of Ruby Hunter. School workshops also extended the collaborative experience to young audiences. It was an electrifying mix of the very old and the very new; a collaboration of country, ceremony and the power of music to build enduring bridges across cultures.

The provision of funding for this tour demonstrates the importance of Playing Australia in supporting collaborations between traditional and non-traditional,

remote-based artists and performing arts producers. Mr Tos Mahoney, Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director of Tura New Music, noted that:

“Playing Australia’s involvement was critical to the viability of the tour. There is no doubt that once Playing Australia funding was confirmed, this paved the way for the other funding bodies and sponsors to commit to the tour”.

Crossing Roper Bar was first performed at the Northern Territory’s Garma Festival, which is Australia’s most significant cultural exchange event. The department’s Indigenous Culture Support program has provided a total of $147,500 since 2003 to the Yothu Yindi Foundation to support the Garma Festival, which created a launching pad for Crossing Roper Bar’s national tour.


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Since its first exhibition in 1994 entitled About Face: Aspects of Australian Portraiture 1770–1993, the National Portrait Gallery had operated from its location within Old Parliament House. With encouragement from the Gallery’s Board, the government initiated a design process in early 2005, and ultimately committed $87.8 million to build a new purpose-built building for the National Portrait Gallery.

Designed by Sydney architects Johnson Pilton Walker and constructed by the John Holland Group, the Gallery’s building was delivered by the Department of Finance and Deregulation on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

The primary objective of the new building, which was to create an art museum of outstanding quality that accords with international standards and which reflects the purpose and vision of the Gallery, has been achieved.

The building is open, accessible and inviting, with a rich diversity of public spaces, which are on a single level. Detailed landscaping, close to the building, utilises species typical of all climatic regions of Australia. Materials and finishes have been selected that are representative of the unique natural resources of the Australian states and territories. Stone, timber and concrete are detailed, to

showcase the ingenuity, creativity and craft of Australian tradespeople.

The Gallery’s new home was officially opened by the Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, on 3 December 2008.

The building has enabled the Gallery to display a substantial part of its collection, present enhanced and expanded programs and visitor services, and increase its revenue through commercial operations (membership, venue hire and licence fees).

The Inaugural Hang includes portraits of individuals and groups collectively reflecting stories about the development of Australia’s society and culture. These stories include: exploration and navigation; European settlement and encounters with Indigenous peoples; the flowering of European-Australian arts and culture; modern civic life; the vibrancy of the 1960s and 1970s; and contemporary sport, music and creative arts. The inaugural display of portraits from the collection included: traditional oil paintings such as John Webber’s commanding portrait of Captain James Cook, painted in 1782; and contemporary portraits in painting, photography and new media, of subjects including Nick Cave, David Gulpilil and Layne Beachley.

The Gallery commissioned a range of works for the building’s opening, including: David Rosetsky’s video portrait of actress Cate Blanchett; Scott Redford’s portrait of

Case Study 4: New building for the National Portrait Gallery


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motorcyclist Casey Stoner; Petrina Hicks’ portrait of surfer Layne Beachley; and Matthys Gerber’s triptych of cyclists Stuart O’Grady, Cadel Evans and Robbie McEwen.

The building has been an overwhelming success with the visiting public. Between 4 December 2008 and 30 June 2009, 447 782 people have visited

the Gallery’s new home (average daily attendance of 2083).

The Gallery is the youngest of Australia’s national cultural institutions and now, proudly, occupies the most significant building to be constructed in the Parliamentary precinct in over 20 years.

Top: Evening in the Sculpture Gallery. Photo: Brett Boardman. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery

Above: Visitors enjoying the permanent collection display. Photo: Brett Boardman. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery


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Output Group 4.1: Policy advice, program management and agency support, which promotes excellence in, preservation and maintenance of, and access to, Australia’s cultural activities, national cultural collections and buildings, and Indigenous languagesPerformance Indicator Target 2008–09 results

Promotion and access to Regional Cultural Activities, including touring programs (Visions of Australia, Contemporary Touring Initiative, Playing Australia, Contemporary Music Touring Program), and cultural development programs (Festivals Australia and Regional Arts Fund), as measured by number and type of funded performances/exhibitions/events reported by state/territory and by metropolitan/regional/remote categories

Access to high quality cultural experiences, particularly in regional and remote areas, is maintained or increased


The program funded 30 exhibitions in 2008–09 (9 for development and 21 for touring). Exhibition projects funded will tour to 174 venues nationally, 118 of these venues being in regional and remote locations.

NSW (62 venues) VIC (25 venues) ACT (7 venues) NT (5 venues) QLD (31 venues) SA (14 venues) TAS (5 venues) WA (25 venues)


The program funded five exhibitions in 2008–09. Exhibition projects funded will tour to 47 venues nationally, 31 of those venues being in regional locations

NSW (15 venues) VIC (6 venues) ACT (1 venue) NT (2 venues) QLD (14 venues) SA (5 venues) TAS (3 venues) WA (1 venue)


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Playing Australia

This program funded 34 performing arts tours in 2008–09. Funded tours have made, or will make, 702 venue visits nationally, with 497 of these visits being in regional and remote locations.


Contemporary Music Touring Program

This program funded 24 proposed music tours in 2008–09, to 357 venues nationally, of which 218 were in regional and remote locations.



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Festivals Australia

This program funded 66 festival projects nationally in 2008–09, of which 52 are regional, 10 are remote and 4 are in metropolitan locations:

NSW (11 projects) VIC (17 projects) ACT (0) NT (9 projects) QLD (16 projects) SA (6 projects) TAS (3 projects) WA (4 projects)

Regional Arts Fund

This program provided devolved funding to state Regional Arts Organisations and the arts ministries in the territories, which funded 97 projects nationally, in 2008–09.

NSW (28 projects) VIC (5 projects) ACT (0 projects) NT (3 projects) QLD (5 projects) SA (31 projects) TAS (11 projects) WA (14 projects)

Encouraging the development of Australian writing and publishing, as measured by the number of payments to creators and publishers for Public and Educational Lending Right programs

Access to Australian books in public and educational libraries is maintained or increased

The Educational Lending Right (ELR) and Public Lending Right (PLR) programs provide payments to eligible Australian creators and publishers whose books are held in educational and public lending libraries. Approximately 106 000 books are now registered with the programs. The number of claimants receiving an ELR payment in 2008–09 was 10 779 and 8876 claimants received a payment from PLR.

There is a slight increase in claimants receiving payments under the ELR program. The claimant numbers for PLR remain comparatively stable.


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Recognise the contribution of Australian writers to Australian society through the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, as measured by the satisfaction of stakeholders with awards processes and related events, and sales of shortlisted and winning titles

The profile of Australian writing in the Australian community is raised with an increase in the level of sales of shortlisted and winning titles

The inaugural Prime Minister’s Literary Awards were announced on 12 September 2008, at Parliament House.

A survey of key stakeholders indicated overall satisfaction with organisation of the event and access to promotional material. Suggested improvements to the process were incorporated into the 2009 Awards.

Applications for the 2009 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards closed on 20 March 2009. Over 254 books were entered for the Awards, an increase of 64 over the inaugural year.

Efficient and timely administration of funding agreements and reporting arrangements for Arts related Commonwealth and Public Companies

Funded companies meet their objectives and reporting requirements

The funding agreements and reporting arrangements for all Arts related Commonwealth and Public Companies, have been administered in an efficient and timely manner, consistent with legislative and contractual requirements.

The Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF) met its reporting requirements under the 2008–09 funding agreement. It exceeded a number of targets, including: the number of business arts partnerships developed; the number of attendees at AbaF’s professional development workshops and seminars; and the number of donations made to AbaF’s Australia Cultural Fund.

The Bundanon Trust met all its reporting requirements for 2008–09, set out in the new funding deed for the period 2007–08 to 2010–11.

The Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF) continued its role of supporting the development and production of high quality television programs for children. The ACTF met all its reporting requirements for 2008–09.


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Australians have wide access to exhibitions of significant Australian and international cultural material, as measured by number, value, geographic spread and attendance figures, for indemnified exhibitions supported by Art Indemnity Australia

The Art Indemnity Australia program achieves an equitable geographic spread of exhibitions over time

Two new exhibitions received indemnity under the Arts Indemnity Australia (AIA) program in 2008–09. AIA indemnified exhibitions were displayed in two states. It indemnified $1.915 billion of works in 2008–09. AIA indemnified exhibitions were attended by 359 613 visitors in 2008–09.

The value and uniqueness of Australia’s Indigenous cultures is recognised and supported by Indigenous Broadcasting, Culture, Languages and Arts programs, as measured by the number and type of activities supported and the impact of support

Diversity of Indigenous arts and cultural projects supported is maintained or increased

Access for Indigenous people to Indigenous broadcasting services is maintained or increased

The Indigenous Art and Culture Programs are part of the Australian Government’s Whole of Government Indigenous funding round, coordinated by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. The department assessed and managed applications within the whole of government timeframe and entered into funding agreements with recipients of funding.

Maintenance of Indigenous Languages and Records (MILR)

69 MILR projects were funded in 2008–09, to assist a range of projects, including: the operation of language centres; the documentation and recording of language; the development of language resources and activities to increase the awareness and appreciation of Indigenous languages. In 2008–09, the MILR program supported about 200 Indigenous languages.

Indigenous Culture Support (ICS)

In 2008–09, 140 ICS projects were funded, to assist a range of activities, including: cultural centres; teaching of cultural traditions across generations; cultural camps; art and craft production; dance and music festivals; and multi-media cultural productions.


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National Arts and Crafts Industry Support (NACIS) program

In 2008–09, NACIS supported 87 activities across Australia. This included the operation of 78 Indigenous art centres and arts advocacy organisations. Of these, 61 organisations were located in remote and very remote areas. These organisations play a valuable role in supporting and developing professional Indigenous visual arts practice, thus enhancing economic opportunities.

The number of funded organisations increased by 16% from 2007–08.

Indigenous Broadcasting Program (IBP)

Nationally, 71 IBP projects were approved for funding. These projects improve Indigenous broadcasting operations, so that local broadcasters are able to support traditional language and culture, and contribute to community cohesion. They also assist in promoting the maintenance of cultural communication links within, and between, Indigenous communities.

Northern Territory Jobs package

Under this initiative, 225 jobs were funded. These positions provide Indigenous Australians with increased economic independence and career pathways. They also support the administration of arts, language, broadcasting and cultural organisations in the Northern Territory. Funding for this initiative is administered through Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FAHCSIA).

Cape York Welfare Reform Trial

Eight jobs were funded by the department in four remote communities in Cape York. These jobs provide sustainable, ongoing employment opportunities for Indigenous people and support the delivery of the government’s Indigenous Arts and Culture programs.


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Arts Training Organisations have a reputation for providing quality training to equip Australians for a range of roles, including performance, design and production, as measured by the level of demand for training

The level of demand for training by Arts Training Organisations is maintained

At the beginning of the 2009 academic year, 1050 students were enrolled in the national arts training organisations. This includes 495 young participants in Australian Youth Orchestra’s 2009 programs.

Demand for training continues to be high and was greater than the places available, which ensures that the very best applicants are selected. For example, for its 2009 intake the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) received 1688 applications (an 8.5% increase over applications for 2008), but only 60 places were offered.

The quality of the training provided by each organisation is recognised both nationally and internationally. For example, in early 2009, an Australian Ballet School (ABS) student won the prestigious Prix de Lausanne and a 2006 NICA graduate won gold at the 30th Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain in Paris.

Many graduates find work in their chosen field, both nationally and internationally. For example: AYO alumni perform with professional orchestras, including the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Camerata Australia, Berlin Philharmonic and Hong Kong Philharmonic; AYO alumni have performed at international festivals in New York, Denmark, Canada and Italy; ABS graduates are contracted to leading ballet companies in Australia and overseas; and graduates of the NIDA can be found around the world, contributing to film, theatre and television and are regularly nominees and recipients of industry awards.


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Development of, and access to, the national portrait collection, programs, exhibitions and other activities

Growth and maintenance of the national portrait collection and/or notable major acquisitions

The Gallery continued to develop the national portrait collection. During the year 119 works of art were acquired, with 1606 items in the collection at 30 June 2009. Overall, 90% of Gallery visitors had a positive experience.

Qualitative evaluation, citing adherence to relevant legislative requirements and approved organisational plans and policies

The Gallery satisfied its legislative and policy obligations Five major exhibitions were staged, which included the inaugural hang in the new building.

Number of visitors, attendance at exhibitions, events and public programs and use of online programs

Note: performance indicators adjusted to reflect the separation from Old Parliament House

Between 4 December 2008 and 30 June 2009, 447 782 people visited the Gallery in Canberra; 6423 students (153 schools) participated in education programs; and 1822 people participated in public programs and events. A total of 1 834 301 people accessed the Gallery’s online presence.

To improve access to collection displays, general programs and events an admission fee is not charged.

Note: an admission fee was applied to some special exhibitions and programs.


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Resources

Output Group 4.1 – Policy advice, program management and agency supportAdministered items Budget

2008-09 $’000

(a)


$’000 (b)

Variation $’000

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Cultural Development Programme 56,870 56,006 864

Indigenous Arts and Culture 24,001 23,706 295

NIDA Depreciation 1,714 1,884 (170)

Screen Australia 60,500 60,500 –

Art Indemnity Australia 3,834 1,751 2,083

Indigenous Broadcasting 14,244 13,886 358

Connect Australia – Backing Indigenious Ability 15,881 15,881 –

Public Lending Right 9,029 8,257 772

Educational Lending Right 10,709 10,680 29

A creative Australia – Prime Ministers Literary Award 400 200 200

Books Alive 2,000 2,000 –

NT Flexible Funding Pool – 3,748 (3,748)

Cape York Welfare Relief – 64 (64)

Special Accounts

National Portrait Gallery (Departmental) 1,040 774 266

Art Rental (Departmental) 3,766 3,725 41

Cultural Ministers Council (Departmental) 1,148 216 932

National Collections (Departmental) 888 867 21

Return of Indigenous Cultural Property (Departmental) 1,800 976 824


Policy Advice, program management and agency support 46,950 50,497 (3,547)

Subtotal for Output Group 4.1 254,774 255,619 (845)


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Cross-cutting activities


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ross-cutting Activities

The department provides a range of other services that contribute to all outputs under the outcome structure.

Main responsibilities:

• International policy advice

• Economic advice

• Environmental information

• Environmental research

• Public affairs

• Support for environmental and heritage organisations

Policy Coordination Division

• Indigenous engagement

Australian Government Land and Coasts

• Online information Corporate Strategies Division

• Compliance and EnforcementApprovals and Wildlife Division

CROSS-CUTTING ACTIVITIES


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Objectives• Represent the department’s interests

internationally and provide policy advice for the minister and officials attending international meetings and events.

• Provide economic advice and analysis to the department to inform policy and program development.

• Develop and maintain databases of environmental information to inform policy advice and to monitor progress on environmental protection.

• Communicate information to the public and stakeholders about the government’s environment, water, heritage and the arts programs and policies.

• Conduct scientific research programs into improving the understanding of, and response to, environmental challenges.

• Support organisations in conserving and enhancing the natural and built environment.

• Support Indigenous interests in the areas of culture and land management.

• Support the department’s compliance and enforcement activities for the 15 pieces of legislation it administers.

International policy advice

The department represents Australia’s interests on environment, water, heritage, arts and culture issues, in multilateral and bilateral forums. This work includes formulating policy, contributing to policy discussions and decisions, and providing briefing material to the minister and officials attending international meetings and events.

In addition to active involvement in the range of issue-specific international forums detailed in other chapters of this report, in 2008–09 the department contributed to policy decisions at meetings of: the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development; the United Nations Environment Program; the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD); the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); the East Asia Summit Environment Ministers’ Meeting; and the Pacific Regional Environment Program. It also engaged in bilateral forums and exchanges with selected countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Deputy Secretary, Water Group, represented the Minister for Climate Change and Water and led the Australian delegation to the 5th World Water Forum held in Istanbul in March 2009. The Forum provided an excellent opportunity to showcase Water for the Future.

United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development

The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development is a multilateral forum that promotes dialogue on sustainable development and builds partnerships between governments and stakeholders. The forum held its 17th session in New York from 4–15 May 2009. The meeting’s themes were agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification and Africa. Australia participated in the negotiation of an agreed outcomes document. Further information on the 17th session’s proceedings is available at www.un.org/esa/dsd/csd/csd_csd17.shtml.


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United Nations Environment Program

The role of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is to provide leadership and promote partnerships for environmental protection. The department represented Australia’s interests at the twenty-fifth session of UNEP’s Governing Council and Global Ministerial Environment Forum, held in Nairobi from 16–20 February 2009. A number of decisions were adopted at the meeting covering: chemicals management, including mercury; international environmental governance; and the proposed intergovernmental science-policy platform on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Ministerial-level consultations focused on globalisation and the environment, including: opportunities for promoting “green” growth; international environmental governance; and United Nations reform.

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

The department represented Australia’s interests in the OECD’s Environment Policy Committee (EPOC), which met in February 2009. Discussions included: the environmental dimension of OECD countries’ economic stimulus packages; the next phase of the OECD’s environmental performance review program; and environment and development. An officer of the department chaired EPOC during 2008–09. The department was also active in several of EPOC’s working groups.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

The department led the Australian delegation to the fourth IUCN World Conservation Congress held in Barcelona, Spain from 5–14 October 2008. Issues of particular interest were: whales and other marine-related matters; protected areas; World Heritage; climate change; and Indigenous communities.

In June 2009 the Director-General of IUCN, Ms Julia Marton-Lefèvre, and several of her senior officers, visited Australia. Meetings were held with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts and with senior departmental officers.

Pacific Regional Environment Program

The Pacific Regional Environment Program is the primary intergovernmental environmental organisation working in the Pacific. Its mandate is to promote cooperation and provide assistance to Pacific Island Countries, in protecting the environment and implementing sustainable development. The program has 21 Pacific Island member countries and four countries with direct interests in the region.

The department represented Australia’s interests at the nineteenth meeting of the program held in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, from 4–12 September 2008. Australia contributed two papers; one on Australia’s development of a template for streamlining reporting by Pacific Island Countries; and the other on genetic resources in the Pacific.


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East Asia Summit Environment Ministers’ Meeting

The East Asia Summit brings together the ten member countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Australia, China, Japan, India, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea, to promote policy dialogue and action on key challenges facing the East Asia region. At the third East Asia Summit in November 2007, Vietnam offered to host the inaugural meeting of environment ministers from member countries.

Held in Hanoi, Vietnam in October 2008, the environment ministers’ meeting focused on environmentally sustainable cities, in recognition of the diverse and complex challenges faced by Asia’s cities. Australia was represented at the meeting by a senior departmental officer.

Bilateral activities

China: The department hosted a senior delegation from the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection in May 2009. Discussions focused on progress and priorities in environmental management in China and Australia, with a particular emphasis on: environmental law enforcement; water management; air pollution control; and controlling marine pollution from land-based sources.

European Commission: A bilateral meeting on environment was held with senior officials of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for the Environment, in Canberra in September 2008. Topics included: biodiversity

protection; forestry; marine issues; and international environmental governance.

Indonesia: The department continued to collaborate closely with Indonesia through the Australia-Indonesia Joint Working Group on the Environment. Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia on 15–16 September 2008, the sixth meeting of the joint working group focused on: deepening co-operation in environmental management in mining; phasing out ozone depleting substances; water resource management; and hazardous waste management.

New Zealand: The department led an Australian delegation that held bilateral environmental discussions with New Zealand, in Wellington in November 2008. Topics covered policy initiatives on: promoting sustainability; cetaceans; biodiversity; oceans; chemicals and waste management; world heritage; sustainable forest management; and regional environmental issues.

Papua New Guinea: The department supported attendance by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts at the Australia-Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum, in June 2009. Discussions focused on deepening bilateral co-operation on protection of the Kokoda Track and the Coral Triangle Initiative.

Republic of Korea: In August 2008 a delegation of young leaders from the Republic of Korea visited the department to discuss policies on: culture and heritage; natural resource management; renewable energy; and air quality management.


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Economic advice

Overview

The Economics and Strategic Policy Section provides economic advice and analysis to divisions and work groups in the department. Its task is to assist with the development of policies, programs and advice that take into account environmental, economic and social considerations.

Summary of main achievements

The Economics and Strategic Policy Section contributed to management of the $10 million National Market Based Instruments Pilot Program. Nineteen pilot projects were completed during the program, as well as a capacity building project.

During 2008–09 the section provided advice on the economic values associated with whale watching, world heritage areas and the environmental aspects of water resources in the Great Artesian Basin. It contributed to an international review of a database on the economic values of environmental assets and services, and a review of revolving funds for conservation in Australia. Consultation was provided on the economic aspects of the photovoltaics program. Economic advice was also provided on a range of issues and projects involving: waste management; heritage; biodiversity; marine; water; vegetation; and arts.

The section also provides the primary interface between the department and the Environmental Economics Research Hub, established under the Commonwealth

Environment Research Facilities program. The hub’s projects will allow access to broad environmental economic research, to support policy and program development. The hub focuses on four themes: establishing markets; climate change impacts; analytical enhancement; and environmental valuation. The research conducted also integrates with the work being undertaken in relevant topic areas within the department. The Hub also began additional work on emerging issues identified by the department.

Environmental information

The development of a National Environmental Information System (NEIS)

The concept of a NEIS is a governance and management model for a long-term solution to managing the collection, analysis, synthesis and coordinated delivery of environmental information.

The role of the NEIS will be to manage environmental information (through coordinating and setting standards for data collection, storage, access, sharing, etc.) and to provide targeted outputs aligned to the information needs of decision makers.

The department is leading the development of a NEIS through:

• chairing an Environment Protection and Heritage Standing Committee-Natural Resource Management Standing Committee Joint Working Group, on Improving Environmental Reporting Systems (JWG)


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• Natural Resource Policy and Programs Committee endorsement of a: Needs analysis and vision statement for a NEIS

• engaging and managing a consultant to:

• document and assess the range of environmental information initiatives, and the links among them

• conduct a critical analysis of previous initiatives in co-ordinating the collection, analysis, synthesis and delivery of environmental information, and

• document the current level of investment in environmental information initiatives.

State of the Environment Report

Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), the minister is required to provide a report on the state of Australia’s environment every five years.

The purpose of the State of the Environment (SoE) report is to inform government decision-makers and the community on the state of the environment. The next SoE report must be prepared and tabled by December 2011.

Summary of last report

The third State of the Environment (SoE) report–tabled in parliament in December 2006–is available electronically on the department’s website at www.environment.gov.au/soe/2006/.

The 2006 report emphasised that climate change was an important issue for Australia. Other key concerns included: the increasing individual consumption of natural resources to support the Australian lifestyle and the

potential environmental impacts of Australia’s continued coastal population growth.

2011 Direction

Recognising the limitations of the five-yearly format and the gaps in existing environmental data, a key aim for the next SoE report is to ensure that it is more useful and policy relevant. To achieve this, the department will focus on four key elements that will shape the 2011 SoE process:

• the government will determine the core environmental information needs

• there will be provision for ongoing public access to accurate, up-to-date, environmental data and opportunities for periodic announcements of new, significant environmental statistics

• release of supplementary products—such as discussion papers and topical reports—will occur during the five year cycle, and

• an independent SoE committee will oversee production of the report.

The refinements to the SoE process will:

• increase the frequency with which environmental information is published, analysed and interpreted

• improve public access to up-to-date environmental information

• improve the relevance of SoE reporting for decision makers, and

• improve the basis of environmental decision making, through more frequent reporting on environmental trends.

During 2008–09 the focus was on the planning and early implementation stages of the project.


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Key elements that have been progressed during this time include:

• establishment of a team to progress the project; and a set of strategic plans, including: the project plan, stakeholder engagement strategy, and communications strategy, to guide implementation of the project

• consultations, internally and externally, on a set of issues to ensure policy relevance and guide the focus of the SoE committee and the 2011 report

• undertaking development of a new information system—to be known as SoE Live—for the management and ongoing presentation of SoE data, information and products

• development of Key Environmental Statistics—the first of a new suite of SoE associated products aimed at informing public comment and debate during the five-yearly SoE reporting cycle. It consists of an annual, web-based publication, featuring data to show change and monitor trends—for release in mid 2009.

Environmental Resources Information Network

The Environmental Resources Information Network (ERIN) area manages environmental information on behalf of the department. This includes: collating national datasets on environmental assets and pressures; undertaking extensive analyses; and presenting the results to the department and the Australian community, through maps and interactive tools. The area supports a wide range of the business processes of the

department, including administration of major funding programs and the implementation of legislation. In 2008–09 ERIN:

• redeveloped the Ramsar database and the associated Ramsar wetland information system, hosted by the department, to improve the quality and quantity of information available on Wetlands of International Importance. Work being performed includes: improving and standardising information on the spatial boundaries of the sites, and the delivery of high quality and standardised online map products.

• significantly increased the department’s capacity to generate distribution maps for threatened and migratory species protected under the EPBC Act . Distribution maps were produced, or updated, for 19 species and 6 threatened ecological communities. Maps for a further 62 species and ecological communities are currently under review.

• developed a map product indicating the number of EPBC-listed species and communities occurring in each 0.05 degree latitude/longitude grid cell, across Australia. This is significant because it is the first product to expose the richness of national environmental significance matters on a national scale.

• commenced the development of regional profiles, which contain information on current and emerging environmental values and threats, in priority regions of Australia


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• implemented a strategy to develop a suite of services to present spatial information, via the intranet or internet, that use standardised technologies and components. Work has commenced on progressively migrating all of the department’s spatial web-based applications to these generic application modules.

• produced high quality mapping and spatial data analysis and management, to support marine bioregional planning in all Commonwealth Marine planning regions

• collaborated with the states and territories to incorporate improved vegetation data into the National Vegetation Information System, which provides information on the extent and distribution of vegetation types in Australian landscapes

• provided detailed site and location maps to accompany the nomination of Ningaloo Coast and Cape Range, under the World Heritage Convention

• coordinated the development of public web mapping interfaces for a National Historic Shipwrecks Database and Administration system

• provided training and consultancy services in Geographic Information Systems and Land Use planning, for the Papua New Guinea Department of Environment and Conservation

• managed the spatial data and developed the online application, for the Renewable Energy Atlas of Australia, launched by the minister in October 2008

• finalised and implemented a 5-year strategic plan for the application of remote sensing within the department and portfolio agencies

Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities (CERF)

The first phase of the CERF program, to run to June 2010, has two main components: the $40 million Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF), for research relating to the Great Barrier Reef, tropical rainforests and Torres Strait; and the $60 million nation-wide research component, comprising the CERF Research Hubs, CERF Fellowships and CERF Significant Projects. Research is advanced, with most projects due to conclude in June 2010.

Research Hubs

In addition to MTSRF, the CERF program funds seven collaborative, multi-institutional research hubs designed to foster professional partnerships between researchers, end users and policy makers. Some key results achieved during 2008–09 are:

• The program continued to strengthen the links between research and policy, particularly within the department, through focussing on communication activities that build relationships and understanding; for example, meetings, seminars, workshops and training courses. The annual CERF conference, in September 2008, centred on bridging research and policy, as did the Fenner Conference, organised by two CERF hubs in March 2009.


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• The Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge (TRaCK) hub, researching the sustainable use of Australia’s tropical rivers and estuaries, has become one of the largest co-ordinated efforts for river management in Australia. The hub now has a well developed capacity for working closely with Indigenous groups, in collaborative, community-supported research, and with the department on the Australian Government’s water interests.

• The Landscape Logic hub, with its focus on Tasmanian and Victorian catchments, moved into a knowledge-transfer stage for its earlier research findings and products. It launched a publication series entitled: Briefs for policy-makers, as well as a technical report series on integrated landscape science.

• A project prioritisation protocol (PPP), developed by the Applied Environmental Decision Analysis (AEDA) CERF hub, to prioritise management actions and investment in threatened species recovery, is now being used by the New Zealand Government. It is also under consideration by the Tasmanian government and is being assessed for use by this department.

• The Prediction and Management of Australia’s Marine Biodiversity hub, is collating extensive new, and updated, datasets of Australia’s seabeds from broad-scale biological surveys.

• The Australian Marine Mammal Centre has made a number of new discoveries, including: recording for the first time, the full pathway of humpback whales from the Australian coast to their feeding grounds near the Antarctic continent; important findings were made about kinship in mass strandings of long-finned pilot whales in Tasmania; and of the dugong distribution and density in Torres Strait was modelled.

• The Environmental Economics Research Hub held its second hub workshop, this year in association with the Australian Agriculture and Resource Economics Society (AARES) Conference. Over the year, the hub produced 20 research reports, and a range of papers for journals, conference workshops and seminars. It continued to work with the department to develop various research projects to support departmental needs.

• The Taxonomy Research and Information Network has developed new web-based interactive tools to identify species of insects and freshwater macro-invertebrates, including a system to help the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service to identify insect species coming into Australia. A new rapid assessment system, using ancient DNA, is being used to support the small terrestrial mammal reintroduction program.


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Fellowships and Significant Projects

Work was undertaken within the five Fellowships and 10 Significant Projects.

CERF Fellowships

All CERF fellowship recipients made significant research progress. For example, Dr Stephen Hamilton, from Michigan State University, USA, worked in northern Australia with Australian researchers on the hydrology of waterholes. Professor Gene Likens, from the Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York, was a key speaker at the 2008 CERF Conference. Dr Likens’ work on environmental long-term monitoring was very timely for some Australian Government initiatives currently under development. The new open access software, Bowerbird, developed by Professor Gordon Grigg and Dr Andrew Taylor to monitor and survey biodiversity remotely by using animal sounds at sites, moved into its final stages of testing.

CERF Significant Projects

CERF Significant Projects provided world-class research in a number of important and varied environmental areas, such as: the social attitudes of Australian farmers to environmental management; prioritising investment in Natural Resource Management (NRM) regions; determining the water regimes required to sustain floodplains; the impact of climate change on the spread of the dengue fever-carrying mosquito in Australia; and incorporating climate change projections of severe winds into current building codes.

Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF)

The MTSRF Annual Research Plan for 2008–09 contains 50 projects under five research themes: Status of Ecosystems; Risks and Threats to Ecosystems; Halting and Reversing Decline of Water Quality; Sustainable Use and Management; and Enhancing Delivery.

MTSRF research outcomes over the year were considerable. For example: research suggests that on inshore reefs, local areas of good water quality are two to four times less likely to bleach and will tolerate up to two degrees increase in water temperature before serious bleaching occurs, compared to corals in areas of poor water quality. This new knowledge will support the programs and policies in the Marine Division and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, such as the Reef Rescue Package.

e-Reef (previously called ‘Reef Atlas’) has become an important information portal for environmental research on Australia’s tropical, terrestrial and marine, environments.

The third MTSRF research synthesis conference was held in April 2009. It brought together researchers and stakeholders to discuss research progress and information needs, and to foster communication and cooperation between disciplines.


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Output Group 1.5: Response to the impacts of human settlementsPerformance Indicator Target 2008–09 results

The extent to which funded projects successfully contribute to furthering Australia’s understanding of critical areas of environment research

Establish an evaluation framework for fine-tuning current and future program operations

All research is publicly available and reported to end-users, through seminars, workshops, publications, and web-sites. An evaluation framework was developed for the program and the evaluation will be conducted during 2009–10 to assist with the task of assessing program outcomes.

A communication strategy is implemented to ensure policy-research links are being made

The Communication strategy for the program was reviewed and a revised plan implemented.

The extent to which the 23 funded CERF research projects/hubs undertake and deliver research, as outlined in contracts

Percentage of projects delivered to a satisfactory result, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the project contract.

100%. All progress reports that were due during 2008–09 were received. All projects delivered results in accordance with the terms and conditions of the project contract.

Number of new projects funded. In addition to the existing research projects, a further 4 departmental emerging priority projects were approved by the minister and funded during 2008–09.

media management services, and a range of targeted communication strategies.

The year ended with preparatory work for communication of the department’s new strategic plan. This included the development of a new corporate look and feel for all departmental publications and products, reflecting the diversity of the department while providing a cohesive and unified brand.

The corporate public affairs team worked closely with the web team, to explore the multitude of opportunities offered by social media. Initial work focused on YouTube presentations on the internet and the first video broadcasts by the Secretary on the department’s intranet.

Public Affairs

The department significantly strengthened its communications capacity in 2008–09, responding to the rapid growth in the portfolio and the development of major programs aiming for energy efficiency reform, through the Energy Efficient Homes Package and the introduction of energy efficient appliances.

The branch made some structural changes in response to the department’s new challenges. Public affairs teams worked across the portfolio from within the Communications and Ministerial Services Branch of the Policy Coordination Division, to deliver issues and


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Highlights and milestones

Environment quality

The department ran a successful joint advertising campaign with the Australian Refrigeration Council. The campaign supplied Australians with the information needed to make the right decision when it comes to installing, servicing and/or repairing split-system air conditioners. The campaign involved radio, magazine, press and online (display and search) advertising over a three month period.

Arts and culture

Communications highlights and milestones across the department included the implementation of a communications strategy to establish the brand and promote the inaugural Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, for fiction and non-fiction published works. The awards resulted in an increase in book sales for the shortlisted and winning books.

The public affairs team continued to produce the biannual flagship magazine, Artbeat, covering arts and culture news and issues.

Water

Significant achievements in water communications included support for the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator the Hon Penny Wong’s tour of the northern Murray-Darling Basin, to meet key stakeholders and promote the Water for the Future initiative.

Stakeholder meetings in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, provided comprehensive briefings on the

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s (CSIRO) sustainable yields report. The report predicts an overall decline in water availability due to climate change.

A stakeholder engagement strategy was initiated, to raise awareness and understanding of Water for the Future programs and policies among basin groups.

Materials were prepared to support the launch of the Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure irrigation efficiency announcements.

Work began on an education portal to assist teachers and students access information on water, and materials were prepared for public consultation on amendments to The Water Act 2007.

An electronic newsletter, Water Matters, was launched, with initial circulation boosted from 1000 to 1500 in the space of four bi-monthly editions.

Other achievements included: media opportunities around environmental watering events; the Toorale and Twynam water purchases; the River Symposium and OzWater Conference; as well as the potable pipeline launch in South Australia, to help address the plight of the Coorong and Lower Lakes.

Heritage

The year saw the announcement of the first round of projects receiving funding through the $60 million package for heritage conservation projects, as part of the Australian Government’s $650 million Jobs Fund;


Cross-cutting A

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National Heritage listing of the Qantas Hangar at Longreach; and the M-24 Japanese midget submarine, declared an historic shipwreck under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976.


Communications around the Caring for our Country initiative focused on the development of a business plan and communications framework, and a series of joint ministerial events and announcements about the $428 million available this year for environmental projects across the country. Successful events were also held around the $50 million boost to Indigenous Protected Areas.

Antarctic

The main Antarctic Division website, at www.aad.gov.au, provided more than 14 million page views during the financial year; with an estimated 2.5 million visits to the site, from people in 195 different countries around the world.

A new Australian Marine Mammal Centre website was launched in January 2009 at: www.marinemammals.gov.au.

The Antarctic Data Centre continued to provide a wide range of data through their site at: www.data.aad.gov.au.

The Classroom Antarctica website, at www.classroom.antarctica.gov.au, continued to provide information for teachers and students. The new Krillcam video webcam service has been a popular educational tool.

Major AAD initiatives covered in 2008–09 include International Polar Year (IPY) projects:

• Census of Antarctic Marine Life.

• Aliens in Antarctica.

• Solar Linkages to Atmospheric Processes.

Visual artist Stephen Eastaugh was announced as the Australian Antarctic Arts Fellow for 2009. He will spend a year in Antarctica, the first Arts fellow to do so.

Marine

The Marine public affairs team was established in March 2009. Public affairs teams were involved in ministerial events, such as: the announcement of the proclamation of the Coral Sea Conservation Zone; the release of the East Marine Bioregional Profile; the signing of the Manado Oceans Declaration in Manado Indonesia; and providing support for the 61st International Whaling Commission.

Support for environment and heritage organisations

The department supports community environment and heritage groups, through a number of taxation concessions and the Grants to Voluntary Environment and Heritage Organisations program.

Taxation concessions

The Register of Environmental Organisations is a list of approved environmental organisations. Donations of money or property to these organisations, for the conservation of the natural environment, are income tax-deductible.


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During 2008–09 the department assisted 167 organisations interested in applying formally for entry to the Register. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts and the Assistant Treasurer, Senator the Hon Nick Sherry, approved the listing of 44 organisations and their public funds on the Register. Four organisations and their public funds were removed from the Register, at their request. At 30 June 2009 the Register listed 477 organisations, compared to 437 at 30 June 2008.

Statistics for 2007–08, the most recent available, show that the public donated more than $130 million to tax-deductible environmental organisations to help protect and enhance the natural environment.

The department also maintains an apportionment register. Under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, donors that have donated money or property valued at more than $5,000 to a tax-deductible environmental

organisation, or who have entered into a perpetual conservation covenant with an accredited conservation program, may elect to apportion their donation over a period of up to five years, by sending an election form to the department. The department recorded 10 apportionment elections and variations during 2008–09.

Grants to Voluntary Environment and Heritage Organisations

The Grants to Voluntary Environment and Heritage Organisations program assists community-based environment and heritage organisations to meet the administrative costs of their activities.

In the 2008–09 funding round, 370 applications were received and 249 organisations were awarded grants, totalling $1,452,600. Forty-seven groups were granted multi-year funding for three financial years.

Number of NPI reporting facilities EQD

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$20,000,000.00

$40,000,000.00

$80,000,000.00

$60,000,000.00

$100,000,000.00

$120,000,000.00

$140,000,000.00

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1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08

Year


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Indigenous policy and engagement


The Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country initiative provides funding for Indigenous communities to deliver environmental outcomes to the Australian Government through the Working on Country, Indigenous Protected Areas and Indigenous Emission Trading elements. These programs contribute to the Australian Government’s Closing the Gap agenda.

Working on Country

Working on Country provides jobs for Indigenous people to undertake environmental work to protect, conserve and manage Australia’s environment and heritage, while meeting their aspirations for caring for their country.

Working on Country has funding of $90 million over five years, to fund approximately 300 rangers. The program has increased from the initial 14 projects in 2007–08, which contracted approximately 95 rangers; to 31 projects in 2008–09, which contracted approximately 190 rangers.

Projects are located across Australia, with two projects in New South Wales, seven projects in South Australia, four projects in Western Australia, two projects in Tasmania, one project in Victoria, nine projects in Queensland and six projects in the Northern Territory. Additional projects are located in the Northern Territory as a result of a Department of Families, Housing, Community

Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) investment of $28 million over three years, to fund an additional 170 ranger jobs across thirty Aboriginal communities. Maps one to three show the geographic spread of current Working on Country projects.

Working on Country will expand in 2009–10 by a further 210 Indigenous ranger positions; made up of 50 traineeships, 60 flexible positions and 100 ranger positions to undertake environmental works on land not held on Indigenous land tenure.

Working on Country continues to provide pathways to jobs in tourism and other natural resource management sectors. For example, the Budj Bim ranger group in Victoria received additional heritage funding for walking and mountain bike paths, and the Martu people in Western Australia have been contracted to provide substantial environmental works, including tasks along the Canning stock route.

Over 125 rangers participated in induction, training and transfer of traditional knowledge activities in 2008–09. These included cultural exchanges between ranger groups, health and safety training, and delivery of Conservation and Land Management certification. Workshops were also held with Indigenous community representatives, to develop tools that will guide them in the steps involved in delivering training to Indigenous rangers. Feedback from rangers and communities on this training initiative has been positive.

The minister made Working on Country project visits in April 2009, meeting the Bardi Jawi ranger group in the Kimberly region, followed by the Budj Bim project in Victoria.


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ons

• Bus

h re

gene

ratio

n• W

eeds

and

fera

ls

e.

g. ra

bbits

, fox

es a

nd h

awth

orn

• Her

itage

pro

tect

ion

e.

g. c

ultu

ral h

erita

ge s

urve

y

Mila

ythi

na p

akan

a• 4

pos

ition

s• B

ush

rege

nera

tion

• Sal

inity

• Her

itage

pro

tect

ion

e.g.

cul

tura

l site

s• W

eeds

and

fera

ls e

.g. A

frica

n B

oxth

orn

• Fire

Mila

ythi

na p

akan

a• 4

pos

ition

s• B

ush

rege

nera

tion

• Sal

inity

• Her

itage

pro

tect

ion

e.g.

cul

tura

l site

s• W

eeds

and

fera

ls e

.g. A

frica

n B

oxth

orn

• Fire

6. C

entra

l Lan

d C

ounc

il P

roje

cts

• 10

posi

tions

• Fire

• Thr

eate

ned

spec

ies

e.g.

bilb

ies

• Wee

ds/fe

rals

• Her

itage

pro

tect

ion

e.g.

cul

tura

l site

man

agem

ent

6. C

entra

l Lan

d C

ounc

il P

roje

cts

• 10

posi

tions

• Fire

• Thr

eate

ned

spec

ies

e.g.

bilb

ies

• Wee

ds/fe

rals

• Her

itage

pro

tect

ion

e.g.

cul

tura

l site

man

agem

ent

6. C

entra

l Lan

d C

ounc

il P

roje

cts

• 10

posi

tions

• Fire

• Thr

eate

ned

spec

ies

e.g.

bilb

ies

• Wee

ds/fe

rals

• Her

itage

pro

tect

ion

e.g.

cul

tura

l site

man

agem

ent

Cen

tral

Lan

d C

ounc

il Pr

ojec

ts• 1

0 po

sitio

ns• F

ire• T

hrea

tene

d sp

ecie

s e.

g. B

ilbie

s• W

eeds

and

fera

ls• H

erita

ge p

rote

ctio

n e.

g. c

ultu

ral s

ite m

anag

emen

t

Kim

berle

y R

ange

rs• 1

5 po

sitio

ns• W

eeds

and

fera

ls e

.g. p

igs,

cat

s an

d ho

rses

• Thr

eate

ned

spec

ies

e.g.

Bilb

ies

• Bus

h re

gene

ratio

n• F

ire• T

urtle

s an

d du

gong

s• M

arin

e de

bris

• Her

itage

pro

tect

ion

e.

g. k

now

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e tra

nsfe

r and

site

pro

tect

ion

Mila

ythi

na p

akan

a• 4

pos

ition

s• B

ush

rege

nera

tion

• Sal

inity

• Her

itage

pro

tect

ion

e.g.

cul

tura

l site

s• W

eeds

and

fera

ls e

.g. A

frica

n B

oxth

orn

• Fire

PER

TH

SYD

NE

Y

BRIS

BAN

E

CAN

BE

RR

A

ME

LBO

UR

NE

DAR

WIN

HO

BAR

T

ADE

LAID

E

Ma

p 1

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ork

ing

on

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un

try

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roje

cts

20

07

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ou

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nded

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Pro

ject

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# 0C

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Dec

lare

d IP

As

Res

erve

d fo

r Ind

igen

ous

use

and

bene

fit

DEPA

RTME

NTAL

USE

ONL

Y


Cross-cutting A

ctivitiesC


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ME

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HO

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T

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LAID

E

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A R

egio

n B

uilt

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ride

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ount

ry· 5

pos

ition

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ock

hole

mai

nten

ance

· Fire

· Wee

ds a

nd fe

rals

e.g

. fox

es, c

ats,

cam

els,

buf

fel g

rass

· Thr

eate

ned

spec

ies

e.g.

Mal

lee

Fow

l· M

appi

ng n

ew p

lant

spe

cies

Kaa

nju

Nga

achi

Wen

lock

and

Pas

coe

Riv

ers

Wor

king

on

Cou

ntry

· 7 p

ositi

ons

· Thr

eate

ned

spec

ies

· Mai

nten

ance

of d

esig

nate

d ca

mpi

ng a

reas

· Wee

ds a

nd fe

rals

e.g

. pig

s, h

orse

s, c

attle

· Fire

man

agem

ent

Mab

uiag

Isla

nd L

and

and

Sea

Man

agem

ent

· 3 P

ositi

ons

· Tur

tles

and

dugo

ngs

· Gho

st n

et re

mov

al a

nd m

onito

ring

· Fire

man

agem

ent

· Cul

tura

l map

ping

Sout

hern

Gul

f Fire

and

Wee

d Pr

ojec

t - W

elle

sley

Isla

nds

· 4 p

ositi

ons

· Fire

man

agem

ent

· Wee

ds a

nd fe

rals

e.g

. rub

ber v

ine,

cab

bage

tree

· Col

lect

ing

info

rmat

ion

for G

IS m

appi

ng s

yste

ms

Ana

ngu

Pitja

ntja

tjara

Yan

kuny

tjatja

ra R

ange

rs· 9

pos

ition

s· R

ock

hole

mai

nten

ance

· Thr

eate

ned

spec

ies

e.

g. B

lack

-foot

ed R

ock

Wal

labi

es, G

reat

Des

ert S

kink

s· C

olla

tion

of b

asel

ine

info

rmat

ion

e.

g. th

reat

ened

spe

cies

and

wat

er p

oint

dat

a· F

ire m

anag

emen

t· M

aint

enan

ce a

nd tr

ansf

er o

f cul

tura

l kno

wle

dge

Yala

ta IP

A R

ange

rs· 4

pos

ition

s· B

ush

rege

nera

tion

· Mar

ine

debr

is· W

eeds

and

fera

ls e

.g. A

frica

n B

oxth

orn

· Man

agin

g ac

cess

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each

are

as

Sust

aina

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mes

and

Env

ironm

ent

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owan

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borig

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pos

ition

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etla

nd p

rote

ctio

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eeds

and

fera

ls

e.

g. P

arki

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hine

se A

pple

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s· T

urtle

s· C

ultu

ral m

appi

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Sout

hern

Gul

f Fire

and

Wee

d Pr

ojec

t - G

anga

lidda

· 4 p

ositi

ons

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man

agem

ent

· Wee

ds a

nd fe

rals

e.g

. rub

ber v

ine,

cab

bage

tree

· Col

lect

ing

info

rmat

ion

for G

IS m

appi

ng s

yste

ms.

Gid

arjil

Wor

king

on

Cou

ntry

· 4 p

ositi

ons

· Wee

ds a

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rals

e.

g. C

at's

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w C

reep

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anta

na· W

etla

nd p

rote

ctio

n· E

ndan

gere

d re

gion

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cosy

stem

- Euc

alyp

tus

tere

ticor

nis

· Tra

ditio

nal k

now

ledg

e da

taba

se

Map

2. W

orki

ng o

n C

ount

ry P

roje

cts

2007

-200

8 (R

ound

Tw

o)

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nded

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nd 2

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ject

s

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apita

l Citi

es

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lare

d IP

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ve

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ap p

rodu

ced

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viro

nmen

tal R

esou

rces

Info

rmat

ion

netw

ork

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artm

ent o

f the

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ironm

ent,

Wat

er, H

erita

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e Ar

tsD

ata

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omm

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ealth

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ustra

lia (G

eosc

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stra

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embe

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know

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e ar

ound

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rang

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ange

red

spec

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man

agem

ent

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d m

anag

emen

t • H

abita

t pro

tect

ion

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d co

llect

ion

and

prop

agat

ion

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itage

pro

tect

ion

Wor

king

on

our Y

arta

in th

e N

orth

ern

Flin

ders

Ran

ges

• 5 ra

nger

pos

ition

s• D

ecla

red

Indi

geno

us P

rote

cted

Are

a• T

radi

tiona

l Kno

wle

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reco

rdin

g• N

atur

al a

nd c

ultu

ral v

alue

s m

appi

ng a

nd re

cord

ing

• Rev

eget

atio

n an

d re

habi

litat

ion

of d

egra

ded

area

s• W

eed

and

fera

l man

agem

ent

Wat

tlerid

ge a

nd T

arriw

a K

urru

kun

Wor

king

on

Cou

ntry

• 5

rang

er p

ositi

ons

• Dec

lare

d IP

A• E

ndan

gere

d sp

ecie

s m

anag

emen

t• D

evel

opm

ent o

f see

d nu

rser

y an

d

reve

geta

tion

of d

egra

ded

area

s• F

eral

ani

mal

man

agem

ent

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er q

ualit

y te

stin

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The

Torr

es S

trai

t Ind

igen

ous

Ran

ger P

rogr

am• 2

3 ra

nger

pos

ition

s• E

ight

Isla

nd c

omm

uniti

es (B

adu,

Boi

gu, E

rub,

Iam

a, K

aiw

alag

al, M

abui

ag, M

er a

nd S

t Pau

l)• C

over

ing

32,0

00 k

m² a

rea

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tle a

nd d

ugon

g m

onito

ring

• Mar

ine

debr

is• W

eeds

and

fera

l ani

mal

man

agem

ent

• See

d co

llect

ion

and

prop

agat

ion

• Her

itage

pro

tect

ion

Kim

berle

y R

ange

rs -

Kar

ajar

ri W

orki

ng o

n C

ount

ry• 6

rang

er p

ositi

ons

• 130

km

of c

oast

line

• 20k

m o

f RA

MSA

R li

sted

wet

land

s• V

isito

r man

agem

ent

• Thr

eate

ned

spec

ies

man

agem

ent

• Wee

d m

anag

emen

t• F

eral

ani

mal

man

agem

ent

• Bio

dive

rsity

mon

itorin

g• T

radi

tiona

l fire

man

agem

ent

Mar

tu R

ange

r pro

gram

, Wes

tern

Des

ert

• 21

rang

er p

ositi

ons

• App

rox

2 m

illio

n he

ctar

es o

f the

Wes

tern

Des

ert

• Sev

en k

now

n th

reat

ened

ani

mal

spe

cies

• Vis

itor m

anag

emen

t • F

eral

ani

mal

con

trol

• Tra

ditio

nal f

ire m

anag

emen

t• I

mpr

ovin

g w

ater

qua

lity

for n

ativ

e w

ildlif

e

Impl

emen

tatio

n of

the

Thuw

athu

/Buj

imul

la S

ea C

ount

ry P

lan

by th

e W

elle

sley

Isla

nd In

dige

nous

pos

ition

s• 5

rang

er p

ositi

ons

• Are

a is

a d

evel

opin

g In

dige

nous

Pro

tect

ed A

rea

• Exp

ansi

on o

f gho

st n

et s

urve

y• T

urtle

and

dug

ong

man

agem

ent

• Bird

col

ony

man

agem

ent

• Her

itage

pro

tect

ion

• Fer

al a

nim

al m

anag

emen

t

Car

ing

for W

arru

in th

e A

nang

u Pi

tjant

jatja

ra

Yank

unyt

jatja

ra L

ands

• 9 ra

nger

pos

ition

s• I

mpl

emen

tatio

n of

reco

very

pla

n fo

r thr

eate

ned

W

arru

(Bla

ck-fo

oted

Roc

k W

alla

by)

• Fer

al p

reda

tor c

ontro

l• P

est w

eed

cont

rol

• Im

plem

enta

tion

of s

choo

l edu

catio

n pr

ogra

m

Map

3. W

orki

ng o

n C

ount

ry P

roje

cts

2008

- 20

09 (R

ound

Thr

ee)

Map

3. W

orki

ng o

n C

ount

ry P

roje

cts

2008

- 20

09 (R

ound

Thr

ee)

DEPA

RTME

NTAL

USE

ONL

Y

! .R

ound

3 P

roje

cts

# 0C

apita

l Citi

es

Dec

lare

d IP

As

Abo

rigin

al F

reeh

old/

Leas

ehol

d/R

eser

ve

Map

pro

duce

d by

:En

viro

nmen

tal R

esou

rces

Info

rmat

ion

Net

wor

k (E

RIN

)D

epar

tmen

t of t

he E

nviro

nmen

t, W

ater

, Her

itage

, and

the

Arts

(DE

WH

A).

Dat

a (c

) Com

mon

wea

lth o

f Aus

tralia

; Nat

iona

l and

Sta

te B

orde

rs -

Geo

scie

nce

Aus

tralia

,Pr

ojec

ts a

nd IP

As

- DE

WH

A, L

and

Tenu

re -

Nat

iona

l Lan

d &

Wat

er R

esou

rces

Aud

it.22

th O

ctob

er, 2

008


Cross-cutting A

ctivitiesC


Healthy Country, Healthy People Schedule

During 2008–09 the department continued to implement the government’s commitment to improved environmental and Indigenous employment outcomes, under the Northern Territory Healthy Country, Healthy People Schedule (the Schedule).

The Schedule supports Indigenous engagement in the sustainable management of land and seas in the Northern Territory. The cooperative arrangements between the Northern Territory Government, the Australian Government and Indigenous Land Councils, have delivered a clear strategy to guide investments in ranger groups. Seven multi-agency multi-year pilot projects, leveraging $2.5 million, were funded during the start-up phase of the Schedule. In 2007–08 and 2008–09, two significant multi-agency multi-year packages were negotiated. They will provide salaries, training, operational and capital investment for 19 ranger groups, delivered through contracts managed by the Northern Land Council ($16 million) and Central Land Council ($4 million). These groups are delivering environmental and heritage services to governments and providing greater certainty of funding to Indigenous communities.

Indigenous Emissions Trading

On 18 December 2008, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts and the Minister for Climate Change, agreed on the implementation of the commitment to provide opportunities for Indigenous participation in fledgling carbon markets, by establishing the legal framework for the creation of carbon

credits from altered fire management. The commitment focuses on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through improved fire management in northern Australia.

The department and the Department of Climate Change (DCC) are working closely to jointly implement the commitment, in particular to ensure the necessary science, accounting, legal and governance measures are in place.

The Northern Savannah Fire Management project under this commitment is being jointly-delivered by the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA), the department and DCC. This component involves research to provide a better understanding of emissions outcomes from traditional savanna burning practices, and the establishment of four large-scale fire management project areas in the savanna regions of: northern Kimberley, central Arnhem Land, western Cape York and the Gulf of Carpentaria. NAILSMA received $1.24 million in 2008–09 to instigate work on these aspects of the commitment.

A second component to the commitment, the Indigenous Carbon Market Participation and Communications project, provides technical advice and information through workshops with Indigenous groups across Australia, to guide them on carbon abatement and carbon market opportunities.

Indigenous Protected Areas

The Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) element has been running successfully for over 13 years and the government’s increase in funding to $50 million over five years (from


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around $3.1 million per year), will achieve a significant expansion of environmental and cultural outcomes.

The twenty-eight declared IPAs bring over 20.6 million hectares of Indigenous-owned land into the National Reserve System (NRS). The NRS is Australia’s network of protected areas conserving our unique biodiversity. For further information about the NRS see Output 1.2–Land and inland waters.

A further thirty-seven IPA consultation projects have been approved in 2008–09, to initiate or continue consultation and planning processes. These IPA consultation projects have the potential to add millions of hectares of Indigenous owned land and sea country to the NRS.

Indigenous Advisory Committee

In recognition of the role of Indigenous people in the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of Australia’s biodiversity, an Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC) was established in 2000 under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The IAC advises the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts on the operation of the EPBC Act, taking into account the significance of Indigenous peoples’ knowledge of the management of land and the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

The IAC also has a broader function, providing advice to the department on the development and implementation of policies and programs that may impact upon Indigenous people and appropriate ways of engaging and consulting with Indigenous people.

The IAC is made up of members who are Indigenous Australians selected on the basis of their expertise in Indigenous land management, conservation and cultural heritage management.

Indigenous Policy Leadership Group

The roles and achievements of the department’s Indigenous Policy Leadership Group are reported in the Managing the department chapter.

Indigenous arts and culture programs

The department’s Indigenous arts and culture programs are delivered through a National Network, focusing on cross-government delivery of broadcasting, language and arts and culture Indigenous programs. For further information on indigenous arts and culture programs refer to the Outcome 4–Arts and Culture chapter.

Indigenous heritage

Indigenous Australians are involved in developing management plans for places with Indigenous heritage significance on the National or Commonwealth Heritage lists. When a place is nominated for inclusion in the National or Commonwealth Heritage lists, and the IAC considers that it may have Indigenous heritage values, the IAC must endeavour to identify the Indigenous people with rights and interests in the place. The minister takes those submissions into account when making a decision about listing the place.


Cross-cutting A

ctivitiesC


Under the EPBC Act, there are penalties for anyone who takes an action that has, or will have, a significant impact on the national heritage values of a place. Australian governments have a range of laws to protect Indigenous heritage, including the EPBC Act, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 and the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986. For further information about Indigenous heritage, refer to the Output 1.4–Heritage Chapter and Volume 2 of this annual report.

Online information

The department’s web sites provide public access to substantial holdings of information. Throughout 2008–09 the department continued to restructure, redesign, and rewrite its web sites to improve public access to online information, notably with Water policy content (www.environment.gov.au/water) and Sustainability Education (www.environment.gov.au/education).

Summary of main achievements

The department successfully integrated the arts and culture related web sites. It also transferred the management of www.climatechange.gov.au to the Department of Climate Change.

Trends

With the recent announcement of the Government 2.0 Taskforce, the department will assess our information holdings and implement recommendations from the Taskforce as they apply to the portfolio.

The department continues to monitor and improve its online content, by working towards implementation of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 standards.

Web site statistics

During 2008–09 there were over thirteen million visits to the department’s web sites. The most popular was the main web site at www.environment.gov.au, with more than eight million visits.

Visits to department’s web sites (2008–09)

environment.gov.au

aad.gov.au

npi.gov.au

yourhome.gov.au

arts web sites

nrm.gov.au

all other websites


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Compliance and enforcement

Overview

The department administers 15 pieces of legislation with compliance and enforcement responsibilities, encompassing a diverse range of environmental themes.

Table 1 lists some some significant enforcement outcomes of the year.

Table 2 lists international conventions and treaties under which the Australian Government has compliance and enforcement obligations, activities subject to regulation by the department, and the relevant legislation.

The department’s commitment to compliance and enforcement is highlighted by the fact that, during the year, the department:

• sampled in excess of 4000 examples of various commodities covered by its legislation

• assessed over 1700 potential breaches of departmental legislation, for compliance action

• administered over 5200 seizures of specimens, and

• introduced an infringement notice regime, to strengthen one of its regulatory schemes.

Table 1: Some significant enforcement outcomes of the yearOutcome Legislation Activity

$45,000 fines Part 7, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Residential development at Mission Beach, Queensland

$121,000 fine Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 Supply of ethanol blend petrol without the required labelling and automotive diesel exceeding maximum permissible levels of sulphur

$20,000 over 4 years under Enforceable Undertaking

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Clearing of important habitat for a listed threatened species at Barunah Plains, Victoria

See the chapter on Output 1.5 Human Settlements for further details on enforcement outcomes during 2008–09.


Cross-cutting A

ctivitiesC


Governance and Capacity Building

Internal governance on compliance and enforcement matters is achieved through the Compliance Executive Committee (CEC) and the Compliance Operational Network (CON). The CEC sets departmental policy and direction for compliance activities, and the CON gives operational effect to CEC directives. CON also ensures ongoing links between areas in the department with direct compliance responsibilities.

This year also saw consolidation of the department’s Compliance Support Unit, which ensures the department has the appropriate policies, procedures and administrative systems in place to provide general support for whole-of-department compliance activities.

Steps taken to improve compliance and enforcement governance included:

• implementation of a centralised governance framework for the appointment of authorised officers (Inspectors and Wardens), in line with legislation administered by the department

• development of a Strategic Plan for Compliance and Enforcement

• review of departmental Compliance and Enforcement Policy

• development of robust whole-of-agency procedures for criminal history checks and handling exhibits, and

• refinement of case management processes, to ensure transparency of compliance and enforcement operational decision making.

Activities undertaken to build compliance and enforcement capacity within the department included:

• establishment of a secure exhibits storage facility

• establishment of a secure operations planning room

• trial establishment of a small centralised intelligence capability

• facilitation of environment-specific compliance and enforcement training courses (including Nationally Accredited Certificate IV qualifications), and

• reviews of enforcement aspects of departmental legislation.

Engagement with Other Agencies

International

The department has remained engaged with international bodies, such as: the International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE); the International Policing Organisation (INTERPOL), through its Environmental Crimes Committee; and the environmental compliance assurance project of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Regional

The Australian Government represents the Oceania Region in relation to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). As part of these responsibilities, the department, together with CITES Secretariat Enforcement staff from Geneva,


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hosted and delivered training at the CITES Capacity-Building Workshop on Enforcement, which included participation from Oceania member countries.

The department is also a major contributor to the Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators Network (AELERT). AELERT was launched in 2004, to promote cross-jurisdictional information sharing and cooperation, on environmental law enforcement and regulation. It provides a forum for environmental compliance and enforcement practitioners from all tiers of government in Australasia. It now has over 40 member agencies, with at least one agency in every jurisdiction. This year the department played a lead role in bringing AELERT under the auspices of the broader Council of Australian Government (COAG) framework.


Cross-cutting A

ctivitiesC


Tabl

e 2:

Inte

rnat

iona

l Con

vent

ions

and

Tre

atie

sLe

gisl

atio

nTy

pica

l Com

mod

ities

/Act

iviti

esIn

tern

atio

nal O

blig

atio

n

Envi

ronm

ent P

rote

ctio

n (S

ea

Dum

ping

) Act

198

1D

ispo

sal a

t sea

.19

96 P

roto

col t

o th

e C

onve

ntio

n on

the

Prev

entio

n of

Mar

ine

Pollu

tion

by D

umpi

ng

of W

aste

s and

Oth

er M

atte

r 197

2 (L

ondo

n Pr

otoc

ol)

Sea

Inst

alla

tions

Act

198

7St

ruct

ures

in C

omm

onw

ealth

Wat

ers

Envi

ronm

ent P

rote

ctio

n an

d Bi

odiv

ersit

y C

onse

rvat

ion

Act 1

999

Act

iviti

es in

Com

mon

wea

lth N

atio

nal

Park

s, C

omm

onw

ealth

Mar

ine

Res

erve

s or a

ffec

ting

the

envi

ronm

ent

on C

omm

onw

ealth

Lan

d or

in

Com

mon

wea

lth w

ater

s.

Act

ions

hav

ing

a sig

nific

ant

impa

ct o

n lis

ted

prot

ecte

d sp

ecie

s, ec

olog

ical

com

mun

ities

, mar

ine

spec

ies,

mig

rato

ry sp

ecie

s, w

etla

nds

of in

tern

atio

nal s

igni

fican

ce,

Wor

ld H

erita

ge A

reas

, Nat

iona

l or

Com

mon

wea

lth H

erita

ge.

Nuc

lear

act

ions

.

The

Con

vent

ion

on B

iolo

gica

l Div

ersit

y

The

Con

vent

ion

on th

e C

onse

rvat

ion

of M

igra

tory

Spe

cies

of W

ild A

nim

als (

1979

) (B

onn

Con

vent

ion)

The

Japa

n-A

ustra

lia M

igra

tory

Bird

Agr

eem

ent (

1974

) (JA

MBA

)

The

Chi

na-A

ustra

lia M

igra

tory

Bird

Agr

eem

ent (

1986

) (CA

MBA

)

Con

vent

ion

on In

tern

atio

nal T

rade

in E

ndan

gere

d Sp

ecie

s (C

ITES

)

The

Con

vent

ion

on W

etla

nds o

f Int

erna

tiona

l Im

port

ance

Esp

ecia

lly a

s Wat

erfo

wl

Hab

itat R

amsa

r (R

amsa

r Con

vent

ion)

Con

vent

ion

Con

cern

ing

the

Prot

ectio

n of

the

Wor

ld C

ultu

ral a

nd N

atur

al H

erita

ge

(the

Wor

ld H

erita

ge C

onve

ntio

n)

Inte

rnat

iona

l Con

vent

ion

for t

he R

egul

atio

n of

Wha

ling

Anta

rctic

Mar

ine

Livi

ng R

esou

rces

Ac

t 198

0

Anta

rctic

Tre

aty

(Env

iron

men

t Pr

otec

tion)

Act

198

0

Aust

ralia

n An

tarc

tic T

errit

ory A

ct 1

954

Hea

rd Is

land

and

McD

onal

d Is

land

s Ac

t 195

3

Act

iviti

es in

Aus

tralia

’s A

ntar

ctic

Te

rrito

ries.

Prot

ocol

on

Envi

ronm

enta

l Pro

tect

ion

to th

e A

ntar

ctic

Tre

aty

(Mad

rid P

roto

col)

Con

vent

ion

on th

e C

onse

rvat

ion

of A

ntar

ctic

Mar

ine

Livi

ng R

esou

rces


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Tabl

e 2:

Inte

rnat

iona

l Con

vent

ions

and

Tre

atie

sLe

gisl

atio

nTy

pica

l Com

mod

ities

/Act

iviti

esIn

tern

atio

nal O

blig

atio

n

Prot

ectio

n of

Mov

able

Cul

tura

l H

erita

ge A

ct 1

986

Aus

tralia

n m

ovea

ble

cultu

ral i

tem

s; re

lics a

nd fo

ssils

subj

ect t

o bi

late

ral

treat

ies.

UN

ESC

O C

onve

ntio

n on

the

Mea

ns o

f Pro

hibi

ting

the

Illic

it Im

port

, Exp

ort a

nd

Tran

sfer

of O

wne

rshi

p of

Cul

tura

l Pro

pert

y

Fuel

Qua

lity

Stan

dard

s Act

200

0M

otor

fuel

con

tam

inat

ion

Haz

ardo

us W

aste

(Reg

ulat

ion

of

Expo

rts a

nd Im

port

s) A

ct 1

989

The

expo

rt or

impo

rt of

haz

ardo

us

was

te, i

nclu

ding

ele

ctro

nic

was

te.

Bas

el C

onve

ntio

n on

the

Con

trol o

f Tra

nsbo

unda

ry M

ovem

ents

of H

azar

dous

Was

tes

and

thei

r Dis

posa

l (B

asel

Con

vent

ion)

Con

vent

ion

to B

an th

e Im

port

atio

n in

to F

orum

Isla

nd C

ount

ries o

f Haz

ardo

us a

nd

Rad

ioac

tive

Was

tes a

nd to

Con

trol t

he T

rans

boun

dary

Mov

emen

t and

Man

agem

ent

of H

azar

dous

Was

tes w

ithin

the

Sout

h Pa

cific

Reg

ion

(Wai

gani

Con

vent

ion)

Ozo

ne P

rote

ctio

n an

d Sy

nthe

tic

Gre

enho

use

Gas

Man

agem

ent A

ct

1989

The

impo

rtat

ion,

han

dlin

g an

d di

spos

al o

f ozo

ne d

eple

ting

gase

s an

d eq

uipm

ent/a

pplia

nces

con

tain

ing

them

.

Vie

nna

Con

vent

ion

for t

he P

rote

ctio

n of

the

Ozo

ne L

ayer

Mon

treal

Pro

toco

l on

Subs

tanc

es th

at D

eple

te th

e O

zone

Lay

er

His

tori

c Sh

ipw

reck

s Act

197

6A

ctiv

ities

aff

ectin

g hi

stor

ic

ship

wre

cks i

nclu

ding

relic

s pre

viou

sly

obta

ined

from

wre

cks.

Agr

eem

ent b

etw

een

the

Net

herla

nds a

nd A

ustra

lia c

once

rnin

g ol

d D

utch

sh

ipw

reck

s

Wat

er E

ffici

ency

Lab

ellin

g an

d St

anda

rds A

ct 2

005

The

sale

and

inst

alla

tion

of w

ater

usi

ng

appl

ianc

es a

nd p

lum

bing

fitti

ngs.

Wat

er A

ct 2

007

Man

agem

ent o

f the

wat

er re

sour

ces o

f th

e M

urra

y-D

arlin

g B

asin

, and

oth

er

mat

ters

of n

atio

nal i

nter

est o

n w

ater

an

d w

ater

info

rmat

ion.


Cross-cutting A

ctivitiesC



Managing the Department


Managing the D

epartment

Managing the D

epartment

Corporate governance

The department’s governance framework consists of strategies and controls to foster a high performance culture. During 2008–09 the department reviewed its network of executive committees, to improve policy setting and performance monitoring.

Senior executive and responsibilities

The Secretary, Ms Robyn Kruk AM, is the chief executive officer of the department. Ms Kruk is assisted in the management of the organisation by an executive team of four deputy secretaries and 17 division heads. The names and responsibilities of the division heads are shown in the organisation chart in the executive summary chapter.

Senior executive team

Ms Robyn Kruk AM was appointed Secretary of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, from 2 March 2009. Ms Kruk has extensive experience in public policy, having been Director General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet in NSW, Director General of NSW Health and Director General of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services. Ms Kruk’s experience includes policy development and management in the areas of environmental planning and assessment, water management and reform, resource security and endangered species protection. She spearheaded development of Australia’s first state Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, has been a member of the NSW Heritage Council and Chaired the Indigenous Protected Areas Advisory Council.

MANAGING THE DEPARTMENT


Man

agin

g th

e D

epar

tmen

tM

anag

ing

the

Dep

artm

entMr Gerard Early PSM has been a long-term officer in the environment

portfolio; for more than twenty years at senior executive level. He was appointed as Deputy Secretary in 2007, prior to which he held a range of division head positions in the department, with executive responsibility for various aspects of natural resource management. In addition to various division head positions in the department, Mr Early has been Deputy CEO in both the Australian Heritage Commission and the Australian Nature Conservation Agency and was Head of the Territories Office. Mr Early also worked in the offices of two environment ministers (as Chief of Staff to the Hon Barry Cohen MP in 1987 and as a consultant to Senator the Hon Graham Richardson from 1988 to 1989). Mr Early has a Master of Public Administration from the University of Canberra, a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University and a Graduate Diploma of Administration from the University of Canberra. He was awarded the Public Service Medal in the June 2007 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for outstanding public service in the protection and conservation of Australia’s natural environment and cultural heritage.

Mr Mark Tucker is the Deputy Secretary responsible for the Arts Division, the Culture Division, the Heritage Division, and the National Portrait Gallery. From October 2007 he was Deputy Secretary, Arts, Sports and Indigenous at the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Prior to this, Mr Tucker had a long association with the environment department, holding various senior executive positions from 1995. They included responsibility for Regional Forest Agreements, development of the EPBC Act, water and environmental protection policy, Marine and Water Division, National Oceans Office, Natural Resource Management Division and Policy Coordination Division. Mr Tucker has also worked in the Departments of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and Primary Industries and Energy.


Managing the D

epartment

Managing the D

epartment

Dr James Horne is the Deputy Secretary responsible for the Water Efficiency Division, the Water Governance Division and the Water Reform Division. He transferred into that position in January 2007, from Head of the Office of Water Resources in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Dr Horne joined the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in August 2000 as First Assistant Secretary of the Industry, Infrastructure and Environment Division. He had responsibility for advising the Prime Minister on a broad range of microeconomic policy issues. Between 1992 and 2000 Dr Horne held senior executive positions in Treasury, covering budget policy, labour markets and macroeconomic policy. He was Minister (Economic) at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo (1994-1996) and later Chief Executive of the South Australian Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (2005–2006). He has a background in economics and a PhD in political science.

Mr Malcolm Forbes is the acting Deputy Secretary responsible for the Renewables and Energy Efficiency Division, Australian Government Land and Coasts Division, Marine Division, Parks Australia Division and the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD). Mr Forbes is Chair of the Indigenous Policy and Leadership Group and the Marine and Coastal Committee. Mr Forbes is a long-term officer in the environment portfolio, where he has held a number of senior management positions in policy, program or regulatory areas, especially in environment impact assessments, natural resource management and nature conservation. More recently he has headed divisions in water, natural resource management and corporate strategies. Mr Forbes holds a Bachelor of Science (honours) and a Master of Science from Monash University. Prior to joining the Australian Public Service, he worked as a consultant on resource developments in Australia and South East Asia.


Man

agin

g th

e D

epar

tmen

tM

anag

ing

the

Dep

artm

ent

Mr David Borthwick PSM retired from his position as Secretary of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts on 2 January 2009. Mr Borthwick was appointed Secretary of the department (then known as the Department of the Environment and Heritage) in February 2004. In a career spanning more than 36 years, Mr Borthwick worked in six departments and served six governments.

Prior to being appointed Secretary to the department, Mr Borthwick served as Deputy Secretary in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (from July 2001). In that role, he was responsible for policy advice on a broad range of matters, including economic, industry, and environmental issues, and the Cabinet Secretariat and Implementation Unit. From 1998 to 2001 he was a Deputy Secretary in the Department of Health and Aged Care, where he had oversight of the health side of the department. From 1993 to 1998 he was a Deputy Secretary in the Treasury, responsible for financial markets, corporate law, structural policy and international economic issues. Prior to that appointment Mr Borthwick headed four of Treasury’s Divisions: Fiscal Policy; Structural Policy; Economic Policy; and Taxation Policy. He was first appointed to the Senior Executive Service in the Treasury in 1979. In 1991 Mr Borthwick was appointed to serve as Australia’s Ambassador to the OECD in Paris. In 1972 he graduated with First Class Honours in Economics from Monash University in Melbourne.

Mr Borthwick presided as head of the department during a period of significant expansion of its responsibilities. All staff of the department join in wishing him well in his retirement.

New appointments and retirements

Farewell to Mr David Borthwick on retirement from his position as Secretary of the department.


Managing the D

epartment

Managing the D

epartment

Mr Mike Callaghan, Deputy Secretary of the department, was formally transferred back to Treasury in 19 February 2009, at the request of the Secretary of the Treasury, Dr Ken Henry AC. In late 2008 Mr Callaghan was appointed by the Prime Minister as his Special Envoy to assist in managing Australia’s response to the global financial crisis. Given his expertise in international and Australian financial systems, the move was made permanent. Since Mr Callaghan’s departure Mr Malcolm Forbes has been acting in the role of Deputy Secretary for the Australian Antarctic Division, Renewables and Energy Efficiency Division, Marine Division, Australian Government Land and Coasts Division and Parks Australia Division.

Executive committees

The Secretary and the four Deputy Secretaries make up the department’s Senior Executive Management committee which meets weekly to provide key policy and management decision making. The Executive Management Group (EMG), formally the Executive Roundtable, is the key senior management forum. It meets fortnightly to monitor performance and review significant issues across the department and portfolio. Members are: the Secretary (chair), Deputy Secretaries, heads of all divisions of the department, the Chief Financial Officer and the Assistant Secretary of Strategic Advice Branch. The Director of National Parks (DNP) and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) are also members of EMG because their responsibilities cross over with the department.

In recognition of their direct responsibilities to the portfolio ministers, agencies established

under the Financial Management and Accountability Act (FMA agencies) meet at least twice a year at an Agencies Roundtable meeting. Agencies will also be invited by the Chair of EMG to attend the EMG meetings, when relevant items are scheduled.

A summary of outcomes from the EMG meetings is made available to all employees on the department’s intranet and through regular meetings with staff held in each division and agency.

The department has a new framework for committee reporting, with each committee directing specific aspects of the department’s internal affairs. In addition to the Executive Management Group, the department now has three departmental business committees:

• Information Management Committee

• Workforce Management Committee

• Audit Committee

Reporting to these departmental business committees and the EMG are seven sub-committees:

• Indigenous Policy Leadership Group

• Compliance Executive Committee

• Risk Panel

• Consultative Committee

• Graduate Steering Committee

• Occupational Health and Safety Committee, and

• Marine and Coastal Coordination Committee

The roles and achievements of committees in 2008–09 are summarised in the following table.


Man

agin

g th

e D

epar

tmen

tM

anag

ing

the

Dep

artm

entRoles and achievements of the departmental business committees and

sub-committees 2008–09Information Management Committee

Roles: Identifies investment priorities in information acquisition and creation, the development and maintenance of information infrastructure and systems, and coordinates the development of policies and standards for information and its management.

Achievements: Met 5 times in 2008–09 and membership was expanded to cover issues in the Arts and Culture areas.

Planning day held to better understand how information management issues are being addressed elsewhere in government agencies, and ensure that the department’s information management focus is aligned with its evolving business requirements.

Approved a strategy for progressing information management within the department.

Workforce Management Committee

Roles: Provides strategic oversight for workforce issues, such as workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, learning and development, and occupational health and safety.

Achievements: Initiated the DEWHA 2008 Staff Survey and commenced implementation, across the department, of improvement strategies linked to the 2006–09 Workforce Plan.

Commenced negotiation of the 2009 Collective Agreement.

Endorsed the DEWHA Disability Action Plan 2008–2010.

Undertook a review of Occupational Health and Safety practices across the department, including amending the Health and Safety Management Arrangements to ensure legislative compliance.

Endorsed continuation and expansion of the leadership program.

Undertook a review and streamlining of recruitment practices.

Undertook implementation of the Indigenous Employment Capability Strategy.

Reviewed the Graduate Recruitment Program and increased the intake for 2009.

Endorsed continuation of the School Leaver Traineeship.

Continued the Indigenous secondment program across the department.

Audit Committee Roles: Oversees the internal audit program, risk management, fraud prevention, financial and management reporting, and compliance with legislation.

Achievements: Developed the 2009-10 audit priorities, guided by the department’s Enterprise Risk Management plan.

Implemented a program of progressive assessment of the department’s internal controls.


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Roles and achievements of the departmental business committees and sub-committees 2008–09Indigenous Policy Leadership Group

Roles: Provides guidance and coordination to the portfolio on the development of policies, and the effective implementation of programs that affect Indigenous peoples, in line with whole-of-government policies.

Ensures effective coordination and appropriate engagement with stakeholders across the department.

Achievements: Developed and endorsed a portfolio-wide Indigenous strategy. Provided advice on the development of an Indigenous National Caring for Country Strategy being championed by the Indigenous Advisory Committee.

Revised and endorsed the department’s Reconciliation Action Plan.

Supported and provided advice on whole of government issues, such as Closing the Gap and the Northern Territory Emergency Response.

Compliance Committee Roles: Sets departmental policy and direction for legislative compliance, endorses operational policies and practices, sets performance measures and reviews performance on compliance and governance.

Achievements: Expanded a centralised compliance support capability for the department, which came to be recognised as a core function.

Established a centralised intelligence/collation function.

Implemented a common framework for the management and oversight of authorised officers under departmental legislation.

Initiated work upon the department’s first Strategic Plan for Compliance and Enforcement.

Oversight of a review of the department’s compliance and enforcement database requirements.

Initiated a review of the department’s compliance and enforcement policy.

Risk Panel Roles: Continue to improve the department’s enterprise-wide risk management policies and practices. The goal is to establish a culture where employees routinely use risk management to implement the department’s responsibilities.

Review key risks for the department and advise senior management about those risks.

Provide assurance to the Secretary, through the department’s Audit Committee that risk management is contributing to the successful operation of the department.

Achievements: All divisions completed divisional risk assessment plans.

The department’s Enterprise Risk Management Plan (ERMP) was updated at six-monthly intervals and given to the Audit Committee and executive.


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sub-committees 2008–09Consultative Committee Roles: Promote good industrial relations in the department by improving mutual

understanding. Provide a forum for consultation and exchange of information between management and employees.

Achievements: Facilitated consultation and discussion on a range of issues affecting departmental staff members, including: the DEWHA policies on travel and clothing; the Enterprise Agreement; and the new building project.

Graduate Steering Committee

Roles: Provide strategic policy and direction for the graduate program. Monitor the appropriateness and quality of learning and development activities and rotation bids.

Achievements: Conducted a review of the graduate program, resulting in a better funding model, an enhanced learning and development program, and improved policies and processes for rotations and final placements.

Selected useful rotations for the graduate cohort.

Placed all of the graduates in fulfilling jobs at the end of the program.

Guided the continued recruitment of high quality employees.

Occupational Health and Safety Committee

Roles: Consider Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) specific issues of a strategic nature that may impact on the department as a whole.

Review and approve OHS policies and policy improvements.

Oversight the local committees including:

• ensuring departmental compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991

• assisting the department to develop, implement, disseminate and review effective measures to protect and promote the health and safety of all departmental employees

• consider local committee outcomes, statistics and other information. Advise the Workforce Management Committee on effective and efficient measures to improve departmental outcomes for all employees.

Achievements: None to report in 2008–09.

The OHS committee did not meet in 2008-2009 due to issues identified with the existing structure of the committee, namely non-compliance with the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991. Due to the suspension of OHS Committee meetings, health and safety issues in the department were addressed through the Workforce Management Committee and local committees continued to operate. Refer to the Workforce Management Committee listing in this table for coverage on OHS issues.


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Roles and achievements of the departmental business committees and sub-committees 2008–09Marine and Coastal Coordination Committee

Roles: Coordinate domestic and international marine and coastal policies and programs across the portfolio. Achievements: Coordinated portfolio engagement in the NRM Ministerial Council’s Marine and Coastal Committee.

Progressed the finalisation of the Threat Abatement Plan for Marine Debris.

Progressed the development of a Dugong Wildlife Conservation Plan.

Coordinated the portfolio’s contribution to implementation of the NRM Ministerial Council’s National Cooperative Approach to Integrated Coastal Zone Management.

Considered the implications for the portfolio of the extension of Australia’s Continental Shelf.

Committees of the Executive Management Group (formerly Executive Roundtable) develop additional operational plans for specific aspects of the department’s work. At the direction of the executive, major activities are required to be addressed in specific project plans.

Audit, risk and fraud control

Protiviti Pty Ltd provides independent internal audit, risk management, fraud control and investigation services, and advice to the department’s Audit Committee.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee provides independent assurance to the Secretary on the integrity and reliability of the department’s management of financial processes, risk and fraud control. The committee also evaluates the robustness of the department’s internal controls and legislative compliance frameworks, to ensure that it is able to meet its accountability responsibilities. The committee seeks to maintain an effective and efficient internal audit function in the department.

Corporate and operational planning

The department’s 2008–09 strategic plan provided the business planning framework for the work plans of each division, branch, section and individual. The strategic plan is made available to all employees on the department’s intranet.

The annual strategic plan was prepared on the basis of the department’s three-year corporate plan. The corporate plan provides a high level view of the department’s role as part of the Australian Government and a succinct statement of its mission. The corporate plan contains information about our values and how the department works with its stakeholders.

The department will take a fresh approach to corporate and strategic planning in 2009–10. Corporate and operational planning will be focused in a single strategic planning document. This new strategic plan will be reviewed and updated annually, to better reflect government and departmental priorities, while also giving clear direction for business planning.


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entThe committee has five members, as set out in

the table below. Ms Evelyn Bosak was appointed in December 2008, replacing Ms Jenny Morrison whose term expired in August 2008. Seven meetings were held during 2008–09.

Observers at the committee meetings include the Chief Financial Officer, the First Assistant Secretary of Corporate Strategies Division, the Chair of the Risk Panel, the Chief Governance Officer and representatives of the Australian National Audit Office and the internal audit service provider.

The committee’s major activities in 2008–09 are reported in the table on the Roles and achievements of the departmental business committees and sub-committees 2008–09.

Risk Management

The Risk Panel was established by the Secretary in October 2006, under the Chief Executive’s Instructions to oversee risk management in the organisation. It was planned to have up to six executives and four to six meetings per year. The membership was maintained at four regular executive members and four regular observers. The panel’s objectives are to improve enterprise-wide risk management, policies, procedures, practices and reporting schemes.

An Enterprise Risk Management Plan was established in 2008. Ensuring that risk management practices were incorporated into projects was a major achievement over the last half of 2008–09.

Environment Audit Committee membership and meeting attendance 2008–09

Member RoleNumber eligible to attend as member

Number of meetings attended

Andrew Podger Independent Chair 7 7

Mark Tucker Member 7 7

Virginia Mudie Member 7 5

Rod Shogren Independent Member 7 6

Evelyn Bosak Independent Member 4 4

Jenny Morrison Member until August 2008 2 2

Risk Panel membership and meeting attendance 2008–09

Member RoleNumber eligible to attend as member

Number of meetings attended

Malcolm Thompson Chair 3 3

Malcolm Forbes Member 3 2

Peter Burnett Member 3 2

Sally Basser Member. 3 2

Alex Rankin Member 1 1


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Summary of achievements

After implementing the first Enterprise Risk Management Plan in May 2008, the panel performed two six-monthly reviews (November 2008 and April 2009):

• The Enterprise Risk Management Plan was presented to the department’s Audit Committee following the reviews, in December 2008 and May 2009. The Audit Committee used the plan to prepare for the 2009–10 internal audit work. It was submitted to the Secretary in May 2009.

• An improved and updated corporate risk assessment tool was approved for divisional risk assessments.

• The department undertook a review of its risk framework, as part of Comcover’s Risk Management Assessment Service. Comcover is the Australian Government’s general insurer.

• A Risk Management Working Group was established, to focus on improving the tools, policies and procedures for better business.

• Risk assessments were incorporated into the department’s project management tools and training.

In 2009–10, the focus for the panel will be on improvements to communications and training and on review and monitoring.

Corporate Project Management Office (CPMO)

The Corporate Project Management Office (CPMO) was established in August 2008. Its role is to develop and maintain a robust project management framework that meets the needs of the department. The department

has an increasing number of large and complex projects.

The department’s Executive Management Group approved the framework which was then released in a staged approach from October 2007 to June 2009.

Release 1 identified and classified departmental projects into a three-tiered project classification system, with corresponding templates and sponsorship levels. For example, Tier 1 projects have a sponsor at Deputy Secretary level, and Tier 2 projects a sponsor at First Assistant Secretary level.

Release 2 saw the introduction of a comprehensive in-house training program, including: a two-day fundamental course; Certificate IV Project Management for graduates; e-learning modules; and sponsor information packages.

Release 3 rolled out the major component of the framework, including: process maps; toolkits; templates and guidelines; list of external consultants; and status reports linking to departmental outcomes and the new corporate reporting framework.

The CPMO is currently working on Release 4, the development and implementation of a corporate project management software system, to support the Framework.

Prior to establishment of the CPMO, an internal audit on project management used a standardised project management maturity model to measure the department’s project management maturity. The department received a 1.2 out of 5. It is envisaged that the


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rise to 3.7.

Fraud control

The department’s anti-fraud program is supervised by both the Audit Committee and the Risk Panel.

The department investigates or takes action on all allegations of fraud and/or serious misconduct related to the business of the department. Where appropriate, it works with other law enforcement agencies. The department has a large and varied workforce and a comprehensive plan and processes to control internal fraud and corruption.

The department is updating its fraud control plan, which will set out actions to reduce the risk of fraud against the department.

Of 13 cases of suspected fraud during 2008–09, 10 cases were referred to the Australian Federal Police.

Business Continuity Plan

The department’s Business Continuity Plan describes the arrangements that it will use to ensure the continuity of key services after a major, unexpected and disruptive incident. It details the management structure, staff roles and responsibilities, and actions that are to be implemented after a major incident.

The need for developing and maintaining the Business Continuity Plan has arisen from the department’s commitment to sound risk management and corporate governance practices.

The current plan has been endorsed by the Secretary for the period 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2011. It applies to the department’s operations conducted from, or using facilities located at, the its premises at the John Gorton Building, Canberra. It will be regularly reviewed and updated as necessary during this period.

The department has a separate pandemic plan which was implemented during the outbreak of the H1N1 Influenza 09 (Human Swine Flu).

Certificate of Compliance

Beginning in 2006–07, chief executives of Australian Government departments and agencies were required to provide a completed Certificate of Compliance to their portfolio minister and a copy to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation by 15 October each year.

The certificate focuses on agencies’ compliance during the previous financial year with the following:

• Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997

• Financial Management and Accountability Regulations 1997

• Financial Management and Accountability Orders 2005

• Financial Management and Accountability (Finance Minister to Chief Executives) Delegation 2007 (No. 2), as amended from time to time

• Australian Government’s foreign exchange risk management requirements

• Legal and financial requirements for the management of Special Accounts


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• The financial management policies of the Commonwealth.

The certificate integrates these requirements, allowing chief executives to certify compliance with the financial legislation and associated policies in a single document.

For the financial period 2008–09, the department identified 107 breaches in the annual Certificate of Compliance process. The Secretary will provide a completed Certificate of Compliance for the department, covering 2008–09, to the relevant ministers by 15 October 2009.

Stakeholder relations

The department strives to provide a high standard of service to its clients. These include: ministers; other Australian Government departments and agencies; state, territory and local government bodies; non-government organisations; industry; and members of the wider community.

The department values the views of its clients and stakeholders. It acknowledges and values the right of stakeholders to scrutinise its actions.

Formal and informal consultation is conducted with relevant external stakeholders in the course of policy development, and also during the design and implementation of programs run by the department.

During the year, the department supported ministers in major public consultations on energy efficiency and water policy. The department also conducted significant consultations on: the proposal for a national

waste policy; the implementation of the Caring for our Country program; as part of its review of the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage legislation; to inform development of a national arts and disability strategy; and on marine bioregional planning processes.

Ethical Standards

The department is committed to ensuring its employees maintain the high ethical standards of the Australian Public Service (APS). Employees must comply with the APS Values and APS Code of Conduct. New arrangements ensure all staff members participate in training in the code.

The People Management Branch has increased its activity on the Code of Conduct and underperformance, by an extension of greater support to line areas. This has resulted in an increase in awareness of policy and processes among managers and staff members.

The department has participated in the commencement of the Australian Public Service Commission Ethics Advisory Service. As a result, the department is undertaking further development of its ethical standards arrangements and has appointed an Ethics Contact Officer. During 2008–09 the department commenced the review and development of a range of people -related policies, which will contribute over time to a strengthening of the department’s ethical framework.


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services

The department advises and supports portfolio ministers and the parliamentary secretary, through briefings and policy advice, assistance in responding to their correspondence and administrative assistance to organise and transact government business.

Ministerial workflow system

In March 2009 the department commenced a review of its ministerial workflow system and processes to establish a development path for future arrangements. This coincides with the work of the Common Parliamentary Business Process Steering Committee (CPBPSC). The Committee is focused on delivering common business processes and a governance framework for parliamentary workflow and management solutions, across government agencies. The department’s internal review will make its preliminary recommendations in August 2009.

From December 2007 the Department of Climate Change (DCC), after its establishment, adopted the department’s ministerial workflow system (Slipstream) as part of the broader support arrangements provided by the department. This arrangement ended in March 2009, when DCC moved its parliamentary workflow activities to another system.

Workflow Statistics for 2008–09

In 2008–09, 19 472 items of correspondence were received by ministers and registered on the department’s database. The department again prepared over 3000 briefing submissions for ministers; it aims to ensure

that submissions arrive in the minister’s office a minimum of five working days before a decision is required.

The following chart shows the growth in ministerial correspondence over the past five years. After a record year in 2007–08, the volume of correspondence received was down in 2008–09. However, given the continued strong public interest in environmental issues, a return to higher volumes would not be unexpected.

Number of ministerial correspondence items over the last five years

YearNumber of

correspondence items

2004–05 8507

2005–06 10 844

2006–07 15 831

2007–08 21 820

2008–09 19 472

The department’s Ministerial and Parliamentary Services Section monitors the timeliness and accuracy of briefs and draft replies to correspondence provided to the minister. It uses rejection rates as a measure of accuracy. This provides a surrogate indicator of the minister’s satisfaction. In 2008–09, 844 items of correspondence were returned to the department for redrafting, 4.3 per cent of total correspondence received.

One recent noticeable change has been an increase in the number of questions placed on notice by senators at, or following, Senate Estimates hearings. The number almost tripled in 2008–09, compared to the previous year, as indicated in the following table:


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Senate Estimates – Questions on NoticeYear Number of Questions

2005–06 205

2006–07 188

2007–08 267

2008–09 741

Community information

The increase in portfolio programs brought a significant rise in requests for information. In response, the department engaged the services of external contact centres to provide additional information services. The details of these services can be found in the reports of the relevant program outcomes.

The department continues to maintain a Community Information Unit in-house that receives requests for information and feedback on the department’s services. The unit also manages the department’s publications shopfront.

In 2008–09 the Community Information Unit responded to 40 944 enquiries from the Australian community; 62 per cent about grant and rebate programs and 38 per cent seeking general information about the department and its programs. The unit distributed 140 077 publications.

Service charter

The department’s service charter for 2005–2008 set out the standards of service clients can expect and how to give feedback on performance. The service charter was reviewed during the year, and the new charter was put in place from 1 July 2009, covering the period 2009–2012. The charter is available at www.environment.gov.au/ about/publications/charter.html or in hard copy by contacting the Community Information Unit toll free on 1800 803 772.

The Client Service Officer can be contacted at:

Client Service Officer Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601 Phone: 02 6274 1323 Fax: 02 6274 1322 Email: [email protected]

The department received 54 enquiries through its Client Service Officer in 2008–09. The majority of these were requests for information and assistance, which were forwarded to the appropriate work area for action.

Community Information 2006–07 to 2008–09 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09

Enquiries 48 618 49 695 40 944

Publications distributed 264 083 211 233 140 077

Shopfront visitors 9959 7982 6627

Website visits 12 269 321 13 179 064 11 382 861


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The department received one complaint through its Client Service Officer in 2008–09. The complaint related to the handling of a funding application.

Feedback on performance of service delivery

The department received 23 responses on its service delivery standards through its Client Service Officer in 2008–09. Of these, 12 rated the department as providing adequate or excellent service and 11 rated 11 as providing inadequate or poor service. Many of the negative responses related to delays in providing information.

Access and equity

The department contributed to the Australian Government’s Access and Equity Report 2006–08, which was tabled in parliament on 18 March 2009. It reports on progress in implementing the Charter of Public Service in a Culturally Diverse Society.

The department is committed to the concept of valuing differences and adapting work practices to take into account the individuality of staff and government policy on Equal Employment Opportunity, Human Rights, Equity and Merit. This commitment is reflected in the department’s Disability Action Plan 2009–2011. For more information refer to the section on Human Resources in this chapter.

The department has a culturally diverse client base and a range of Australian Government programs administered by the department aim to support Indigenous arts, culture, languages

and broadcasting. Refer to the Outcome–4 Arts and Culture chapter, for more information about these programs.

External scrutiny

Courts and tribunals

During the year, the Federal Court determined a number of applications for review of Ministerial decisions. These included the Gunns Pulp Mill (Lawyers for Forests v. Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts); Christmas Island (Phosphate Resources Ltd v. Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts); and McArthur River Mining (Lansen v. Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Full Federal Court).

These decisions, and others, are set out in more detail in the second volume of this set of annual reports.

Commonwealth Ombudsman

In June 2009, the Commonwealth Ombudsman released a report into delays in preparation of heritage strategies by Australian Government agencies concerning compliance with s 341ZA of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The report was the result of an ‘own motion’ investigation by the Ombudsman. It highlighted the lack of awareness by Australian Government agencies of their obligations in relation to preparation of a heritage strategy, as a result of insufficient or unclear advice provided by the department. Consistent with the recommendations of the report, the department will write to Australian Government


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departments to clarify their obligations. It will also recommend that obligations for heritage strategies be reviewed, as part of the Independent Review of the EPBC Act. The department will report to the Ombudsman within 18 months on the progress of Government agencies in completing heritage strategies.

There was one finding of administrative deficiency in the processing of a Freedom of Information request.

Freedom of Information

This section is presented in accordance with the requirements of section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act). The FOI Act gives the Australian community the right to access information held by the Australian Government. The only limits are exemptions needed to protect essential public interests and privacy.

Members of the public seeking access to documents under the Act make a request in writing to the department and enclose the $30 fee. Requests must include contact details and an Australian address to which notifications can be posted.

Applications received

The department received 49 applications pursuant to the Act during 2008–09. There was one request for review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. This request was by a third party, about the department’s internal review decision to release documents.

Information about the department

Under section 8 of the FOI Act, the department has to make available information about its functions, organisation, operations and powers that affect members of the public. Relevant information is contained elsewhere in this annual report (the executive summary presents an overview).

Information about categories of documents

Under section 8 of the FOI Act, the department has to report details of certain categories of documents it maintains. The department holds a large range of documents in the following categories:

General policy—administrative files, consultants’ reports, memorandums of understanding, agreements, permits, licences, submissions, guidelines for programs, grant documents, financial records, staffing records, instructions of the secretary, legal documents, and tender evaluations.

Specific—Australian Antarctic Division records, committee records, and court documents and records.

Parliamentary—briefing documents, Cabinet documents, ministerial submissions, policy advice, ministerial correspondence, explanatory memorandums to Acts, Ordinances and Regulations.

Manuals—In accordance with section 9 of the FOI Act, the department maintains a list of unpublished manuals and other documents used by departmental staff members as a guide to procedures and practices to be


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list is available on request from: the Freedom of Information Coordinator, any office of the National Archives of Australia (NAA), or the NAA website at www.naa.gov.au.

Some documents may have been transferred into archival custody or destroyed in accordance with the Archives Act 1983.

Arrangements for outside participation

Under section 8 of the FOI Act, the department has to report details of arrangements whereby members of the public can participate in certain kinds of decision-making.

The department consults members of the public, and bodies outside the Australian Government’s administration, when developing policy and programs, and in administering legislation and schemes. In addition to general public consultation, which may be a requirement of particular legislation, the department and the relevant minister receive advice from various scientific and expert committees and other bodies. A list is available at: www.environment.gov.au/about/councils/index.html

Generally, people can participate by making oral or written representations to the minister or the department, or by putting submissions to the various working groups chaired by the department.

Formal arrangements under the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981, Sea Installations Act 1987, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and the environmental impact assessment provisions of the Antarctic Treaty (Environment

Protection) Act 1980, provide for proposals to be examined publicly and for comments to be received.

Formal arrangements under the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands Environment Protection and Management Ordinance 1987, provide for public consultation during the development of management plans.

Formal arrangements under the Environment Protection (Alligator Rivers Region) Act 1978, provide for public consultation on scientific research programs and the effects of uranium mining operations on the environment in the Alligator Rivers region.

Water Act 2007

Several formal arrangements under the Water Act 2007 exist to facilitate input from Basin States, members of the public and other bodies. Basin States refers to New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.

Basin Plan Consultation

The Act provides for public consultation and submissions on the development of the Basin Plan, once the new Murray-Darling Basin Authority (the Authority) comes into being (s 43(4)).

An invitation to the public will be published in the Gazette, in newspapers and on the Authority’s website (s 43(5)). The public will also be invited to make submissions on any proposed amendment to the Basin Plan (s 47(4)).


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The Authority must consult with the Basin States, the Basin Officials Committee and the Basin Community Committee, when preparing the Basin Plan (s 42(1)) or an amendment to it (s 46(1)).

The Basin states must also be given the opportunity to make submissions on the proposed Basin Plan (s 43(3)) or a proposed amendment to it (s 47(3)).

A plain English summary of the proposed Basin Plan, or a proposed amendment to it, must be provided to the relevant state ministers and made available to the public at the same time that submissions are sought (s 43(2) and s 47(2)).

At least 16 weeks must be allowed for members of the public and Basin states to make submissions on the proposed plan and eight weeks for submissions on a proposed amendment.

All submissions from the Basin states and members of the public must be considered by the Authority (s 43(10)(a) and s 47(10)(a)).

Note also that section 49 of the Water Act 2007 provides that regulations may be made under that Act, providing that the Authority may make specified kinds of minor or non-substantive amendments to the Basin Plan, in accordance with a process set out in the regulations. Such minor or non-substantive amendments will not be subject to the consultation arrangements specified in sections 46, 47 and 48 of the Act.

The Authority must review the Basin Plan if all of the Basin states request it to do so (s 50(2)(b)). There are some limitations on when the states can request such a review.

Water Resource Plan consultation

During the formulation of a water resource plan, if the Minister gives the plan back to the Authority with suggestions under the Water Act 2007, it must undertake such consultations about the suggestions as it considers necessary and appropriate (s 69(2)(b)).

If the water resource plan is adjacent to another water resource plan, located in another Basin state, the Authority must prepare the plan in consultation with that Basin state (s 68(10)). The same consultation must occur where there is a plan prepared by a Basin state, which needs to be accredited and that plan is adjacent to another water resource plan (s 63(2)).

Other consultation areas under the Water Act 2007

Public consultations, consultations with Basin states and with irrigation infrastructure operators, are also to be undertaken in the making, amending or revoking of water charge rules, and water market rules (s 93(6) and 98(5)).

The Authority must also consult with: holders of environmental water; owners of environmental assets; and managers of planned environmental water; in implementing the environmental watering plan (s 29).

In the preparation of the National Water Information Standards, the Director of Meteorology must consult with the states and territories (s 132(1)), as well as undertake such other consultation as the director considers appropriate (s 132(2)).


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a review must occur in consultation with the states.

Procedures for gaining access to information

Freedom of information matters within the department, are handled by the Legal Section in the Policy Coordination Division. Contact details for the Freedom of Information Coordinator are:

Phone: (02) 6275 2721 Fax: (02) 6274 1587 Email: [email protected]

Written requests for access to documents should be addressed to:

The Freedom of Information Coordinator Legal Section Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601

Privacy matters

The department responded to the Privacy Commissioner’s survey on the use of portable storage devices containing personal information.

Auditor-General reports

The department was included in the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) Report Number 14 on the Audits of the Financial Statements of Australian Government Entities, for the period ended 30 June 2008. The report was tabled in parliament on 17 December 2008.

Financial statement audits are an independent examination of the financial accounting and reporting of public sector entities.

The report recognised that the machinery of government changes that occurred in 2007–08, and resulted in the department gaining responsibility for the heritage and cultural entities from the former Communications, Information Technology and the Arts portfolio, had added a significant workload to the department’s finance and corporate areas.

No significant or moderate audit issues were identified during the audit of the department’s 2007–08 financial statements.

The department’s sustainability guidelines are referred to in ANAO Report Number 25 on Green Office Procurement and Sustainable Office Management. The report was tabled in parliament on 11 March 2009. Ninety-five per cent of the Australian Government agencies audited stated that they found the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts’ website on sustainability in government, to be of use. This is an improvement on the 2005 survey results, where only 73 per cent of agencies found the website guidance of use.


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Parliamentary committees

Senate Standing Committee on the Environment, Communications and the Arts

Management of Australia’s waste streams (including consideration of the Drink Container Recycling Bill 2008)

The Senate Inquiry was undertaken in response to the introduction of the Drink Container Recycling Bill 2008 into the Senate on 13 March 2008, by the Family First Party. The Senate referred the matter to the Senate Committee for Environment, Communications and the Arts for further inquiry, and expanded the terms of reference to consider the management of Australia’s waste streams.

The report was tabled on 3 September 2008, and highlighted the complexity of waste management. Its 18 recommendations are broad, reflecting this sector’s diversity. Twelve recommendations were referred to the Environment Protection and Heritage Council for consideration. Key themes included:

• the importance of developing national approaches to dealing with waste management policy

• the need for waste management policy to be grounded in rigorous cost-benefit analysis

• the need for the expedited establishment of Extended Producer Responsibility arrangements, for products of national significance

• the importance of setting national waste reduction standards, and

• the re-establishment of a national waste data scheme.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2008

The Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts inquired into the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2008. The department made a submission and appeared before a public hearing of the committee, which reported to the Senate on 15 September 2008. The Bill was passed with amendments on 24 November 2008.

Save Our Solar (Solar Rebate Protection) Bill 2008 [No. 2]

The Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts report on the Inquiry into the Save Our Solar (Solar Rebate Protection) Bill 2008 [No. 2], was tabled on 25 August 2008. The Bill was not passed, consistent with a recommendation by the committee. The department made a submission to the inquiry, and also appeared before a committee public hearing. The committee’s report included a minority report from the Australian Greens.

The Operation of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (First Report)

The Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts held an inquiry into the operation of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and other natural resource protection programs. The department made a written submission and, upon request, a supplementary written submission and written responses to questions from the committee.


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hearing of the committee.

The committee produced two reports – the first tabled on 18 March 2009 and the second and final report on 30 April 2009. Both reports included additional comments from the Coalition Senators and the Australian Greens.

The committee’s recommendations have been referred to Dr Allan Hawke for consideration as part of his independent review of the EPBC Act. Dr Hawke will report to the minister towards the end of 2009.

Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport

Water Management in the Coorong and Lower Lakes (including consideration of the Emergency Water (Murray-Darling Basin Rescue) Bill 2008)

In 2008–09, the Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communication and the Arts completed one report and the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport, two reports relevant to the department’s work on water.

Inquiry into the Water Amendment (Saving the Goulburn and Murray Rivers) Bill 2008

The Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communication and the Arts report into the proposed private member’s Bill, the Water Amendment (Saving the Goulburn and Murray Rivers) Bill 2008, was tabled on 7 May 2009. The committee recommended that the Bill should not be passed. The report included a minority report by the Liberal Party, National Party, Australian

Greens and Independent Senator Xenophon, recommending that the Bill be passed.

Inquiry into the Water Amendment Bill 2008

The Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport report into the Water Amendment Bill 2008, was tabled on 21 November 2008. The committee found that the Bill would enable water resources in the Murray-Darling Basin to be managed in the national interest, optimising environmental, economic and social outcomes. It considered that the Bill represents the basis for the long-term reform of water management in the Murray-Darling Basin. The committee noted that the Bill allows the Basin Agreement to be independently and regularly amended, and considered that this would ensure that future issues were dealt with expeditiously and efficiently. The committee found that while a number of issues were raised about the legislation during the inquiry, the benefits of the Bill would materialise in the implementation of the agreement and the development of the plan. The committee agreed that the Bill should be passed.

The report included additional comments from the Liberal Party and National Party members of the committee and a minority report from the Australian Greens and Independent senator Xenophon.

The Senate passed the Bill on 4 December 2008 and it received assent on 8 December 2008.


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Inquiry into water management of the Lower Lakes and Coorong

The Senate Inquiry considered water management in the Coorong and Lower Lakes, including consideration of the private members Bill, the Emergency Water (Murray-Darling Basin Rescue) Bill 2008. The committee found that there was not enough water in the system and that this was the result of historic over-allocations, the current unprecedented drought, and the emerging impacts of climate change. The committee made a number of recommendations for action by governments, including that: impediments to trading water should be lifted to allow a more efficient water market; the value of bioremediation of exposed acid sulphate soils should be investigated further; and if the admission of seawater into the lower lakes becomes necessary, the potential environmental impact should be subject to further investigation and community consultation. These three recommendations have been the subject of further action by the government.

The report included additional comments from Liberal Party and National Party members of the committee and a minority report from the Australian Greens and Independent senator Xenophon.

Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT)

Report 93: Review into Treaties tabled on 12 March and 14 May 2008.

Australia, as a Party to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), is obliged to regulate trade in

CITES-listed species, in accordance with the Convention. At the CITES 14th Conference of the Parties (CoP14) Australia proposed an amendment to the US/Kenya proposal to list all species of sawfish in Appendix I and to list pristis microdon (freshwater sawfish) in Appendix II, with an annotation allowing only trade in live animals. The amendment was sought on the grounds that a small and highly regulated trade in pristis microdon from robust populations, such as in Australia, is sustainable, and also has an important conservation benefit. Amendments adopted at CoP14 entered into force automatically 90 days after CoP14, that is, 13 September 2007.

The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) reviewed and agreed with the amendments. It made four recommendations about the freshwater sawfish listing and CITES administration, and these were included in report 93: Review into Treaties tabled on 12 March and 14 May 2008, which was tabled on 4 September 2008.

The department prepared the whole-of-government response to the recommendations of JSCOT. In preparing the response, the department consulted with the Attorney General’s Department and the Departments of Finance and Deregulation; Foreign Affairs and Trade; Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australian Fisheries Management Authority); Prime Minister and Cabinet; and the Treasury.

The government agreed in part with recommendation 1, citing existing assessment processes and funding of research projects to fill information gaps about population status and the impacts of threats on freshwater sawfish.


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recommendation 2, saying that inviting appropriately qualified non-government organisation representatives to meetings of the CITES Conference of Parties, contributes significantly to open and transparent government.

The government agreed in part with recommendation 3, citing provisions for public comment on most non-detriment findings and the utilisation of this mechanism where the freshwater sawfish was concerned.

The government did not agree with recommendation 4, as existing processes for approvals under the EPBC Act are considered appropriate and sufficient.

The response was tabled in parliament on 19 March 2009.

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works

Inquiry into Energy Efficiency in Government Operations

The Energy Efficiency in Government Operations (EEGO) policy requires the department to provide advice to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, on energy efficiency issues in agency submissions for new buildings and major refurbishment works. In 2008–2009, the department reviewed nine agency submissions. For each of these, the department provided comments on their compliance with the EEGO policy and, if necessary, suggestions for further improvement in the energy efficiency of the proposed projects.

Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration

Inquiry into the Appropriation (Nation Building and Jobs) Bill (No. 1) 2008–09 and 5 related bills.

The department appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration inquiry into the Appropriation (Nation Building and Jobs) Bill (No. 1) 2008–2009 and 5 related bills. Officials of the department’s Renewables and Energy Efficiency Division gave evidence on elements of the Energy Efficient Homes Package, including the Home Insulation Program and Solar Hot Water Rebate programs. The committee report, tabled 10 February 2009, recommended passage of the Bills as a matter of urgency. A dissenting report was tabled by Liberal and National Party Committee members.

House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts

Inquiry into the Resale Royalty Right for Visual Artists Bill 2008

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts held an inquiry into the Resale Royalty Right for Visual Artists Bill 2008. The department made a written submission and appeared before a public hearing of the committee.

The committee reported to the House on 20 February 2009. The report made 10 recommendations and the


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committee concluded that, subject to its recommendations, the Bill should proceed.

The government response was tabled on 28 May 2009.

The Bill is currently before the House for consideration.

Environmental sustainability

This section is presented in accordance with the requirements of section 516A of the EPBC Act.

Section 516A requires government departments to report on:

• how their activities accord with the principles of ecologically sustainable development (subsection 6a)

• how their outcomes, specified in relevant Appropriation Acts, contributed to ecologically sustainable development (subsection 6b) , and

• the environmental impacts of their operations during the year, and measures taken to minimise those impacts (subsections 6c, d and e).

How the department applies the principles

The department administers the EPBC Act and the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997, both of which support the principles of conserving biodiversity and protecting the environment.

Examples of how the department applies the principles of ecologically sustainable development are summarised in the table

below. More details on specific programs are contained in other chapters of this annual report.

Contribution of outcomes

The department is the lead Australian Government agency for developing and implementing national policy, programs and legislation to protect and conserve the natural environment. One of the key functions of the department is to promote and support ecologically sustainable development.

The department’s outcomes contribute to ecologically sustainable development as follows:

Outcome 1: Protecting and conserving the environment helps to maintain the ecological processes on which life depends.

Outcome 2: Australia’s Antarctic interests include a strong focus on protecting the Antarctic environment, and managing the sustainable use of marine resources.

Outcome 3: Australia’s water resources are managed and used sustainably and efficiently.


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How the department applies the principles of ecologically sustainable development Principles Activities

Integration principle: decision-making processes should effectively integrate both long-term and short-term economic, environmental, social and equitable considerations.

Integrated natural resource management: The department develops and invests in natural resource management plans and other strategies to maintain ecosystems These include the regional component of the Caring for our Country initiative and bioregional marine plans. These plans integrate long-term and short-term economic, environmental, social and equitable considerations. Integrated reporting: The department publishes a State of the Environment report.

Precautionary principle: if there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation.

Environmental impact assessments: The department applies the precautionary principle to prevent serious environmental damage when assessing the possible environmental impacts of proposed actions. Assessments must often be made in the absence of full scientific certainty, most notably assessments under the EPBC Act, and through chemical and gene technology assessment schemes. National response to climate change: The department provides policy input for Australia’s national and international response to the threat of climate change in the absence of full scientific certainty. It manages for uncertainty, including preparing Australia for unavoidable climate change impacts.


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How the department applies the principles of ecologically sustainable development Principles Activities

Intergenerational principle: the present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained or enhanced, for the benefit of future generations.

Pollution prevention: The department applies laws and National Environment Protection Measures to prevent environmentally harmful substances entering the environment. Laws include the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981, the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989, the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 and the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989. Whole-of-government policy development: The department seeks to ensure that environmental protection is appropriately considered in the development of other Australian Government policies, including major energy and water reforms. Community capacity building: The department administers the Australian Government’s major natural resource management programs that have an environmental focus, including the Caring for our Country program. These programs increase the capacity of Australians to conserve ecosystems for future generations.

Biodiversity principle: the conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration in decision-making.

Biodiversity conservation: The department applies laws for the conservation of biodiversity to protect wildlife and places with environmental values, including the EPBC Act, and, through the Caring for our Country program, marine protected areas, terrestrial parks and reserves.

Valuation principle: improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms should be promoted.

Conservation incentives: The department promotes incentives for protecting wildlife and habitats on private land through covenants. It supports fishing industry adjustment processes to reduce pressures on the marine environment. Waste reduction incentives: The department provides incentives for more efficient use of resources. This includes: markets for waste products, such as used lubricating oils, and water efficiency labelling. It also contributes to reducing packaging waste, as a signatory to the National Packaging Covenant.


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operations

Sustainability in Government

The Sustainability in Government program, aims to achieve improvements in the contributions made by the public sector to sustainability (particularly ecological sustainability), through actions including: better environmental management; energy efficiency; public reporting; and sustainable purchasing.

The department helps agencies to develop and implement ISO14001 environmental management systems and to integrate environmental considerations into public procurement decisions. During 2008–09, the department:

• released the report Energy Use in the Australian Government Operations 2006–2007. This report outlines the levels of energy usage and emissions for the Australian Government, at both a whole-of-government and an individual agency/department level. It encourages individual agencies to improve their performance over time, and meet the 2011 energy targets already set under the Energy Efficiency in Government Operations policy

• coordinated the participation of all 128 Commonwealth agencies in Earth Hour 2009. This resulted in a combined total of Commonwealth office floor area of over 3.7 million square metres in more than 1500 buildings participating in Earth Hour

• conducted an Energy Forum for Australian Government agencies, to facilitate energy efficiency, particularly in lighting technology

• worked alongside the Department of Defence to establish more comprehensive metering and monitoring of selected key defence bases, as part of the Energy Efficiency in Government Operations policy

• negotiated a further two-year supply for the whole-of-government electricity contract, with 10 per cent of this being greenpower purchased on behalf of agencies in the ACT, and

• negotiated energy efficiency strategies with stakeholders of the Australian Government special purpose buildings, as part of the Energy Efficiency in Government Operations policy.

National Environment Protection Measures

The department provides support to enable Australian Government agencies to report against National Environment Protection Measures (NEPMs), and coordinates their responses. NEPMs are statutory instruments that outline agreed national objectives for protecting or managing particular aspects of the environment. In fulfilling the legislative requirement for annual reporting on NEPM implementation, agencies must consider the strategies they have employed to reduce their environmental footprint for that reporting year.

Coordination activities this year included:

• convening a workshop for government agencies to inform them of their reporting responsibilities, and

• drafting the Australian Government NEPM implementation annual report.


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Model Environmental Management System (EMS)

The department updated the Model EMS, first published in 2003, with the new EMS Tool, which assists other government agencies and office-based organisations wishing to establish, or improve, their own Environmental Management System. The new EMS Tool is based on the international standard for environmental management systems and has been updated to reflect the 2004 version of the standard. It is anticipated that the tool will help to reduce the time and cost often associated with implementing an EMS, and also provide a well developed system for the management of environmental impacts resulting from the day to day operations of office-based organisations. The EMS Tool can be found on the department’s website at www.environment.gov.au/settlements/government/ems/index.html

New Building Project

In conjunction with the Department of Finance and Deregulation, the department is involved in the development of a concept for a new building to accommodate all of the department’s office-based operations in Canberra. The project is still in the conceptual stage but potentially provides an opportunity to set a new benchmark for exemplary, environmentally sustainable, design and construction for commercially-viable office accommodation.

Environmental performance

Canberra Offices

Through its environmental management policy, the department continues to be committed to adopting ecologically sustainable work practices. As part of this commitment, the department has maintained certification of the environmental management system for its main office in Canberra, to the international standard for environmental management (ISO 14001).

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions associated with the department’s business activities in Canberra resulted from air travel (2 185 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, or CO2-e), our use of electricity for tenant light and power (842 tonnes CO2-e) and use of fuel in our vehicle fleet (204 tonnes CO2-e)1.

Air Travel

Emissions from business air travel contributed 68 per cent of total emissions associated with our Canberra-based operations. The department provides staff with access to video and teleconferencing facilities in our main offices and the aim is to reduce the overall amount of air travel undertaken by the department in 2009–10.

1 Greenhouse gas emission calculations for air travel are taken from ‘Guidelines to DEFRA’s GHG Conversion Factors for company reporting’ published by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Calculations for emissions resulting from fuel use and electricity use are made using the Online System for Comprehensive Activity Reporting using current conversion factors provided by the Department of Climate Change.


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entElectricity use

Emissions associated with consumption of electricity (not including Green Power) contributed 26 per cent of total emissions. Our goal is to continue to reduce the amount of electricity consumed per employee and increase the proportion of electricity sourced from renewable supplies. In 2008–09 our electricity consumption was 5566 megajoules per person2. This is just above our set target of 5000 megajoules per person, but still within the government target of 7500 megajoules per person. To reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the use of electricity, 70 per cent of the electricity purchased for our Canberra tenancies was certified Green Power.

During 2008–09 the department implemented server virtualisation, which will reduce the department’s electricity use by 356 400 megajoules per annum. The department also conducted a desktop virtualisation trial using thin client technology. Results of this trial indicate further energy savings can be achieved and we will continue to investigate the advantages of thin client technology, compared with traditional desktop personal computers.

Fuel use

Emissions associated with use of fuel in our vehicle fleet contributed six per cent of total emissions. The department continued to seek improvements in fuel efficiency when leasing our pool vehicles in 2008–09. The department’s vehicle pool fleet in Canberra includes 14 cars, with an average Green Vehicle Guide (GVG) rating of 16.8 (out of 20). The total fleet has an average rating of 12.8, which far exceeds the government target of 28 per cent of fleet vehicles rating higher than 10.53. To offset the 204 tonnes of CO2-e resulting from fuel used by our total vehicle fleet, the department funded the planting of 660 trees by Greenfleet4.

To provide alternative transport options for staff travelling between our offices in Canberra, the department purchased two additional electric bicycles for our bike fleet. The bicycles are made available to staff in the department three main offices, for commuting between offices, for business meetings close by, and for recreational rides at lunch time.

Procurement

The department’s main procurement activities include: office fit out and refurbishment; leasing of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment; and purchasing of office consumables (mainly copy paper).

2 In the 2007–08 Annual Report, the Canberra offices reported electricity consumption as 4,907MJ/person. The correct amount has since been found to be 5,439MJ/person.The incorrect reporting of this figure was due to inconsistent measuring of data.This inconsistency in measurement has been remedied.

3 See www.greenfleet.com.au for calculations used in determining offset requriements.4 See www.greenvehicleguide.com.au for guide to ratings.


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During 2008–09 the department conducted a desktop and local area network services procurement process. The department specified strict environmental criteria in this tender including the requirement for ICT products to meet a minimum performance standard of Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) silver5. It was also a requirement that tenderers be able to demonstrate a commitment to environmentally-sound practices in their broader operations.

We are also implementing an internal policy for the purchasing of 100 per cent recycled copy paper in all Canberra offices. We aim to change to a new stationery contract in 2009–10, which will enable the provision of environmentally-preferred options for office products, where possible.

Waste

Last year we disposed of approximately 158 397kg of waste, including 118 858kg of paper waste. Of this, roughly five per cent was sent to landfill, 83 per cent was recycled (including commingled material and paper) and 12 per cent was composted. In addition to general office waste, we also provided our Canberra staff with drop-off points for recycling mobile phones (63 kilograms), batteries (105 kilograms) and corks (29 kilograms). We continue to recycle all of the broken fluorescent lamps from our offices (195 kilograms).

Environmental Management

In May 2009, the department underwent a two-day external audit and gained re-certification

to the international standard for environmental management (ISO 14001), for its main office (the John Gorton Building) in Canberra. Departmental managers meet each quarter to review the effectiveness of measures taken to minimise environmental impact and set new targets for improvement.


The Supervising Scientist Division contributes to the department’s sustainability objectives through a range of measures, aimed at continuously improving the environmental performance of its business operations and minimising associated environmental impacts. The division manages its environmental performance as part of its broader internal risk management framework. The division also contributes to other Australian Government environmental management and reporting initiatives, as required.

Staffing – Darwin Office and Jabiru Field Station

Environmental performance data, on a per employee basis, have been calculated using a total staffing number for 2008–09 of 64.5 employees–57.5 for the Darwin office (including Parks Australia North staff) and 7 for the Jabiru Field Station.

Electricity

Total electricity use for the division in 2008–09, increased by five per cent. Darwin office electricity use increased by four per cent and Jabiru Field Station use increased by 12 per

5 See www.epeat.net


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was 53 744 megajoules, up eight per cent from last year. This increase is partly due to the reduction in staffing levels, compared to last year. The division is committed to improving the energy efficiency of its operations, through: the use of timers on air-conditioning systems; sensor activated and on demand lighting systems; and improved staff awareness and compliance with departmental energy management requirements. The division is also subject to third party audit of its energy use efficiency as part of its building lease conditions. The division does not currently use green power but may investigate this in the future, when it becomes available in the Northern Territory.

Fuel and Transport

The division’s vehicles travelled 214 736 kilometres in 2008–09 (approximately 3329 kilometres per employee). Total fuel used for the division decreased by eight per cent and distance travelled by vehicles decreased by four per cent. There has been a 24 per cent decrease in unleaded fuel consumption and a six per cent decrease in diesel consumption. This was due mainly to the reduction in the division’s vehicle fleet and some changes to more fuel-efficient vehicles during the reporting year.

Water

Total water use by the division in 2008–09, increased by eight per cent. Darwin office water use decreased by 18 per cent. While Jabiru Field Station water use increased by 25 per cent, the bulk of this water was used by Kakadu Native Plants – a local indigenous-

owned plant nursery that also operates out of the Jabiru Field Station site. The division implements a range of measures to improve its water use efficiency, including use of automated watering systems, dual flush toilets and other water-saving devices.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The division generated a total of 804 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions during 2008–09 (12.47 tonnes per employee), which is an increase of around 2.5 per cent. Most of the division’s greenhouse gas emissions were generated from electricity consumption.

Paper

The division is committed to the use of partly recycled paper for all office printing. It also promotes recycling and reuse of waste paper where possible. A total of 770 reams of partly recycled and four reams of virgin paper (totalling 1.9 tonnes) were used by the division in 2008–09, or approximately 12 reams per employee , representing no change in total per capita consumption over the previous year. Use of virgin paper reduced by 60 per cent compared with last year.

Procurement

The division takes environmental sustainability into account as part of its purchasing decisions but does not record green procurement separately from other purchases. Where possible, the division purchases environmentally friendly and recyclable materials and products. All contractors and other service providers are required to comply with the division’s environmental management policies and procedures while on site.


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Waste

The division generated 19.68 tonnes of waste in 2008–09, comprising: 0.82 tonnes of plastic/glass; 3.50 tonnes of paper/cardboard; and 15.36 tonnes of non-recyclable waste. Recycling of plastic and glass increased by 12 per cent and recycling of paper and cardboard increased by 21 per cent, in 2008–09. There was also a 20 per cent reduction in waste going to landfill. The division provides facilities for separation of recyclable and non-recyclable wastes, including: organic material; paper; toner cartridges; batteries; glass; cardboard; and plastic. Most organic waste is processed through an on-site worm farm, to provide live feed for breeding populations of fish used in research activities.

Environmental Management System

The division utilises a range of measures to manage, monitor and report on its environmental performance. It has developed a draft Environmental Management System (EMS) based on the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO)14001 standard. As implementation of the draft EMS was deferred in early 2009 due to resource constraints, a

number of other strategies for managing the division’s environmental performance were considered. These included: integration of environmental aspects into the division’s broader risk management framework; use of external environmental audits, associated with lease conditions; and review of policies and procedures to minimise potential environmental impacts associated with the division’s field based work. It is anticipated that these strategies will be finalised during the 2009–10 financial year

Performance Tables

The following tables summarise the environmental performance of the department’s four major operational areas in 2008–09:

• head offices in the John Gorton Building, the Burns Centre, Farrell Place and Allara Street in Canberra and the Fyshwick and Queanbeyan warehouses

• Australian Antarctic Division in Tasmania and the Australian Antarctic Territory

• Parks Australia Division

• Supervising Scientist Division in Darwin and Jabiru.


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Environmental PerformanceJohn Gorton Building, Burns Centre, Farrell Place and Allara Street in Canberra and Fyshwick and Queanbeyan warehouses Performance 2008–09

Greenhouse gas emissions

Total greenhouse gas emissions (after offsets) 3,026 Tonnes CO2-e

Total emissions offset (including Green Power) 2,154Tonnes CO2-e

Electricity Use (tenant light and power)

Total electricity consumed 9,393,691 MJ

Total electricity consumed per employee (offices only) 5,566 MJ per employee

GreenPower purchased 6,561,795 MJ

Air Travel

Total distance travelled 20,617,402 km

Total number of flights 19,910 flights

Average flights per employee 10 flights per employee

Vehicle use

Vehicles in use (owned or leased by the organisation) 38 vehicles

Proportion of alternative fuel or hybrid vehicles 34%

Total distance travelled 812,409 km

Fuel consumed (Unleaded Petrol) 28,148 litres

Fuel consumed (E10) 27,597 litres

Fuel consumed (Diesel) 22,305 litres

Paper use

Total paper purchased 27, 615 reams

Paper purchased per employee 13.8 reams per employee

Waste generated

Solid waste generated per employee 79 kg per employee

Solid waste diverted from landfill 95%


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Environmental PerformanceAustralian Antarctic Division Performance 2008–09

General The AAD complied with all applicable environmental laws and agreements, and required compliance with them by participants in activities supported by the AAD, by other Australian visitors to the Antarctic, and by our contractors and suppliers.

The AAD continues to enhance its implementation of measures to prevent or minimise pollution, waste and other human impacts in all environments in which we operate.

EMS The AAD continues to operate a certified EMS to the international standard AS/NZS ISO 14001. This system ensures that management measures to protect the environment are implemented for those aspects of the organisation’s activities most likely to have more than a negligible environmental effect. Australia is a major proponent of this systematic approach to environmental management through the International Committee for Environmental Protection.

For the AAD to meet its triennial recertification requirements, the external auditor undertook a surveillance audit at the AAD headquarters in Kingston and the Cargo facility, during September 2008. This surveillance audit was successful, with the AAD maintaining its certification for a further three years to 30 September 2011.

Energy (electricity) The offices, laboratories and workshops in Kingston consumed 4 228 610 kilowatt hours.

Transport The AAD’s Kingston-based fleet vehicles consumed 16 438 litres of fuel. The fleet includes a Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle.

Vehicular fuel consumption for 2008–09 at the AAD’s four stations, was 131 485 litres.

Greenhouse gas emissions The division’s greenhouse gas emissions totalled 20 906 tonnes.

Water The Kingston site consumed 3442 kilolitres of water. It should be noted that reuse of stormwater for watering the landscaping saved 2 900 kilolitres of fresh water.

The AAD’s three stations in Antarctica and one on Macquarie Island (sub-Antarctic), consumed 5371 kilolitres of water.

Potable water management plans are in place for all stations, monitoring results are recorded in State of the Environment reporting.


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Australian Antarctic Division Performance 2008–09

Waste (including paper) 548 reams of A4 equivalent paper were purchased for use at the Kingston offices and the stations.

The waste returned to Australia statistics for 2008–09 were very different from previous years due to the use of a very large cargo ship, which brought back large quantities of waste materials that had been stored on stations for some time. The old Davis station was also dismantled and returned on the cargo ship, accounting for over half of the total waste tonnage that went to landfill. Of the waste returned to Australia other than the old Davis station, 50% went to landfill, 29% was recycled and reused, 21% was treated and disposed. Including the old Davis station, total waste returned to Australia was 68% landfilled, 18% recycled and reused and 14% treated and disposed.

Green Procurement The division’s purchasing accords with departmental guidelines. The environmental guidelines are under review.

Other Fuel usage for power and heating at the stations was 1 785 661 litres.


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Environmental PerformanceParks Australia Division Performance 2008–09

General More detailed sustainability reporting is provided in the Director of National Parks Annual Report for 2008–09.

Management plans for individual protected areas include environmental management goals and prescriptions. Climate change strategies with actions to minimise carbon footprint, were drafted for Kakadu National Park, Booderee National Park and the Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG).

Environmental performance data for Parks Australia’s staff based in Canberra are included in the department’s results and staff based in Darwin are included in the Supervising Scientist division results.

Greenhouse gas emissions The division’s greenhouse gas emission totalled 6317 tonnes, which is an increase of 4% over last year. This is due to a combination of factors as reported below.

Energy (electricity) Purchased electricity use was increased by 1.6% from last year, across relevant areas of the division.

The ANBG which consume 61% of Parks Australia’s total purchased electricity, continued to source 10% of contracted electricity purchased from Green Power, under a bulk government agency purchasing arrangement.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta recorded a 9.8% increase in diesel used to generate power as a result of a breakdown in the main generator and resultant reliance in a less efficient back-up.

Transport Booderee National Park continued its BioDiesel (B5) trial. On completion of vehicle services, no notable service or operation issue emerged that could be directly linked to the use of biodiesel fuel. External funding for the trial ended during 2008–09.

Diesel use in Kakadu was down 44.9% due in part to a lower number of vehicles being used across the year and a corresponding decrease in travel of 36 349kms.

Waste (including paper) At the ANBG, where statistics are available, 98.3m3 of co-mingled waste and 129.4m3 of cardboard were recycled.

Available data suggests staff used 5.4 reams of paper per person per year, a 3.8% increase on 2007–08.


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Parks Australia Division Performance 2008–09

Water Booderee National Park’s water usage was up 60% due to a leak in the water mains at Bristol Point and Green Patch. Remedial action has been undertaken. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park’s water use was down 8.5%, compared with 2007–08. (The Park and the Mutitjulu community together consumed 72 855 kilolitres). The ANBG consumed 165 965 kilolitres, which is up 7.1% due to a dry summer and high winds.

The ANBG continued to implement its water management strategy, including: the use of soil moisture sensors; latest technology irrigation emitters and drip systems; ball values which reduce low end water loss from sprinkler systems; and valve maintenance to reduce low-end drainage for sprinkler heads. In addition, irrigation infrastructure was altered to reduce the incidence of double watering in some areas, by capping and relocating sprinkler heads Solar powered remote solenoid control units were installed and integrated into the Irrinet system.

The ANBG continued the project to design and construct new potable infrastructure for on-site buildings, to separate out the non-potable water for the irrigation system. In June 2009, agreement was reached with the National Capital Authority and ACT Government, to deliver 170 megalitres of water from Lake Burley Griffin to the Gardens.

Green Procurement Increased awareness and application of Parks Australia’s environmental purchasing guidelines included in the Director of National Parks’ Chief Executive Instructions.


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Environmental PerformanceSupervising Scientist Division (including Policy Services Section, Parks Australia North) Performance 2008–09

Indicator Quantity Measure Change

Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions (GGE)

Total energy use:

Per employee:

962 607 KWh

53 744 MJ

+ 5%

+ 8%

Total GGE:

Per employee:

804 tonnes CO2 e

12.5 tonnes CO2 e

+ 2.5%

No change

Paper use

Total paper used:

• partly recycled

• virgin

Per employee:

774 reams

770 reams

4 reams

12 reams

+ 12%

+ 13%

- 60%

No change

Waste

Total waste generated:

Per employee:

19.68 tonnes

0.30 tonnes

- 16%

Total recycling:

• paper/cardboard

• plastic/glass

4.32 tonnes

3.50 tonnes

0.82 tonnes

+ 19%

+ 21%

+ 12%

Total waste to landfill: 15.36 tonnes - 20%

Total waste diverted from landfill: 4.32 tonnes

Transport – vehicles

Total distance travelled:

Per employee:

Total unleaded:

Total diesel:

214 736 kilometres

3329 kilometres

9797 litres

13202 litres

- 4%

-1%

-24%

-6%

Water use

Total water used: 9575 kilolitres + 8%

• Darwin Office

• Jabiru Field Station

1997 kilolitres

7577 kilolitres

- 18%

+ 25%


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The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts aims to attract, develop, engage and retain quality people to ensure corporate goals are achieved and changing business needs are met.

Results 2008–09• Implemented the government’s new

employment framework, which included new arrangements for agreement making in the Australian Public Service (APS). Commenced negotiations on a new Collective Agreement for the department.

• Conducted the DEWHA 2008 Staff Survey, which provided the basis for a number of departmental priorities for action.

• Initiated a number of key initiatives as part of the department’s workforce planning strategy, to address issues such as an ageing workforce, greater diversity and skills shortages. Initiatives included increasing the number of recruits in the graduate program, continuation of the school leavers traineeship and an intra-departmental Indigenous secondment program.

• Strengthened performance in the occupational health and safety area through a comprehensive review of policies and procedures and the implementation of new health and safety arrangements.

• Implemented a comprehensive leadership program for executive level employees, aimed at consolidating leadership and management skills at the frontline manager level, and strengthening the succession pipeline in the department.

• Continued development of an accommodation strategy for the department’s Canberra employees, which would result in all staff working in a single location.

• Launched the department’s Disability Action Plan 2009–2011. Implementation strategies include stakeholder briefings and seminars to raise awareness in employees.

Workforce planning, Staff retention and turnover

The department initiated its first comprehensive workforce planning process in 2006–07, with publication of the DEWHA Workforce Plan 2007–2009. The majority of strategies from the plan have now been implemented and work has progressed on the development of a new plan, covering the period 2009–2012. The issues of an ageing workforce, succession management and changing economic conditions have been identified as key workforce planning concerns. Workforce planning strategies to address these concerns include: expansion of the graduate recruitment program and continuation of the School Leaver Traineeship program.

The department recognises that workforce planning must be sufficiently flexible to meet changing circumstances. For example, of the 60 graduates recruited in 2008 (a doubling of the program from the previous year), 10 were transferred to the newly created Department of Climate Change at the commencement of their third rotation. The number of people recruited as part of the graduate program was increased to 64 in February 2009, continuing the department’s role as a significant employer


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of graduates in the APS. During their first year, graduates complete placements in three different areas of the department and undertake a comprehensive development program. Strong retention rates and feedback demonstrating high levels of satisfaction with the program have been maintained, despite its rapid expansion.

The school leaver traineeship program introduced in 2008 was continued, following the success of the pilot program. Of the nine trainees who started in 2008, seven completed the program and were offered ongoing employment with the department. In the 2009 program, ten recent Year 12 school leavers are undertaking a Certificate IV in Government course and three rotation placements throughout the department. Once again, trainees who successfully complete the program will be offered ongoing employment with the department.

Two Indigenous graduates were recruited through the Australian Public Service Commission’s centralised program, for the department’s 2009 graduate program. The three Indigenous undergraduate students recruited in 2008 for the Indigenous cadetship program continue to be financially supported to undertake full-time tertiary studies and work in the department during vacations.

The DEWHA 2008 Staff Survey provided information for workforce planning, especially on staff attraction and retention. The survey was conducted from 24 November to 5 December 2008 and sought staff perceptions on a wide range of workplace issues including: leadership; attraction and engagement; communication; working environment; career

development; and business systems. The survey received a total of 1750 responses, an overall response rate of 64 per cent, with the majority of divisions achieving greater than 75 per cent participation. The overall survey results were encouraging: 84 per cent of staff indicated satisfaction with their job and 88 per cent responded that they would recommend the department as a good place to work.

The retention rate for ongoing employees in 2008–09 was 86.5 per cent, compared to 90.3 per cent in 2007–08. The overall separation rate (including promotions and transfers to other APS agencies) was 23.99 per cent, a slight rise from 23.13 per cent in 2007–08. This figure includes the department’s non-ongoing employees, primarily employed to meet seasonal operational demands in the AAD and some of the national parks. Excluding these employees, the separation rate for ongoing employees was 9.45 per cent, a rise from 8.75 per cent in 2007–08. Work commenced in 2008–09 on revamping the department’s induction process, as a further step in reducing attrition, particularly in new employees.

Workforce profile

The department has a diverse workforce, carrying out a range of responsibilities across Australia and in Australia’s external territories.

The department’s workforce statistics are presented in the tables on the following pages. All statistics are as at 30 June 2009.


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Secretary Secretary of the department

PEO Principal Executive Officer. Refers to the Director of National Parks, a statutory office holder.

SES 1—3Senior Executive Service bands 1—3. Includes Chief of Division, Australian Antarctic Division.

EL 1—2 Executive Level bands 1—2. Includes equivalent Australian Antarctic Division bands 7—8.

APS 1—6Australian Public Service levels 1—6. Includes equivalent Australian Antarctic Division levels 1—6. Includes graduate, school leaver and cadet recruits.

RS 1—3Research Scientist (equivalent to APS 6 or EL 1), Senior Research Scientist (equivalent to EL 2) and Principal Research Scientist (equivalent to EL 2).

AMP 1—2 Antarctic Medical Practitioner levels 1—2 (Expeditioner).

AE 1—3 Antarctic Expeditioner bands 1—3.

LO 1—3Legal Officer (equivalent to APS 3—6), Senior Legal Officer (equivalent to EL 1) and Principal Legal Officer (equivalent to EL 2).

PAO 1—4Public Affairs Officer 1—2 (equivalent to APS 3—6), Public Affairs Officer 3 (equivalent to EL 1) and Senior Public Affairs Officer (equivalent to EL 2).


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Employment agreements

New arrangements for making agreements in the Australian Public Service (APS), were introduced by the government from February 2008. A key feature was the prohibition on new Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) in the Australian workforce, while existing AWAs were to continue until replaced or terminated under the Workplace Relations Act 1996. Within the department 18 per cent of staff continue to be covered by an AWA, predominantly at the SES and Executive Levels. The majority of AWAs have a nominal expiry date of 30 June 2009.

Employment conditions for employees not on AWAs are set out in the department’s Collective Agreement (the Department of the Environment and Heritage Collective Agreement 2006–09). This has a notional expiry date of 10 August 2009. Staff who joined the department from the then Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, as a result of

machinery of government changes in December 2007, retain some conditions from that department’s 2007–2010 Collective Agreement.

For new non-SES employees, the Collective Agreement is the principal instrument that sets out terms and conditions of employment. Where necessary to attract quality candidates, supplementary terms and conditions are managed through the use of determinations under the applicable employing legislation (generally a s 24(1) determination under the Public Service Act 1999).

Remuneration arrangements for SES employees are determined by the Secretary, based on individual capacity and job requirements. General conditions were agreed and previously set through a comprehensive AWA. For new SES employees, a determination under s 24(1) of the Public Service Act 1999 is being used to set terms and conditions of employment.

Number of employees under each type of employment agreement

Type of agreement

Classification

Total SES non-SES

Australian Workplace Agreements 53 542 595

Collective agreement (department) - 2668 2668

Other 21 55 76

Total 74 3265 3339


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Base salaries

Classification Collective agreement Australian Workplace

Agreement

Australian Public Service Level 1—2 $35,182 – $44,417

Australian Public Service Level 3 $45,902 – $50,156

Australian Public Service Level 4 $51,664 – $54,810 $51,664 – $54,810



Executive Level 1 $75,868 – $84,158 $75,868 – $91,271

Executive Level 2 $90,891 – $102,299 $90,891 – $114,400

Public Affairs Officer 1 $51,664 – $59,890

Public Affairs Officer 2 $65,445 – $72,099 $65,445 – $72,099

Public Affairs Officer 3 $79,548 – $99,319 $79,548 – $99,319

Senior Public Affairs Officer 1—2 $102,299 – $108,532 $102,299 – $111,532

Legal Officer $47,280 – $69,795

Senior Legal Officer $75,868 – $93,618 $75,868 – $93,618

Principal Legal Officer $99,319 – $105,372 $99,319 – $108,372

Research Scientist $61,688 – $84,158 $61,688 – $84,158

Senior Research Scientist $87,701 – $108,532 $87,701 – $111,532

Principal Research Scientist $111,788 – $122,154 $111,788 – $125,154

Senior Principal Research Scientist $129,483 – $141,491 $129,483 – $144,491

Antarctic Medical Practitioner Level 1 (Head Office) $102,299 – $115,143 $102,299 – $115,143

Antarctic Medical Practitioner Level 2 (Head Office) $118,597 – $129,483 $118,597 – $132,483

Expeditioner Band 1 $44,796 – $59,984



Antarctic Medical Practitioner Level 1 (Expeditioner) $118,597 – $132,483

Chief of Division 1 $124,200 – $143,000

Senior Executive Service 1 $124,200 – $143,000



Note: Does not include salaries relating to the Principal Executive Officer position or the Secretary, as they are not employed under the collective agreement or an Australian Workplace Agreement.


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Performance Payments

In December 2008 a decision was made to end the performance pay scheme for SES staff. SES salaries were increased on a cost neutral basis to compensate for the loss of performance pay, with appropriate reductions for the cost of superannuation.

Some non-SES employees, whose employment conditions are covered by AWAs or s 24(1) determinations, are eligible for performance bonuses. Details of payments made during 2008–09 are detailed below. Payment is linked directly to an individual’s performance assessment outcome.

A table showing performance pay by level, average and range is set out below:

Performance pay for employees up to executive level 2

Performance pay statistic

Classification

APS 1–6 Executive Level 1 Executive Level 2

2007–08 2008–09 2007–08 2008–09 2007–08 2008–09

Number of performance payments

7 1 347 382 233 249

Average performance pay

$4,932.00 $3,366 $4,556 $5,338 $6,685 $6,737

Range of performance pay

$1,215 – $7,417

$3,366 $243 – $13,285

$546 – $10,099

$233 – $12,163

$704 – $17,084

Total paid $34,527 $3,366 $1,581,132 $2,039,456 $1,557,747 $1,677,629

Notes: Performance pay bonus payments made in 2007–08 are for the 2006–07 appraisal cycle. Performance pay bonus payments made in 2008–09 are for the 2007–08 appraisal cycle. Some payments were made on a pro-rata basis as employment did not span the full appraisal period.

Performance pay for senior executive service employees

Performance pay statistic

Classification

SES bands 2 and 3 SES band 1

2007–08 2008–09 2007–08 2008–09

Number of performance payments 22 52

Average performance pay $12,472.00 $7,720.55

Range of performance pay $4,626.00 – $26,400.00

$1,697.00 – $17,160.00

Total paid $274,384.00 $401,469.00

Notes: Performance pay bonus payments made in 2007–08 are for the 2006–07 appraisal cycle. Performance pay bonus payments made in 2008–09 were limited to a small number of SES not affected by the decision to end performance bonuses and roll in a commensurate amount to salary.

Some payments were made on a pro-rata basis as employment did not span the full appraisal period.

Payments do not include the Secretary and the Principal Executive Officer.


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The department’s current performance management scheme has been in place since 2005, although there have been variations in ratings systems for those on the Collective Agreement; those covered by AWAs and s 24(1) determinations; and those who joined from the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, after the December 2007 Machinery of Government changes.

With the vast majority of AWAs expiring at the end of the current performance cycle, the department has taken the opportunity to revise the policy, ratings and template to ensure alignment across all parts of the organisation. The department is also increasing its commitment to identifying and addressing performance issues by providing increased support to managers and employees. Targeted training for managers on performance leadership was also commenced in 2009, building on an enhanced leadership program outlined in the following section. The online recording of participation and ratings, through the employee self service system, commenced to provide accurate statistics and data for salary increases, and to monitor participation in the scheme.

Learning and development strategies

Effective and targeted learning and development strategies continue to be a fundamental element of the department’s ability to retain quality staff, and strengthen our talent identification and succession management strategies. To ensure all staff members have access to the learning and development opportunities needed to

undertake their work, each one is required, under the terms of the Collective Agreement, to have a learning and development plan, which clearly identifies both the learning needs and the solutions.

During 2008–09, the highly successful leadership program for Executive Level employees was expanded to include additional segments, specifically addressing performance. This aimed at delivering skills in how to maximise performance. It directly addressed outcomes from the staff survey, where staff expressed concern that performance issues were not being adequately addressed by managers. Over 350 Executive Level and Senior Executive Service staff members have participated in one or more of the leadership program elements to date.

Other learning and development programs developed to address specific business needs were delivered during the year. They included negotiation skills, ministerial writing and project management.

The department continued to use online learning to educate employees about concepts, business processes and computer applications. The online orientation program, which enables new employees to rapidly gain knowledge of departmental practices and procedures, has been significantly expanded during the year, to ensure that all new staff members are properly inducted into the department, with the expectation that this will reduce attrition in the first year of work. Online IT training programs assist staff members to improve their computer skills. Other online programs have been developed to provide easily accessible training in aspects of finance and security.


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Workplace Diversity sessions were held on five occasions throughout the year, to raise the awareness of existing employees about the importance of diversity, and to increase prospects of retaining a diverse workforce. Work commenced on preparation of a new Diversity Plan 2009–2012 for the department.

A new Indigenous Development Coordinator was appointed during the year, to continue the implementation of the Indigenous Employment and Capability Strategy (IndECS). An Indigenous mentoring program was launched at Indigenous staff conferences held in Jervis Bay and Darwin. The mentoring program is supported by a training program for mentors of Indigenous staff. Four Indigenous Cultural Awareness programs were conducted. The Australian Public Service Commission also ran two of its Indigenous career trek programs, one at Booderee National Park and one at Kakadu National Park.

Staff continued to utilise external development programs, where the focus is on broader management and leadership skill development. Four staff members are undertaking the Public Sector Management Program and a further five attended the Career Development Assessment Centre (CDAC) program of the Australian Public Service Commission. Another two employees are undertaking the Executive Masters in Public Administration, through the Australian and New Zealand School of Government. These courses, along with the department’s leadership development program, are important elements of the department’s succession management and talent development programs.

Rewards and Recognition

The department has developed a range of reward and recognition programs, both formal and informal, to help ensure that initiative, commitment and high performance are recognised in appropriate and timely ways. This includes participation in formal Australian Public Service-wide recognition programs, as well as celebrating department-wide employee excellence by recognising outstanding team and individual performance.

A key program is the annual Australia Day Achievement Awards. Twenty-five awards were announced, for 10 individuals and 15 teams, at the department’s 2009 Award ceremony on 3 February. Award recipients included: an officer who has made a significant contribution to the conservation of Christmas Island’s unique biodiversity, by guiding the Christmas Island Mine Site Forest Rehabilitation Team to deliver a world-class rainforest rehabilitation program; a team award for the National Portrait Gallery for the successful transition to their new building; and to the Leadership Team for their excellent work in implementing a new large-scale Leadership Development Program, for all the department’s Senior Executive Service and Executive Level employees.

A second important cross-department recognition program is the annual Secretary’s Awards. In October 2008, the Secretary presented a total of 50 achievement awards in three categories. The first category recognised 17 individuals for their contribution as effective mentors and role models. Category Two recognised 17 teams for their effective knowledge-sharing and team work. Category Three recognised 14 individuals and two


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for setting a high benchmark for the type of work they do.

Outstanding work was also recognised at a divisional level, with individuals and teams being recognised by relevant division heads, who awarded certificates for contributions to the work and outcomes of their divisions.

Occupational health and safety

The department is committed to providing and maintaining a safe and healthy workplace for all its employees and visitors, in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991. The department’s Health and Safety Management Arrangements (HSMA) and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Policy detail how this will be achieved. Where incidents do occur, the department is committed to supporting ill and injured employees and assisting them to return to work in a safe and supportive environment. This is in accordance with the department’s rehabilitation policy and guidelines.

The focus for 2008–09 has been on establishing the HSMA. This included:

• establishing OHS committees along the changed guidelines

• ensuring all designated work groups are represented by an elected or selected health and safety representative, and

• health and safety representatives undergoing training in their role.

To actively promote a healthy workforce, the department:

• offered influenza vaccinations to all employees

• developed posters on reducing the spread of coughs and colds in the workplace

• conducted the 10,000 step challenge

• provided information sessions on posture and energy, to reduce the risk of manual handling related injuries

• developed and reviewed internal policies and procedures, to ensure currency and to address any new or emerging hazards

• promoted the use of the employee assistance program, and

• addressed the issues of bullying and harassment within the workplace.

In accordance with Section 68 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991, certain incidents are notifiable to Comcare within specific time frames. The following table details the incidents that were notified in 2008–09.

Notice Type Canberra workplaces Parks AustraliaAustralian Antarctic

Division (AAD)

Death 0 0 0

Serious Personal Injury 0 6 7

Dangerous Occurrence 1 3 7

Incapacity >30 working days/shifts 1 0 2


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There were no provisional improvement notices issued by a Health and Safety Representative. During 2008–09, Comcare did not conduct any investigations or issue any notices to the department for Canberra workplaces or Parks Australia. One issue from 2007–08, about an improvement notice at Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, has not yet been finalised. Recommendations are being addressed. Refer to the Outcome–2 Antarctica chapter for further coverage of AAD’s OHS compliance statistics.

Commonwealth Disability Strategy

The Commonwealth Disability Strategy is a framework for Australian Government departments to help them improve access for people with disabilities to government programs, services and facilities. The strategy includes a performance reporting framework built around the five key roles of government: policy adviser, regulator, purchaser, provider and employer. Departments must include reports on their performance in implementing the strategy in their annual reports.

The department’s Disability Action Plan 2009–2011 was launched in February 2009. It is a part of a strategy for changing our business practices to better engage people with disability, and avoid unintentional discrimination. It is an agreement that demonstrates our commitment to improving:

• employment opportunities for people with disability, and

• the accessibility of business premises and/or shop fronts, to enable both employees and clients with disability to enjoy equal access.

Key strategies

In developing the strategies included in the Disability Action Plan, wide ranging consultation was undertaken with the executive and other employees throughout Australia, until the launch of the plan in February 2009.

Following the launch, the department is conducting comprehensive briefings to ensure that all employees with primary responsibility for strategies within the plan are aware of their responsibilities and accountabilities. All employees are being actively encouraged to implement and act on the strategies. Planned awareness raising sessions will also ensure employees are aware of the disability related strategies within the plan. They will encourage staff to foster continued employment and retention of people with disability.

The department has a commitment to ongoing implementation of the objectives and recommendations of the Management Advisory Committee Report–Employment of People with Disability in the APS. The department’s Human Resource Information System includes the recommended definition of disability in the equity and diversity section, where employees are asked to self-identify for any disability. All employees are encouraged to identify their equity and diversity information, based on this definition. Employees who self-identify are contacted to ascertain whether the department can provide any assistance in the workplace, to assist in the management of their disability. The department uses this data to formulate strategies aimed at improving the working environment of employees with disability.


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which opened in December 2008, is a significant achievement in design. It is open, accessible and inviting, with a rich diversity of public spaces on a single level. The gallery provides electric scooters and wheel chairs, to assist mobility impaired visitors. Accredited disability awareness training was provided to staff during the year.

Performance against 2008–09 indicators

The department is committed to strengthening consultation with, and consideration of, the changing needs of both potential and existing employees with disability.

The department’s performance in implementing the Commonwealth Disability Strategy Performance indicator Results 2008–09

Policy adviser

New or revised policy/program proposals assess the impact on the lives of people with disabilities prior to decision.

The department’s newly launched Disability Action Plan 2009–2011, continues to ensure that the department meets the performance reporting requirements established by the Commonwealth Disability Strategy. The action plan also addresses the recommendations of the Management Advisory Committee (MAC) Report – Employment of People with Disability in the APS.

People with disabilities are included in consultation about new or revised policy/ program proposals.

Under the Disability Action Plan, policy developers and reviewers are required to complete a: Checklist for Developing Reports, Policies and Procedures in Consultation with People with Disabilities.

Commonwealth Disability Strategy principles must be addressed before sign off, on both internal and external policies and procedures.

Public announcements of new or proposed policy/program initiatives are available, in accessible formats, for people with disabilities.

Legislation is accessible via the internet at www.environment.gov.au/about/legislation.html.

Additional fact sheets are available on request from the Community Information Unit.

Legislative instruments are accessible via the internet at www.comlaw.gov.au. Administrative instruments are available in the Australian Government Gazette and, where required, on the department’s website.

For information provided on the website, the department is committed to meeting best practice guidelines and the priority-one requirements of the World Wide Web Consortium Content Accessibility Guidelines.


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Regulator role

Publicly available information on regulations and quasi-regulations is available, in accessible formats, for people with disabilities. Publicly available regulatory compliance reporting is available, in accessible formats, for people with disabilities.

Legislation is accessible via the internet at www.environment.gov.au/about/legislation.html.

Additional fact sheets are available on request from the Community Information Unit.

Legislative instruments are accessible via the internet at www.comlaw.gov.au. Administrative instruments are available in the Australian Government Gazette and, where required, on the department’s website.

The department responds to specific requests by fax, email or post.

Purchaser role

Processes for purchasing goods and services with a direct impact on the lives of people with disabilities are developed in consultation with people with disabilities.

Purchasing specifications and contract requirements for the purchase of goods and services are consistent with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, and are available, in accessible formats, for people with disabilities.

Where procurement action is taken through the AusTender site, information is available, in accessible formats, for people with disabilities.

In the purchase and deployment of Information and Communications Technology, the department uses the Assistive Technology for Employees of Australian Government Better Practice Checklist6.

All procurement actions stipulate the need for equipment that is user friendly for people with disabilities.

The department has a user group to address the needs of users of voice activated software. A help desk is also available to assist them. Contracts/licensing arrangements for voice-activated software, ensure that all users of such software within the department are working with the same software version.

Complaints/grievance mechanisms, including access to external mechanisms, are in place to address any concerns raised about procurement.

Purchasing specifications and contract requirements for the purchase of goods and/or services are consistent with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

The department’s procurement guidelines have been updated, to complement the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines issued in December 2008. They are consistent with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

Long and short form contracts both make reference to the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.


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entThe department’s performance in implementing the Commonwealth

Disability Strategy Performance indicator Results 2008–09

Publicly available information on agreed purchase specifications is provided, in accessible formats, for people with disabilities.

The department’s procurements valued at $80,000 or more are advertised and are available for download on AusTender, which meets the Australian Government online standards on access for people with disabilities.

Complaints/grievance mechanisms, including access to external mechanisms, are available to address issues and concerns about purchasers’ performance.

The department has a complaints and grievance mechanism in place in accordance with the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines 2008.

Service Provider role

Mechanisms are in place for quality improvement and assurance.

Service Providers have established mechanisms for ongoing quality improvement and assurance.

Where practicable and safe, access is provided to public areas of Commonwealth parks and reserves. However, physical access to the terrestrial reserves varies according to the nature of the terrain.

Information on parks and reserves is available, in accessible formats, on the department’s website at www.environment.gov.au/parks and reserves and in hard copy from park management.

Service charters have been developed that specify the roles of the provider and consumer and adequately reflect the needs of people with disabilities.

The department’s service charter commits the department to be respectful and sensitive to the needs of all clients.

Complaints/grievance mechanisms, including access to external mechanisms, are available to address concerns raised about performance.

There were no reported access-related complaints received by the department in 2008–09.

Employer role

Recruitment information for potential job applicants is available, in accessible formats, on request.

Applicants are requested to advise whether they require accessible formats when preparing their application. Applicants are also asked to advise whether they require special arrangements during the recruitment process.

Agency recruiters and managers apply the principle of reasonable adjustment.

The department’s recruitment and selection policy and procedures require recruiters and managers to actively apply the principle of reasonable adjustment.

Training and development programs consider the needs of employees with disabilities.

In-house training and development programs incorporate information on people with disabilities, where this is relevant, and ensure that accessible venues are used to meet the needs of disabled participants.


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Training and development programs include information on disability issues, as they relate to the content of the programs.

For in-house training, all internal and external providers must ensure that disability issues are addressed in the delivery of their programs.

Managers are responsible for monitoring whether information on disability issues is provided, when referring employees to individual programs provided by the private sector.

Complaints or grievance mechanisms, including access to external mechanisms, are in place to address issues and concerns raised by employees.

The Collective Agreement 2006–2009 sets out complete procedures for complaints and grievances. These procedures apply to all employees and situations.

Australian Government Information Management Office, Assistive Technology for Employees of Australian Government, Better Practice Checklist No. 22.


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Financial Performance

The two comparison tables below explain the main features of the department's financial performance in 2008–09.

DepartmentalDepartment of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

2007-08 Actuals

$’000

2008-09 Actuals

$’000

2008-09 Variance

$’000

Departmental Outcome 1

Income 348,828 310,535 (38,293)

Expenses (341,859) (314,345) 27,514

Surplus/(Deficit) 6,969 (3,810) (10,779)


Income 111,765 120,733 8,968

Expenses (135,996) (151,254) (15,258)

Surplus/(Deficit) (24,231) (30,521) (6,290)


Income 42,691 66,667 23,976

Expenses (37,004) (60,879) (23,875)

Surplus/(Deficit) 5,687 5,789 102


Income 47,651 56,048 8,397

Expenses (44,391) (57,056) (12,665)

Surplus/(Deficit) 3,260 (1,008) (4,268)

Total Departmental Income 550,935 553,983 3,048

Expenses (559,250) (583,534) (24,284)

Surplus/(Deficit) (8,315) (29,551) (21,236)


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AdministeredDepartment of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

2007-08 Actuals

$’000

2008-09 Actuals

$’000

2008-09 Variance

$’000

Administered Outcome 1 Income 8,937 37,440 28,503

Expenses (789,853) (1,045,891) (256,038)

Administered Outcome 2 Income – – –

Expenses (224) – 224

Administered Outcome 3 Income 3,995 494,419 490,424

Expenses (235,992) (269,018) (33,026)

Administered Outcome 4 Income 548 11,047 10,499

Expenses (113,660) (198,563) (84,903)

Total Administered Income 13,480 542,906 529,426

Expenses (1,139,729) (1,513,472) (373,743)

Summary resource tablesKey to column headings in the previous tables

2007-08 Actuals Actual Income and Expenses for 2007-08 as at 30 June 2008

2008-09 Actuals Actual Income and Expenses for 2008-09 as at 30 June 2009

2008-09 Variance The difference between the actual results for 2008-09 and 2007-08, i.e. 2008-09 Actuals minus 2007-08 Actuals


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entComparison of departmental financial performance with previous year

Funding Class Income Expenses

Departmental Outcome 1 Income decreased from 2007-08 by $38.293 million due mainly to lapsing programs:

• Measures in the energy and climate change action of $34.873 million.

• Conservation of the land and inland waters measures of $16.1 million.

• This was offset by the increase in sale of goods and services of $12.721 million.

Expenses decreased from 2007-08 by $27.514 million mainly as a result of funding decrease in energy and climate change action of $18.862 million and conservation of the land and inland waters of $10.438 million.

Departmental Outcome 2 Income increased from 2007-08 by $8.968 million due mainly to the increase in cost recovered programs of $10.445 million undertaken by the Antarctic Science and Policy, offset by the minor reduction in funding of $1.477 million.

Expenses increased from 2007-08 by $15.258 million mainly in the Antarctic Science program due to additional depreciation and amortisation costs, and continuing costs pressures in logistics and fuel costs.

Departmental Outcome 3 Income increased from 2007-08 by $23.976 million due to the funding commencement of the new 10-year water framework, ‘Water for the Future’.

Expenses increased from 2007-08 by $23.875 million due to the increased funding to support the ‘Water for the Future’ program.

Departmental Outcome 4 Income increased from 2007-08 by $8.397 million reflects the commencement of the National Portrait Gallery and the restructure of Old Parliament House part way through the year.

Expenses increased from 2007-08 by $12.665 million reflects the associated costs involved in Artbank and the commencement of operation of the National Portrait Gallery part way through the year.


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Comparison of administered financial performance with previous yearFunding Class Income Expenses

Administered Outcome 1 Income increased by $28.503 million from 2007-08 due mainly to a grant repayment of $15 million from Point Nepean Community Trust and the gain accounted for due to the recognition for the first time the Halon of National Halon Bank of $13 million.

Expenses increased by $256.038 million from 2007-08 due mainly to the grants and rebates paid under the Solar Homes and Communities, and Home Owner Insulation programs; and the one off loss resulting from transfer of the Point Nepean assets to the Victorian Government.

Administered Outcome 2 Not applicable Not applicable

Administered Outcome 3 Income increased by $490.424 million from 2007-08 due mainly to the gain accounted for in the de-recognition of the Murray Darling Basin Commission investments.

Expenses increased by $33.026 million from 2007-08 due mainly to the commencement of the funding expenditures in the ‘Water for the future program’.

Administered Outcome 4 Income increased by $10.499 million from 2007-08 due mainly to the gain in the de-recognition of the investments in Film Australian Ltd ($4.9 million), Australian Film Commission ($4.2 million), and Film Finance Corporation ($0.6 million).

Expenses increased by $84.903 million from 2007-08 due mainly to the increased funding expenses in Cultural Development Programme, Indigenous Arts and Culture and broadcasting, and Connect Australia.

Financial PositionMeasurement 2007-08 $ million 2008-09 $ million

Assets 584.481 651.442

Liabilities 304.004 354.251

Total equity 280.477 297.191


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entAssets

The written down value of assets administered directly by the department in 2008–09 increased from the previous year by $66.961 million. The primary movements were as a result of bringing the National Portrait Gallery’s building into assets of $84 million, and the decrease in financial assets of $17 million due mainly to the operating deficit for the year of $29.5 million.

Liabilities

Liabilities administered directly by the department in 2008–09 amounted to $354.251 million. This was an increase from the previous year of $50.247 million. The increase was due to an increase in employee provisions and make good provisions for the Australian Antarctic buildings.

Total equity

The department ended the year with total equity of $297.191 million, an increase of $16.714 million from the equity of $280.477 million in 2007–08.

Asset management

The department’s assets are located throughout Australia. The largest material component of assets is attached to the Australian Antarctic Division. Assets continue to age perpetually putting pressure on funding for their upkeep and replacement.

Procurement activities

Purchasing and procurement

The department’s procurement activities in 2008–09 were conducted in accordance with the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines (CPGs). Under the CPGs the core principle underpinning procurement is value for money.

Department’s Procurement Framework

The department has adopted a devolved procurement framework which places responsibility for procurement with the appropriate financial delegate. To support these delegates the department has established Chief Executive Instructions for procurement and provides awareness training; maintains relevant documentation; provides central advice on risk management, probity, specification writing and maintains standard tender and contract templates.

A central procurement cell in the Financial Management Branch provides assistance to line areas conducting procurement and ensures compliance with relevant instructions, policies and procedures.

Department’s performance against core purchasing policies

In 2008–09 the department complied with the mandatory procurement procedures as outlined in the CPGs.

The department advertises tender opportunities through the AusTender website. Our Annual Procurement Plan for 2008–09 was published on AusTender in June 2008 and updated throughout the year. Our Annual Procurement Plan for 2009–10 was published on AusTender in June 2009.

Reporting

The department met the requirement to report on the AusTender website all contracts entered into in 2008–09 with a value of $10,000 or more.


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The department met the requirement to report on the Senate Order on Government Agency contracts for the financial year and the calendar year. All contracts over $100,000 are listed at www.environment.gov.au/about/contracts.

The department met the requirement to report to the Department of Finance and Deregulation on projects requiring Regulation 10 authorisation.

Consultancy services1

The department conducts procurement for consultancy services in accordance with the established procurement framework and in accordance with the CPGs. The selection and engagement of consultants is determined by the principle of value for money.

Expenditure on consultancies during 2008–09

During 2008–09, 264 new consultancy contracts were entered into involving total actual expenditure of $11.65 million. In addition, 112 ongoing consultancy contracts were active during the 2008–09 year, involving total actual expenditure of $9.91 million.

The list of consultancy contracts let in 2008–09 to the value of $10,000 or more is available as a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view the PDF file.

The list of consultancy contracts let in 2008– 09 to the value of $10,000 or more is at www.environment.gov.au/about/publications/annual-report/08-09.

If you cannot access this list, please contact the department to organise a suitable alternative format.

Information on expenditure on contracts and consultancies is also available on the AusTender website, www.tenders.gov.au.

Exempt contracts

During 2008–09 there were no standing offers or contracts in excess of $10,000 (inclusive of GST) exempted by the chief executive from being published on AusTender under the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

Access by the Auditor-General

The department’s standard funding agreements allow for access by the Auditor-General. The long form services agreement allows for such access. The short form services agreement does not include a provision allowing for Auditor-General access. There are a number of other program specific funding agreements some of which don’t specifically mention Auditor-General access.

1 The definition of ‘consultant’ used by the department is the definition in the Requirements for Annual Reports published on the website of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet at www.dpmc.gov.au/guidelines/index.cfm.

http://www.environment.gov.au/about/contracts

http://www.environment.gov.au/about/contracts


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entAdvertising and market research

This section is presented in accordance with the requirements of section 311A of the Commonwealth Electoral Act

Market research

Agency Purpose Expenditure $ (GST inclusive)

GfK Blue Moon ResearchEnergy Efficient Homes Package

$102,025

Wallis Consulting Group Research into communicating about household energy efficiency and regulations

$108,745

Winton Sustainable Research Strategies

Research into communication materials for energy efficient lighting and televisions

$30,140

TOTAL $240,910

Advertising

Agency Purpose Expenditure

Boiler RoomConsumer air conditioner information campaign

*Total DEWHA contribution to campaign $581,839.20

TOTAL $581,839.20

Direct mail

Agency Purpose Expenditure

Canberra Mailing and EnvelopesNational Solar Schools Program

$6,298

National Mailing and MarketingEnergy efficient homes package

$2,926

TOTAL $9,224

*A consumer information look for the tick campaign, conducted jointly with the Australian Refrigeration Council, to alert consumers to leaking air conditioners. The campaign ran from November 2008-January 2009, with a total campaign spend of $949,977.94 (including GST), of which the department contributed $581,839.20.


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Grant Programs

List of Discretionary Grants Programs for the period 1 July 2008 to 31 December 2008

Australian Antarctic Science Grants Program

Australian Antarctic Science Program Grants support high-quality research projects which make a significant contribution to Australia’s Antarctic research program.

Greenhouse Gas Abatement Program

GGAP aims to reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by supporting activities that will result in substantial emissions reductions or substantial sink enhancement, particularly in the first Kyoto Protocol commitment period (2008–2012). The program also aims to improve environmental practices in the motor trades sector, including the management of used oil, recycling of consumables, reducing emissions to air, solid and liquid waste management, water conservation and storage of hazardous/dangerous substances.

Low Emissions Technology and Abatement

The Low Emission Technology and Abatement (LETA) measure will reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the longer term by supporting the identification and implementation of cost effective abatement opportunities and the uptake of small-scale low emission technologies in business, industry and local communities.

Solar Cities

The Solar Cities program provides funding to demonstrate the costs and benefits of solar power, smart electricity technologies, energy efficiency and pricing mechanisms in urban settings.

Renewable Remote Power Generation Program

The Renewable Remote Power Generation Program aims to increase the uptake of renewable energy technology in remote areas of Australia. The program assists in providing an effective electricity supply to remote users; assist in the development of the Australian renewable energy industry; help meet the energy infrastructure needs of indigenous communities; and lead to long-term greenhouse gas reductions.

Education for Sustainable Development Grants Program

The Education for Sustainability Grants Program supports strategic community education activities that are national in focus or that have the potential to act as a catalyst for national change in support of more sustainable practices.

LEAD Group

Funding provided to support the Global Lead Advisory Support Service (GLASS) is targeted at achieving one of the Commonwealth Government's environmental priorities. This priority is to reduce environmental exposure to lead and maintain a comprehensive public resource on lead.


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Famous People

Provides funding to projects for the maintenance of graves of former Australian Prime Ministers and Governors-General buried in Australia and projects commemorating people, events and places of national historical significance.

Historic Shipwreck Program

To assist Commonwealth, state and territory government agencies and the Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology protect and preserve historic shipwrecks and associated relics and educate the public regarding this cultural resource.


The Indigenous Heritage Program supports projects that identify, conserve and promote the Indigenous heritage values of places important to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Projects relating to Indigenous places which are on, or may be suitable for inclusion on, the National Heritage List will be favourably considered.

National Heritage Investment Initiative

The National Heritage Investment Initiative is a four year (2005–06 to 2008–09) grants program that provides assistance to restore and conserve Australia’s most important historic heritage places. Under the program, priority is given to places included in the National Heritage List.

National Trusts Partnership Program

The National Trusts Partnership Program provides assistance to the state and territory National Trusts and the Australian Council of National Trusts to increase public awareness, understanding and appreciation of Australia’s cultural heritage, and to enhance and promote the conservation of Australia’s heritage.

Australian Government's Community Water Grants Program

A community focused component of the Australian Government Water Fund, Community Water Grants support communities organisations, local governments, schools, businesses and Natural Resource Management, regional bodies for on-ground water savings and water quality improvements.

Caring for our Country– Natural Heritage Trust

The Natural Heritage Trust (Natural Heritage Act 1997) is the majority funding source for the Caring for our Country initiative. The initiative aims to achieve an environment that is healthy, better protected, well managed, resilient, and provides essential ecosystem services in a changing climate.

Caring for our Country– Working on Country

Working on Country is a component of the Caring for our Country initiative and provides funding to contract Indigenous rangers to provide environmental services to the Australian Government for land, sea and cultural management. The objectives of Working on Country are to support Indigenous


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aspirations in caring for country, protect and manage Australia’s environmental and heritage values, and provide nationally accredited training and career pathways for Indigenous people in land and sea management, in partnership with industry and others.

Caring for our Country–Environmental Stewardship

The aim of this initiative is to improve the quality and extent of high quality public environmental assets on private land or impacted by activities on private land. Environmental Stewardship will engage land managers in long term contracts of up to fifteen years to manage targeted assets using market-based measures as appropriate. This initiative complements the use of other existing policy approaches such as regulation, grants programs, setting aside land in national parks and reserves and voluntary conservation on private land through covenants and other mechanisms.

A sustainable Future for Tasmania– Mole Creek

This initiative is being delivered through the Mole Creek Karst Forest Program (MCKFP)–part of the Forest Conservation Fund (FCF) established under the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement. The aim of the FCF is to protect up to 45 600 hectares of old growth and under-reserved forests on private land in Tasmania through market based mechanisms. The MCKFP was created through a special allocation of $3.6m announced by the then Prime Minister to protect up to 2400 hectares of forest on private land to protect karst values in the Mole Creek area.

A sustainable Future for Tasmania– Forest Tourism

The $3 million Tasmanian Forest Tourism Initiative aims to assist the development of environmentally sensitive tourism infrastructure in Tasmania by enhancing visitor access and experiences of Tasmania's unique forests.

A sustainable Future for Tasmania–Private Lands

The Private Lands initiative is a component of an overarching program, the Forest Conservation Fund (FCF). The FCF is a voluntary program to increase the private land component of the Comprehensive, Adequate, and Representative (CAR) Reserve system to protect up to 45 600 hectares of old growth and under-reserved forests on private land in Tasmania through market based mechanisms.

Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities

A national program to support world class public good research on the significant environmental challenges that Australia faces, drawing on multiple disciplines, collaboration on existing research strengths.

Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities–The Australian Marine Mammal Centre Grants program

The Australian Marine Mammal Centre is the only national research centre dedicated to the understanding and conservation of whales, dolphins, seals and dugongs. It supports applied research and provides scientific input for marine mammal conservation policy. The AMMC manages a national marine research


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Grants to Voluntary Environment and Heritage Organisations (GVEHO)

The GVEHO program provides administrative funds to help community based environmental and heritage organisations to involve the community in the conservation and protection of Australia's natural environment and cultural heritage.

National Taxonomy Research Grant Program

This program supports the documentation of Australia's biological diversity and facilitates training to increase the national taxonomic effort.

National Reserve System Program (CFOC)

The National Reserve System element of the Caring for our Country initiative meets the requirement under the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity to establish a comprehensively adequate and representative system of terrestrial protected areas.

Indigenous Protected Areas (CFOC)

The Indigenous Protected Areas element of the Caring for our Country initiative supports Indigenous landowners to establish Indigenous Protected Areas on their lands as part of Australia’s National Reserve System. The co-management component of the Indigenous Protected Area element supports Indigenous interests to develop co-management arrangements on existing protected areas.

Indigenous Culture Support Program

The Indigenous Culture Support (ICS) program supports the maintenance and continued development of Indigenous cultures in communities. The emphasis of the program is on participation by members of Indigenous communities in cultural activities and transmission of knowledge and skills across age groups to build sustainable communities. ICS also supports new forms of cultural expression and cultural exchange and projects to increase public awareness of Indigenous culture.

Maintenance of Indigenous Languages and Records Program

The Maintenance of Indigenous Languages and Records program aims to address the steady erosion and loss of Australia’s estimated original 250 Indigenous languages by providing funding support for the maintenance and revival of these languages, particularly through community-based projects.

Indigenous Broadcasting Program

The Indigenous Broadcasting Program (IBP) supports Indigenous community radio broadcasting through direct funding for individual broadcasters, and indirect support of activities such as regional and peak bodies, radio content production and media training for the sector. The program also supports Indigenous Community Television and Imparja Television, Australia’s only Indigenous-owned commercial television service. The program’s main objective is to help provide broadcasting services that promote Indigenous culture and language and inform Indigenous Australians


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on accessing a range of health, legal, education and housing services.

National Arts and Crafts Industry Support

The National Arts and Crafts Industry Support (NACIS) program provides direct funding support to Indigenous art centres and arts support and advocacy organisations. The program’s overall objectives are to assist art centres to become stronger and to build a more sustainable Indigenous visual arts industry.

Cultural Development Program

The department administers a range of programs which support cultural excellence, provide access to cultural activities and promote Australia’s moveable heritage. Funding for many of these programs is collectively grouped under the Cultural Development Program for budgeting purposes and includes:

Playing Australia

National touring program for the performing arts, designed to assist the touring of professionally produced productions across state and territory boundaries, particularly to regional and remote areas, where this is currently not commercially viable and there is a demonstrated audience demand.

Source: Regional Arts section

Regional Arts Fund

A devolved program, delivered by the peak regional arts organisation in each state, and by arts departments in the territories, which supports sustainable cultural development in regional and remote communities though

encouraging the formation of productive partnerships to support home-grown arts activities and the creation of networks, to reduce isolation, exchange ideas and publicise opportunities.

Festivals Australia

The Festivals Australia program provides funds to add new innovative one-off cultural activities to existing ongoing regional and community festivals.

Contemporary Music Touring Program

The Contemporary Music Touring Program supports touring opportunities for emerging Australian musicians and increases audience access to live performances of contemporary music across the country.

Visions of Australia Program

The Visions of Australia Program is the Australian Government’s national touring exhibitions funding program, assisting not-for-profit incorporated organisations and public collecting institutions to develop and tour exhibitions of Australian cultural material throughout Australia, particularly to regional and remote areas.


The Contemporary Touring Initiative (CTI) is part of the Australian Government’s Visual Arts and Craft Strategy. The CTI aims to attract new and existing audiences to contemporary Australian visual arts and craft. The CTI provides assistance to collecting institutions and other incorporated not-for-profit Australian organisations with demonstrated experience in developing and touring exhibitions of visual


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Distributed National Collection

The Distributed National Collection program supports our national collections held in regional and community galleries, museums, libraries and archives. Support is delivered through the Australian National Maritime Museum’s Maritime Museums of Australia Support scheme, the National Library of Australia’s Community Heritage Grants program and the Museums Australia Conference.

List of Grants Programs for the period 1 January 2009 to 30 June 2009Action on Energy Efficiency

Advanced Electricity Storage

Alternative Fuels Conversion Program

Australian Biological Resources Study Participatory Program

Blackburn Lakes Land Purchase

Books Alive

Cape York Welfare Relief


Climate Change Strategy Programs

Community Water Grants

Connect Australia

Cultural Development Program

Film Finance Corporation Australia

Great Artesian Basin Sustainability

Green Precincts

Greenhouse Gas Abatement Program

Home Owner Insulation

Hot Water Rebate Program

Indigenous Art Culture and Language

Indigenous Broadcasting Program


Kokoda Track assistance Papua New Guinea

Launceston Air Quality

Living Murray Initiative

Local Greenhouse Action Program

Low Emissions

Low Emissions Technology Demo Fund

Maintaining Australia’s Biodiversity Hotspots

Marine and Tropical Science Research Facility

Modernising Irrigation

Murray Darling Basin Commission

Murray Environmental Flows

National Cultural Heritage Account

National Heritage Investment Initiative

National Indigenous Television

National Solar Schools Plan

National Trusts Partner

National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns

Natural Heritage Trus –Bushcare

Natural Heritage Trust–Coastcare

Natural Heritage Trust–Landcare

Natural Heritage Trust–Rivercare

Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities

National Environment Protection Council Service Corporation


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Northern Territory Flexible Funding Program

Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Account

Photovoltaic Rebate Program/ Solar Homes

Point Nepean Community Trust

Prime Minister’s Life

Reef and Aquatic

Renewable Energy Equity Fund

Renewable Remote Power Generation Program

Representative Areas Program – Structural Adjustment Package

Restoring the Balance

Scout Hall Water Program

Solar Cities

Solar Homes and Communities

Stewardship Initiative

Strengthening Tasmania Programs

Taking Early Action

Tasmanian Forests

Tasmanian Water Infrastructure

Urban Water

Water Cycle Management Planning

Water Efficiency Western Australia

Water Resources Assessment and Research

Water Smart Australia

Working on Country

Further information on grants awarded by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts since 1 January 2009 is available at: www.environment.gov.au/about/grants/index.html

http://www.environment.gov.au/about/grants/index.html




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Actual Available Appropriations for

2008-09 $’000

(a)

Payments Made

2008-09 $’000

(b)

Balance Remaining

$’000

(a)-(b)

Ordinary Annual Services1

Departmental appropriation

Prior year departmental appropriation 108,690 0 108,690

S.12 Reduction of Appropriation (12,103) 0 (12,103)

Departmental appropriation 475,669 477,817 (2,148)

S.31 Relevant agency receipts3 99,679 67,537 32,142

S.32 Transfer of function to DCC (3,940) 0 (3,940)

S.32 Transfer of function to MDBA (18,565) 0 (18,565)

S.32 Transfer of function to OPH (12,313) 0 (12,313)

S.32 Transfer of function to DITRLG (708) 0 (708)

S.32 Transfer of function to Health (2,108) 0 (2,108)

Total 634,301 545,354 88,947

Administered expenses

Outcome 1 866,019 774,653

Outcome 2 0 0

Outcome 3 676,395 174,263

Outcome 4 208,219 168,985

S32 Transfer of function to OPH (Outcome 4) (11,253) 0

Receipts from NT Flexible Funding Pool

Outcome 1 11,230 9,463

Outcome 4 3,960 3,960

Payments to CAC Act Bodies 408,906 408,906

Total 2,163,476 1,540,230

Total ordinary annual services 2,797,777 2,085,584

Other Services2

Administered expenses

Specific payments to States, Act, NT and local government


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Appendix 1: Agency Resource Statement 2008-09Actual Available

Appropriations for 2008-09

$’000 (a)

Payments Made

2008-09 $’000

(b)

Balance Remaining

$’000

(a)-(b)

Outcome 1 45,000 33,248

Outcome 3 239,522 86,927

Total 284,522 120,175

New administered expenses

Outcome 3 0 0

Total 0 0

Departmental non-operating

Equity injections 1,711 1,214 497

Previous years’ outputs 2,737 2,737 0

S.32 Transfer of function to OPH (206) 0 (206)

Total 4,242 3,951 291

Administered Assets & Liabilities non-operating

Administered Assets and Liabilities 404,643 354,581

Previous years’ outputs 9,567 0

S.32 Transfer of function to OPH (11,777) 0

Payments to CAC Act Bodies – non-operating

61,057 61,057

Total 463,490 415,638

Total other services 752,254 539,764


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Appropriations for 2008-09

$’000 (a)

Payments Made

2008-09 $’000

(b)

Balance Remaining

$’000

(a)-(b)

Special appropriations

Special appropriations limited by criteria/entitlement

Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997 0

Special appropriations limited by amount

Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 S.28

7

Total special appropriations 7

Special Accounts

Departmental

Opening balance 9,961

Appropriation receipts 908

Appropriation receipts – other agencies3 0

Non-appropriation receipts to Special Accounts 6,014

Payments made 6,202

Closing Balance 10,681

Special Accounts

Administered

Opening balance 408,497

Appropriation receipts 386,484

Appropriation receipts – other agencies3 0

Non-appropriation receipts to Special Accounts

7,771

Payments made 381,091

Closing Balance 421,661

Total Resourcing and Payments 4,369,666 3,012,648


Managing the D

epartment

Managing the D

epartment

Appendix 2: Resources for OutcomesOutcome 1: The environment, especially those aspects that are matters of national environmental significance, is protected and conserved

Budget

2008-09 $’000

(a)


$’000 (b)

Variation

$’000 (a)-(b)

Output 1.1 – Energy efficiency and climate change action

Administered items:


Greenhouse Action Abatement Program 1,522 1,419 103


Action on Energy Efficiency 2,220 2,220 –

Tackling Climate Change – Low Emission Plan for Renters – establishment

2,500 2,496 4

Tackling Climate Change – Energy Efficiency of Electrical Appliances

500 500 –

Tackling Climate Change – Green Loans 1,724 690 1,034

Alternative Fuels Conversion Programme – (31) 31

Low Emissions Technology and Abatement Program 1,780 1,695 85

Securing Australia’s Energy Future – Solar Cities 8,361 7,156 1,205

Solar Hot Water Rebate Program 62,800 77,656 (14,856)

Energy Efficiency and Climate Change Action (HIP) 54,351 64,832 (10,481)

Tackling Climate Change – National Solar Schools Plan 69,551 69,551 –

Tackling Climate Change – Solar Homes and Communities Plan

172,252 206,698 (34,446)

Deception Bay Pool 250 250 –



Tackling Climate Change – Solar Homes and Communities Plan

– 292 (292)


Energy efficiency and climate change action 57,121 55,916 1,205



Man

agin

g th

e D

epar

tmen

tM

anag

ing

the

Dep

artm

entAppendix 2: Resources for Outcomes

Outcome 1: The environment, especially those aspects that are matters of national environmental significance, is protected and conserved

Budget

2008-09 $’000

(a)


$’000 (b)

Variation

$’000 (a)-(b)

Output 1.2 – Conservation of the land and inland waters

Administered items:


A sustainable future for Tasmania – Mole Creek 150 139 11

A sustainable future for Tasmania – Tourism Program 289 534 (245)

A sustainable future for Tasmania – Private 14,797 14,826 (29)

Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) Programme

1,992 1,987 5

Community Water Grants 11,197 11,030 167

Environmental Stewardship Program 5,328 4,896 432

Working on country 7,811 7,750 61

Bushcare Penrith 18 – 18

Scout Hall Water Saving Infrastructure Programme 5,884 9,457 (3,573)

Special Accounts

National Heritage Trust – Care for Our Country (Administered)

385,000 396,356 (11,356)


Conservation of the land and inland waters 94,105 93,254 851


Output 1.3 – Conservation of the coasts and oceans


Conservation of the coasts and oceans 39,712 35,320 4,392

Subtotal for Output 1.3 39,712 35,320 4,392

Output 1.4 – Conservation of natural, indigenous and historic heritage

Administered items:


National Trust Partnership Program 911 911 –

National Heritage Investment Initiative 200 199 1

Indigenous Heritage Programme 3,576 3,576 –


Managing the D

epartment

Managing the D

epartment

Appendix 2: Resources for OutcomesOutcome 1: The environment, especially those aspects that are matters of national environmental significance, is protected and conserved

Budget

2008-09 $’000

(a)


$’000 (b)

Variation

$’000 (a)-(b)

Point Nepean Community Trust and rental Guarantee 300 300

Point Nepean Heritage Program – 16,800 (16,800)

Point Nepean Heritage Assets – 61,943 (61,943)

Kokoda Track 3,651 2,258 1,393

Jobs Fund Heritage 6,000 5,999 1

Special Accounts

National Cultural Heritage (Administered) 500 371 129


Conservation of natural, indigenous and historic heritage

22,332 24,986 (2,654)


Output 1.5 – Response to the impacts of human settlements

Administered items:


Biofuels taskforce 100 98 2

National Environment Protection Council 429 429 –

Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities 25,395 25,364 31

Special Accounts

Ozone protection and synthetic greenhouse gas (Administered)

4,127 4,848 (721)


Response to the impacts of human settlements 101,873 104,870 (2,997)


Total for Outcome 1

Administered 895,894 1,045,890 (149,996)

Departmental 315,143 314,346 797

1,211,037 1,360,236 (149,199)

Average staffing level (number) 1,528


Man

agin

g th

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epar

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anag

ing

the

Dep

artm


Outcome 2: Australia’s interest in Antartica are advanced

Budget

2008-09 $’000

(a)


$’000 (b)

Variation

$’000 (a)-(b)

Output 2.1 – Antarctic Policy


Antarctic Policy 48,389 47,927 462

Subtotal for Output Group 2.1 48,389 47,927 462

Output 2.2 – Antarctic Science


Antarctic Science 102,828 103,327 (499)

Subtotal for Output 2.2 102,828 103,327 (499)

Total for Outcome 2

Administeres – – –

Departmental 151,217 151,254 (37)

151,217 151,254 (37)

Average staffing level (number) 379


Managing the D

epartment

Managing the D

epartment

Appendix 2: Resources for OutcomesOutcome 3: More efficient and sustainable use of Australia’s water

Budget

2008-09 $’000

(a)


$’000 (b)

Variation

$’000 (a)-(b)

Output Group 3.1 – Sustainable management of water resources

Administered items:


Water for the future – Restoring the balance in the basin 2,201 590 1,611

Great Artesian Basin 295 273 22

Murray-Darling Basin Commission 4,999 11,969 (6,970)

Murray Environmental Flows 7,500 7,500 –

Water for the Future – Living Murray Initiative 20,061 – 20,061


Great Artesian Basin – – –

Water for the future – The Living Murray 45,033 45,033 –

Water for the future – Restoring the balance in the basin 16,122 16,122 –


Sustainable Management of Water Resources 27,008 25,317 1,691


Output Group 3.2 – Achieving efficiencies in water use

Administered items:


Water for the future – Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure

7,552 10,200 (2,648)

Water Resources Assessment 175 146 29

Water for the future – Water smart Australia 181,953 144,068 37,885

Tackling climate Change – Green Precincts 3,000 500 2,500

Water for the future – National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative

867 620 247

Water for the future – National Urban Water and Desalination Plan

8,703 4,000 4,703


Man

agin

g th

e D

epar

tmen

tM

anag

ing

the

Dep

artm


Outcome 3: More efficient and sustainable use of Australia’s water

Budget

2008-09 $’000

(a)


$’000 (b)

Variation

$’000 (a)-(b)

Water for the future – National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns

1,350 350 1,000

Appropriation Bill 2 –

Water for the future – Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure

7,703 7,109 594

Water for the future – National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns

12,430 12,691 (261)

Water for the future – National Urban Water and Desalination Plan

26,797 6,000 20,797

Special Accounts

Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (Administered)

3,149 1,714 1,435

Environmental Water Holdings (Administered) 152 134 18


Achieving Efficiencies in water use 37,936 35,561 2,375


Total for Outcome 3

Administered 350,042 269,019 (368,238)

Departmental 64,944 60,878 4,066

414,986 329,897 85,089



Managing the D

epartment

Managing the D

epartment

Appendix 2: Resources for OutcomesOutcome 4: Development of a rich and stimulating cultural sector for all Australians

Budget

2008-09 $’000

(a)


$’000 (b)

Variation

$’000 (a)-(b)

Output Group 4.1 – Policy advice, program management and agency support

Administered items:


Cultural Development Programme 56,870 56,006 864

Indigenous Arts and Culture 24,001 23,706 295

NIDA Depreciation 1,714 1,884 (170)

Screen Australia 60,500 60,500 –

Art Indemnity Australia 3,834 1,751 2,083

Indigenous Broadcasting 14,244 13,886 358

Connect Australia – Backing Indigenious Ability 15,881 15,881 –

Public Lending Right 9,029 8,257 772

Educational Lending Right 10,709 10,680 29

A creative Australia – Prime Ministers Literary Award 400 200 200

Books Alive 2,000 2,000 –

NT Flexible Funding Pool – 3,748 (3,748)

Cape York Welfare Relief – 64 (64)

Special Accounts

National Portrait Gallery (Departmental) 1,040 774 266

Art Rental (Departmental) 3,766 3,725 41

Cultural Ministers Council (Departmental) 1,148 216 932

National Collections (Departmental) 888 867 21

Return of Indigenous Cultural Property (Departmental) 1,800 976 824


Policy Advice, program management and agency support 46,950 50,497 (3,547)

Subtotal for Output Group 4.1 254,774 255,619 (845)

Total for Outcome 4

Administered 199,182 198,563 2,702

Departmental 55,592 57,056 (3,547)


Financial Statements


Financial Statem

ents


Financial Statements for the period ended 30 June 2009


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents


Financial Statem

ents


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents


Financial Statem

ents

INCOME STATEMENT for The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts for the period ended 30 June 2009

2009 2008Notes $'000 $'000

INCOMERevenue Revenue from Government 3A 442,667 467,729Sale of goods and rendering of services 3B 93,393 67,072Interest 3C - 225Other revenue 3D 14,644 13,123Total revenue 550,704 548,149

GainsSale of assets 3E 21 373Reversals of previous asset write-downs and impairments 3F - 5Other gains 3G 3,258 2,408Total gains 3,279 2,786

Total Income 553,983 550,935

EXPENSESEmployee benefits 4A 236,701 206,364Suppliers 4B 226,991 225,922Grants 4C 22,551 25,329Transfer funding 4C 44,196 46,617Depreciation and amortisation 4D 37,405 35,232Finance costs 4E 13,218 12,148Write-down and impairment of assets 4F 2,282 7,078Other expenses 4G 190 560Total Expenses 583,534 559,250

Deficit (29,551) (8,315)

Deficit attributable to the Australian Government (29,551) (8,315)

The above statement should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

BALANCE SHEET for The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts as at 30 June 2009

2009 2008Notes $'000 $'000

ASSETS Financial Assets Cash and cash equivalents 5A 12,277 19,315Trade and other receivables 5B 99,361 109,140Other financial assets 5C 191 615

Total financial assets 111,829 129,070

Non-Financial Assets Land and buildings 6A/D 341,462 260,993Infrastructure, plant and equipment 6B/D 175,616 171,163Intangibles 6C/E 14,014 10,759Inventories 6F 7,593 8,360Other non-financial assets 6G 928 4,136

Total non-financial assets 539,613 455,411

Total Assets 651,442 584,481

LIABILITIES Payables Suppliers 7A 2,071 783Grants, subsidies and personal benefits 7B 2,344 3,813Other payables 7C 51,531 49,607

Total payables 55,946 54,203

Provisions Employee provisions 8A 55,566 47,312Other provisions 8B 242,739 202,489

Total provisions 298,305 249,801

Total Liabilities 354,251 304,004

Net Assets 297,191 280,477

EQUITYParent Entity Interest Accumulated deficit (83,282) (56,037)Asset revaluation reserves 253,302 277,386Contributed equity/capital 127,171 59,128

Total parent entity interest 297,191 280,477

Total Equity 297,191 280,477

Current Assets 120,350 141,566Non-Current Assets 531,092 442,915Current Liabilities 107,882 94,918Non-Current Liabilities 246,369 209,086



Financial Statem

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Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

CASH FLOW STATEMENT for The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts for the period ended 30 June 2009

2009 2008Notes $'000 $'000

OPERATING ACTIVITIES Cash received Appropriations 468,635 445,058Goods and services 94,077 78,057Interest - 76Net GST received 17,379 15,161Other cash received 12,850 13,804

Total cash received 592,941 552,156

Cash used Employees 227,015 192,484Suppliers 231,902 244,089Borrowing costs - 68Grants 23,417 25,861Transfer funding 44,196 44,051Cash to the Official Public Account 32,142 - Other cash used 190 113Total cash used 558,862 506,666

Net cash from (used by) operating activities 10 34,079 45,490

INVESTING ACTIVITIES Cash received Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment 191 454

Total cash received 191 454

Cash used Purchase of property, plant and equipment 40,137 29,505Purchase of intangibles 5,122 5,919Total cash used 45,259 35,424

Net cash from (used by) investing activities (45,068) (34,970)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES Cash received Contributed equity 3,951 16,316


Cash used Repayment of borrowings - 1,081Transfer funding equity injection - 15,000Total cash used - 16,081

Net cash from (used by) financing activities 3,951 235

Net increase/(decrease) in cash held (7,038) 10,755

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period 19,315 8,560

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period 5A 12,277 19,315



Financial Statem

ents

SCHEDULE OF COMMITMENTS for The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts as at 30 June 2009

2009 2008$'000 $'000

BY TYPE Commitments receivable GST recoverable on commitments (17,107) (20,762)Total commitments receivable (17,107) (20,762)

Commitments payable Capital commitments1

Land and buildings 639 386Infrastructure, plant and equipment 2,324 365Intangibles 158 17Total capital commitments payable 3,121 768

Other commitments payable Operating leases2 166,621 201,261Project commitments3 4,216 1,703Other commitments4 30,281 25,037Total other commitments payable 201,118 228,001Net commitments by type 187,132 208,007

BY MATURITY Commitments receivable One year or less (5,700) (5,210)From one to five years (8,113) (12,254)Over five years (3,294) (3,299)Total commitments receivable (17,107) (20,763)

Commitments payable Capital commitments One year or less 3,121 768Total capital commitments payable 3,121 768

Operating lease commitments One year or less 39,458 37,781From one to five years 89,407 127,201Over five years 37,756 36,279Total operating lease commitments payable 166,621 201,261

Project commitments One year or less 4,020 1,659From one to five years 196 44Total project commitments payable 4,216 1,703

Other commitments One year or less 27,672 17,737From one to five years 2,609 7,300Total other commitments payable 30,281 25,037Net commitments by maturity 187,132 208,007

The above schedule should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

SCHEDULE OF COMMITMENTS for The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts as at 30 June 2009

NB: Commitments are GST inclusive where relevant.

1. Capital commitments relate to contractual payments for new assets and assets under construction.

2. Operating leases are effectively non-cancellable and include:

Nature of lease General description of leasing arrangements Leases for office accommodation • Lease payments are subject to increases in

accordance with terms as negotiated under the lease.

• The Department's leases for office accommodation generally have options for renewal. Future options not yet exercised are not included as commitments.

Leases for transportation to and within the Antarctic Territory

• Lease payments are subject to increases in accordance with terms as negotiated under the lease.

• The transportation leases generally have options for renewal. Future options not yet exercised are not included as commitments.

Leases for support facilities for Antarctic operations

• Lease payments are subject to increases in accordance with terms as negotiated under the lease.

• The facility leases each have options for renewal. Future options not yet exercised are not included as commitments.

Lease of computer equipment • The lessor provides all computer equipment and software designated as necessary in the supply contract for five years plus for further periods of one or more years (up to a maximum of five years) at the Department's option.

• The equipment has on average a useful life of three years.

3. Project commitments relate to grant amounts payable under agreements in respect of which the grantee has yet to complete the milestone required under the agreement.

4. Other commitments relate to contracts for goods and services in respect of which the contracted party has yet to provide the goods and services required under the contract.



Financial Statem

ents

SCHEDULE OF CONTINGENCIES for The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts as at 30 June 2009


Contingent Assets Claims for Damages or

Costs Total

2009 2008 2009 2008$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000

Balance from previous period 5,697 5,862 5,697 5,862New 365 964 365 964Re-measurement 244 - 244 - Assets recognised - (1,129) - (1,129)Obligations expired - - - - Total Contingent Assets 6,306 5,697 6,306 5,697Net Contingent Assets/(Liabilities) 6,306 5,697


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts SCHEDULE OF ADMINISTERED ITEMS

2009 2008Notes $'000 $'000

Income administered on behalf of Government for the period ended 30 June 2009

Revenue Taxation revenue Other taxes 15A 1,448 1,342

Total taxation revenue 1,448 1,342

Non-taxation revenue Sale of goods and rendering of services 15B 4,425 7,160Interest 15C 1,512 1,074Grant repayments 15D 22,466 3,607Other revenue 15E 194 214Total non-taxation revenue 28,597 12,055

Total revenues administered on behalf of Government 30,045 13,397

GainsOther gains 15F 512,861 83

Total gains administered on behalf of Government 512,861 83

Total income administered on behalf of Government 542,906 13,480

Expenses administered on behalf of Government for the period ended 30 June 2009

Suppliers 16A 70,632 53,118Grants 16B 1,350,789 1,061,624Depreciation and amortisation 16C 6,718 4,660Write-down and impairment of assets 16D 6,747 2,181Losses from asset transfers 16E 59,756 - Payments to CAC bodies 16F 408,906 - Other expenses 16G 18,830 18,146

Total expenses administered on behalf of the Government 1,922,378 1,139,729



Financial Statem

ents


2009 2008Notes $'000 $'000

Assets administered on behalf of Government as at 30 June 2009

Financial assets Cash and cash equivalents 17A 386 67Receivables 17B 25,768 29,253Other investments 17C 7,174,922 7,123,482Other financial assets 17D 434 287

Total financial assets 7,201,510 7,153,089

Non-financial assets Land and buildings 17E/H 35,613 161,322Infrastructure, plant and equipment 17F/H 388,695 - Heritage and cultural assets 17G/H 1,047 5,225Water assets 17I/J 492,160 - Inventories 17K 13,189 - Other non-financial assets 17L 2,312 29,235

Total non-financial assets 933,016 195,782

Total assets administered on behalf of Government 8,134,526 7,348,871

Liabilities administered on behalf of Government as at 30 June 2009

Payables Suppliers 18A 1,829 422Grants 18B 122,641 33,700Other payables 18C 3,821 16,618

Total payables 128,291 50,740

Total liabilities administered on behalf of Government 128,291 50,740



Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents


2009 2008Notes $'000 $'000

Administered Cash Flows for the period ended 30 June 2009

OPERATING ACTIVITIES Cash received Taxes 140 - Sale of goods and rendering of services 4,394 5,532Interest 1,365 1,097Grants cash received 23,746 - Net GST received 59,756 49,024Receipts from levies 1,308 - Other 372 5,799


Cash used Suppliers 88,021 51,850CAC Act body payment item 408,906 - Grant payments 1,292,089 1,074,816Royalties 18,830 18,146Total cash used 1,807,846 1,144,812

Net cash flows from (used by) operating activities (1,716,765) (1,083,360)

INVESTING ACTIVITIES Cash received Repayments of advances and loans 1,946 1,023


Cash used Purchase of property, plant and equipment 851 1,951Purchase of intangibles - water assets 382,044 - CAC Act body investments 61,057 - Advances and loans made 60 1,803Total cash used 444,012 3,754

Net cash flows from (used by) investing activities (442,066) (2,731)

Net increase (decrease) in cash held (2,158,831) (1,086,091)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the reporting period 67 24Cash from Official Public Account for: - Appropriations 1,810,452 824,142 - Special Accounts 381,093 326,414

2,191,545 1,150,556Cash to Official Public Account for: - Appropriations 24,629 54,166 - Special Accounts 7,766 10,256

32,395 64,422

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period 17A 386 67



Financial Statem

ents



2009 2008Notes $'000 $'000

Administered Commitments as at 30 June 2009

BY TYPE Commitments receivable GST recoverable on commitments (57,779) (16,524)

Total commitments receivable (57,779) (16,524)

Commitments payable Capital commitments1

Land and buildings 403 - Other capital commitments 287,345 43,114Total capital commitments payable 287,748 43,114

Other commitments Project commitments2 911,528 337,103Other commitments3 28,236 2,291Total other commitments payable 939,764 339,394

Net commitments by type 1,169,733 365,984

BY MATURITY Commitments receivable One year or less (48,596) (11,423)From one to five years (7,512) (5,101)Over five years (1,671) -

Total commitments receivable (57,779) (16,524)

Commitments payable Capital commitments One year or less 287,748 43,114

Total capital commitments payable 287,748 43,114

Project commitments One year or less 691,973 199,363From one to five years 199,029 137,740Over five years 20,526 -

Total project commitments payable 911,528 337,103

Other commitments One year or less 25,692 2,291From one to five years 2,544 - Total other commitments payable 28,236 2,291Net commitments by maturity 1,169,733 365,984

NB: Commitments are GST inclusive where relevant.

1. Capital commitments relate to amounts payable in relation to the acquisition of water entitlements and land and building.


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2. Project commitments relate to grant amounts payable under agreement in respect of which the grantee has yet to complete the milestone required under the agreement.

3. Other commitments relate to contracts for goods and services in respect of which the contracted party has yet to provide the goods and services required under the contract.


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The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts INDEX TO THE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 2: Events after the Balance Sheet Date

Note 3: Income

Note 4: Expenses

Note 5: Financial Assets

Note 6: Non-Financial Assets

Note 7: Payables

Note 8: Provisions

Note 9: Restructuring

Note 10: Cash Flow Reconciliation

Note 11: Contingent Liabilities and Assets

Note 12: Senior Executive Remuneration

Note 13: Remuneration of Auditors

Note 14: Financial Instruments

Note 15: Income Administered on Behalf of Government

Note 16: Expenses Administered on Behalf of Government

Note 17: Assets Administered on Behalf of Government

Note 18: Liabilities Administered on Behalf of Government

Note 19: Administered Reconciliation Table

Note 20: Administered Contingent Liabilities and Assets

Note 21: Administered Investments

Note 22: Administered Financial Instruments

Note 23: Appropriations

Note 24: Special Accounts

Note 25: Compensation and Debt Relief

Note 26: Reporting of Outcomes


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The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Notes to and forming part of the Financial Statements

Note 1: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

1.1 Objective of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (the Department) is an Australian Public Service organisation.

The Department’s objective is to:

• Advise the Australian Government on its policies for protecting the environment including increase energy efficiency and use of renewable energy throughout the community and water resources;

• Administer environment and heritage laws, including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 2000;

• Manage the Australian Government's main environment and heritage programmes including the $2.25 billion Natural Heritage Trust, which is now known as Caring for our Country;

• Implement an effective response to climate change;

• Represent the Australian Government in international environmental agreements related to the environment and Antarctica;

• Work with governments, industry and community stakeholders to address environmental issues associated with water resource management; and

• Provide policy advice, program management and agency support which promotes excellence in, preservation and maintenance of, and access to Australia’s cultural activities, national cultural collections and buildings, and Indigenous languages.

The Department is structured to meet four outcomes:

Outcome 1 The environment, especially those aspects that are matters of national environmental significance, is protected and conserved.

Outcome 2 Australia's interests in Antarctica are advanced.

Outcome 3 More efficient and sustainable use of Australia’s water resources.

Outcome 4 Development of a rich and stimulating cultural sector for all Australians.

The Department’s activities contributing toward these outcomes are classified as either departmental or administered. Departmental activities involve the use of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses controlled or incurred by the Department in its own right. Administered activities involve the management or oversight by the Department, on behalf of the Government, of items controlled or incurred by the Government.

The following provides a representation of the individual outputs under each of the four outcomes.

Outcome 1

1.1 Response to Climate Change

1.2 Conservation of the land and inland waters

1.3 Conservation of the coasts and oceans

1.4 Conservation of natural, indigenous and historic heritage

1.5 Response to the impact of human settlements


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Outcome 2

2.1 Antarctic Policy

2.2 Antarctic Science

Outcome 3

3.1 Sustainable management of water resources

3.2 Achieving efficiencies in water use

Outcome 4

4.1 Policy advice, programme management and agency support which promotes excellence in, preservation and maintenance of, and access to Australia’s cultural activities, national cultural collections and buildings, and indigenous languages.

The continued existence of the Department in its present form and with its present programs is dependent on Government policy and on continuing appropriations by Parliament for the Department’s administration and programs.

1.2 Basis of Preparation of the Financial Statements

The financial statements and notes are required by section 49 of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 and are a general purpose financial report.

The financial statements and notes have been prepared in accordance with:

• Finance Minister’s Orders (or FMOs) for reporting periods ending on or after 1 July 2008; and

• Australian Accounting Standards and Interpretations issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) that apply for the reporting period.

The financial report has been prepared on an accrual basis and is in accordance with the historical cost convention, except for certain assets at fair value. Except where stated, no allowance is made for the effect of changing prices on the results or the financial position.

The financial report is presented in Australian dollars and values are rounded to the nearest thousand dollars unless otherwise specified.

Unless an alternative treatment is specifically required by an accounting standard or the FMOs, assets and liabilities are recognised in the Balance Sheet when and only when it is probable that future economic benefits will flow to the Department or a future sacrifice of economic benefits will be required, and the amounts of the assets or liabilities can be reliably measured. However, assets and liabilities arising under Agreements Equally Proportionately Unperformed are not recognised unless required by an accounting standard. Liabilities and assets that are unrecognised are reported in the Schedule of Commitments and Schedule of Contingencies. Contingent Liabilities and Assets are included at Note 11.

Unless alternative treatment is specifically required by an accounting standard, income and expenses are recognised in the Income Statement when and only when the flow, consumption or loss of economic benefits has occurred and can be reliably measured.

Administered revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities and cash flows reported in the Schedule of Administered Items and related notes are accounted for on the same basis and using the same policies as for departmental items, except where otherwise stated at Note 1.25.


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1.3 Significant Accounting Judgements and Estimates

In the process of applying the accounting policies listed in this note, the Department has made the following judgements that have the most significant impact on the amounts recorded in the financial statements:

• The fair value of land and buildings has been taken to be the market value of similar properties as determined by an independent valuer. In some instances, buildings are purpose built and may in fact realise more or less in the market;

• In the case of buildings held for specialised purposes, such as buildings located in the Antarctic, and where there is no readily available market price, the value is the ‘depreciated replacement cost’ in accordance with AASB 116 Property Plant and Equipment; and

• The estimated values for make good provisions and related assets have been arrived at on a reasonableness basis.

• Water entitlements are carried at cost where there is no active market. When an active market exists they are carried at fair value.

No other accounting assumptions or estimates have been identified that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next accounting period.

1.4 Change in Accounting Policy

Asset Recognition Threshold for Artworks

In its financial statements for periods beginning before 1 July 2008 the Department applied an asset recognition threshold of $5,000 for artwork acquisitions. Artworks with a value of $4,999 or less were fully expensed in the year of acquisition and recorded in the Department’s Portable and Attractive Items register instead of being recorded in the balance sheet.

As a result of the Administrative Arrangements Order (AAO) of 3 December 2007, responsibility for the Arts function of the former Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (DCITA) was transferred to the Department. The transfer included the activities of the National Portrait Gallery (NPG).

Whilst the NPG was a part of DCITA, all artworks in the portrait collection were recorded in the asset register irrespective of cost. However, the NPG applied the Department’s asset recognition threshold of $5,000 when it was transferred to the Department.

This resulted in a total of 927 individual artworks valued at less than $5,000 being written off during the transfer in December 2007. The impact for the year ended 30 June 2008 was a $1.7 million increase in write-down and impairment of assets expense and an equal decrease in infrastructure, plant and equipment assets for the Department and the NPG.

The Department has removed its asset recognition threshold for artworks for the year ended 30 June 2009. This voluntary change in accounting policy to recognise all artwork as assets in the balance sheet regardless of cost is considered to provide more relevant information to users of the financial statements, and to enhance accountability and reporting of similar assets across the Department, including the NPG.

The removal of the asset recognition threshold in respect of artworks has resulted in a decrease of $1.7 million in write-down and impairment of assets expense and an equal increase in infrastructure, plant and equipment assets for the year ended 30 June 2008.

The change in accounting policy was applied retrospectively in accordance with the requirements of AASB 108 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors. However, comparatives have not been restated as the impact to the financial statements was considered by


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the Department to be immaterial (1% of the total infrastructure, plant and equipment asset class and 0.3% of total non-financial assets).

1.5 Changes in Australian Accounting Standards

Adoption of New Australian Accounting Standard Requirements

No accounting standard has been adopted earlier than the application date as stated in the standard. Of the new standards, amendments to standards and interpretations issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board that are applicable to the current period, the following have had a material financial impact on the Department.

• AASB 2007-9 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from the Review of AASs 27, 29 and 31 and revised AASB 116 Property, Plant and Equipment – require that heritage and cultural assets held by not-for-profit public sector entities that are primarily used for purposes that do not relate to their cultural, environmental or historical significance, should be accounted for as property, plant and equipment. Additionally, AASB 2007-09 and revised AASB 116 remove the requirement to depreciate heritage and cultural assets where these assets have ‘unlimited’ useful lives and appropriate preservation policies apply. Refer Change in Accounting Policy note 1.4.

• AASB 1050 Administered Items – applies for reporting periods starting on or after 1 July 2008. AASB 1050 requires that the broad categories of and amounts transferred to recipients of transfer payments must be disclosed in the financial statements.

• AASB 1052 Disaggregated Disclosures – applies for reporting periods starting on or after 1 July 2008. AASB 1052 requires entities to disclose assets deployed and liabilities incurred that are reliably attributable to each of their activities. Previously AAS 29 only encouraged these disclosures.


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Future Australian Accounting Standard Requirements

Of the new standards, amendments to standards and interpretations issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board that are applicable to future periods, the following have been identified as those which may impact the Department in the period of initial application. They are available for early adoption at 30 June 2009, but have not been applied in preparing these financial statements.

• Revised AASB 101 Presentation of Financial Statements (2007), AASB 2007-8 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB 101 and AASB 2007-10 Further Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB 101 – introduce the term total comprehensive income, which represents changes in equity during a period other than those changes resulting from transactions with owners in their capacity as owners. Total comprehensive income may be presented in either a single statement of comprehensive income (effectively combining both the income statement and all non-owner changes in equity in a single statement) or, in an income statement and a separate statement of comprehensive income. Revised AASB 101, which becomes mandatory for the Department’s 30 June 2010 financial statements, is expected to have an impact on the presentation of the financial statements. The Department has not yet determined the potential effect of the revision to AASB 101.

• AASB 2008-5 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from the Annual Improvements Project and AASB 2008-6 Further Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from the Annual Improvements Project – affect various AASBs resulting in minor changes for presentation, disclosure, recognition and measurement purposes. These amendments, which become mandatory for the Department’s 30 June 2010 financial statements, are not expected to have any impact on the financial statements.

• Australian Interpretation (AI) 17 Distributions of Non-cash Assets to Owners and 2008-13 Amendment to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB Interpretation 17 Distributions of Non-cash Assets to Owners – provides guidance in respect of measuring the value of distributions of non-cash assets to owners. AI 17 will become mandatory for the Department’s 30 June 2010 financial statements. The Department has not yet determined the potential effect of the Interpretation.

1.6 Principles of Consolidation (Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Account)

Subsection 43(1) of the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997 requires financial statements to be prepared for the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Account (NHT). Reporting by the NHT reflects the NHT as a separate reporting entity, with all transactions between the NHT and parties outside the NHT being reported.

Reporting of the NHT as part of the Department’s administered disclosure in these financial statements takes account of the treatment of administered items as a whole and the administered presentation rules as prescribed in the FMOs. The financial statements of the NHT are consolidated into the Department's administered financial statements. Where accounting policies and disclosure requirements differ between the NHT and the Department adjustments are made on consolidation to bring any dissimilar accounting policies and disclosures into alignment.

1.7 Revenue

Revenue from Government

Amounts appropriated for Departmental output appropriations for the year (adjusted for any formal additions and reductions) are recognised as revenue when the Department gains control of the appropriation, except for certain amounts that relate to activities that are reciprocal in nature, in which case revenue is recognised only when it has been earned.

Appropriations receivable are recognised at their nominal amounts.


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Other Types of Revenue

Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised when:

• the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the buyer;

• the seller retains no managerial involvement nor effective control over the goods;

• the revenue and transaction costs incurred can be reliably measured; and

• it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the entity.

Revenue from rendering of services is recognised by reference to the stage of completion of contracts at the reporting date. The revenue is recognised when:

• The amount of revenue, stage of completion and transaction costs incurred can be reliably measured; and

• The probable economic benefits with the transaction will flow to the entity.

The stage of completion of contracts at the reporting date is determined by reference to the proportion of costs incurred to date over the estimated total costs of the transaction.

Receivables for goods and services, which have 30 day terms, are recognised at the nominal amounts due less any impairment allowance account. Collectability of debts is reviewed at balance date. Allowances are made when collectability of the debt is no longer probable.

Interest revenue is recognised using the effective interest method as set out in AASB 139 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement.

1.8 Gains

Resources Received Free of Charge

Resources received free of charge are recognised as gains when and only when a fair value can be reliably determined and the services would have been purchased if they had not been donated. Use of those resources is recognised as an expense.

Contributions of assets at no cost of acquisition or for nominal consideration are recognised as gains at their fair value when the asset qualifies for recognition, unless received from another government Department as a consequence of a restructuring of administrative arrangements (Refer to Note 1.9).

Resources received free of charge are recorded as either revenue or gains depending on their nature.

Sale of Assets

Gains from disposal of non-current assets are recognised when control of the asset has passed to the buyer.

1.9 Transactions with the Government as Owner

Equity Injections

Amounts appropriated which are designated as ‘equity injections’ for a year (less any formal reductions) are recognised directly in Contributed Equity in that year.

Restructuring of Administrative Arrangements

Net assets received from or relinquished to another Australian Government agency or authority under a restructuring of administrative arrangements are adjusted at their book value directly against Contributed Equity.


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Other Distributions to Owners

The FMOs require that distributions to owners be debited to Contributed Equity unless in the nature of a dividend. There was no distribution to owners during 2008-09 (2007-08: nil).

1.10 Employee Benefits

Liabilities for services rendered by employees are recognised at the reporting date to the extent that they have not been settled.

Liabilities for ‘short-term employee benefits’ (as defined in AASB 119 Employee Benefits) and termination benefits due within twelve months of balance date are measured at their nominal amounts.

The nominal amount is calculated with regard to the rates expected to be paid on settlement of the liability.

All other employee benefit liabilities are measured as the present value of the estimated future cash outflows to be made in respect of services provided by employees up to the reporting date.

Leave

The liability for employee benefits includes provision for annual leave and long service leave. No provision has been made for sick leave as all sick leave is non-vesting and the average sick leave taken in future years by employees of the Department is estimated to be less than the annual entitlement for sick leave.

The leave liabilities are calculated on the basis of employees’ remuneration for the estimated salary rates that applied at the time the leave is taken, including the Department’s employer superannuation contribution rates to the extent that the leave is likely to be taken during service rather than paid out on termination.

The liability for long service leave was determined by reference to the work of an actuary as at 30 June 2008. The estimate of the present value of the liability takes into account attrition rates and pay increases through promotion and inflation.

Separation and Redundancy

Provision is made for separation and redundancy benefit payments. The Department recognises a provision for termination when it has developed a detailed formal plan for the terminations and has informed those employees affected that it will carry out the terminations.

Superannuation

Staff of the Department are members of the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme (CSS), the Public Sector Superannuation Scheme (PSS) or the PSS accumulation plan (PSSap).

The CSS and PSS are defined benefit schemes for the Australian Government. The PSSap is a defined contribution scheme.

The liability for defined benefits is recognised in the financial statements of the Australian Government and is settled by the Australian Government in due course. This liability is reported by the Department of Finance and Deregulation as an administered item.

The Department makes employer contributions to the employee superannuation scheme at rates determined by an actuary to be sufficient to meet the current cost to the Government of the superannuation entitlements of the Department’s employees. The Department accounts for the contributions as if they were contributions to defined contribution plans.

The liability for superannuation recognised as at 30 June represents outstanding contributions for the final fortnight of the year.


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1.11 Leases

A distinction is made between finance leases and operating leases. Finance leases effectively transfer from the lessor to the lessee substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of leased non-current assets. An operating lease is a lease that is not a finance lease. In operating leases, the lessor effectively retains substantially all such risks and benefits.

The Department holds operating leases only. Operating lease payments are expensed on a straight line basis which is representative of the pattern of benefits derived from the leased assets.

1.12 Grants

The Department administers a number of diverse grant schemes.

Grant liabilities are recognised to the extent that:

(i) the services required to be performed by the grantee have been performed; or

(ii) the grant eligibility criteria have been satisfied, but payments due have not been made.

A commitment is recorded when the Department enters into an agreement to make grants but services have not been performed or criteria satisfied.

1.13 Borrowing Costs

All borrowing costs are expensed as incurred.

1.14 Cash

Cash and cash equivalents includes notes and coins held and any deposits in bank accounts with an original maturity of three months or less that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and subject to insignificant risk of changes in value. Cash is recognised at its nominal amount.

1.15 Financial Assets

The Department has classified its financial assets as ‘loans and receivables’.

The classification depends on the nature and purpose of the financial assets and is determined at the time of initial recognition.

Financial assets are recognised and derecognised upon trade date.

Effective Interest Method

The effective interest method is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a financial asset and of allocating interest income over the relevant period. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts through the expected life of the financial asset, or, where appropriate, a shorter period.

Income is recognised on an effective interest rate basis.

Loans and Receivables

Trade receivables, loans and other receivables that have fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market are classified as ‘loans and receivables’. They are included in current assets, except for maturities greater than 12 months after the balance sheet date. These are classified as non current assets. Loans and receivables are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method less impairment. Interest is recognised by applying the effective interest rate.


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Impairment of Financial Assets

Financial assets are assessed for impairment at each balance date.

Financial assets held at amortised cost – if there is objective evidence that an impairment loss has been incurred for loans and receivables held at amortised cost, the amount of the loss is measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The carrying amount is reduced by way of an allowance account. The loss is recognised in the income statement.

1.16 Financial Liabilities

The Department has classified its financial liabilities as ‘other financial liabilities’. The Department does not have any financial liabilities ‘at fair value through profit or loss’.

Financial liabilities are recognised and derecognised upon ‘trade date’.

Other Financial Liabilities

Other financial liabilities consist of trade creditors and grants payable. Other financial liabilities are initially measured at fair value, net of transaction costs.

Other financial liabilities are subsequently measured at amortised cost. Liabilities are recognised to the extent that the goods or services have been received (and irrespective of having been invoiced).

1.17 Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets

Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets are not recognised in the Balance Sheet but are reported in the relevant schedules and notes. They may arise from uncertainty as to the existence of a liability or asset or represent an asset or liability in respect of which the amount cannot be reliably measured. Contingent assets are disclosed when settlement is probable but not virtually certain and contingent liabilities are disclosed when settlement is greater than remote.

1.18 Acquisition of Assets

Assets are recorded at cost on acquisition except as stated below. The cost of acquisition includes the fair value of assets transferred in exchange and liabilities undertaken. Financial assets are initially measured at their fair value plus transaction costs where appropriate.

Assets acquired at no cost, or for nominal consideration, are initially recognised as assets and income at their fair value at the date of acquisition, unless acquired as a consequence of restructuring of administrative arrangements. In the latter case, assets are initially recognised as contributions by owners at the amounts at which they were recognised in the transferor agency’s accounts immediately prior to the restructuring.

1.19 Property, Plant and Equipment (PP&E)

Asset Recognition Threshold

Purchases of property, plant and equipment are recognised initially at cost in the Balance Sheet, except for purchases costing less than the following asset thresholds which are expensed in the year of acquisition (other than where they form part of a group of similar items which are significant in total).


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Asset Class Recognition Threshold

Buildings $10,000

Leasehold improvements $50,000

Plant and equipment $5,000

Artworks $nil

The initial cost of an asset includes an estimate of the cost of dismantling and removing the item and restoring the site on which it is located. This is particularly relevant to make good provisions in property leases taken up by the Department where there exists an obligation to restore the property to its original condition and restitution obligations in the Antarctic where there exists an international obligation to clean-up abandoned work sites, buildings and infrastructure. These costs are included in the value of the Department’s leasehold improvements and Antarctic assets with a corresponding provision for the ‘makegood’ recognised.

Revaluations

Fair values for each class of asset are determined as shown below:

Asset Class Fair value measured at

Land Market selling price

Buildings Market selling price or, in the case of specialised assets, depreciated replacement cost

Leasehold improvements Depreciated replacement cost

Plant and equipment Market selling price or, in the case of specialised assets, depreciated replacement cost

Heritage and cultural assets Market selling price

Following initial recognition at cost, property, plant and equipment are carried at fair value less subsequent accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Valuations are conducted with sufficient frequency to ensure that the carrying amounts of assets do not differ materially from the assets’ fair values as at the reporting date. The regularity of independent valuations depends upon the volatility of movements in market values for the relevant assets.

A revaluation of artworks is conducted annually.

Revaluation adjustments are made on a class basis. Any revaluation increment is credited to equity under the heading of asset revaluation reserve except to the extent that it reverses a previous revaluation decrement of the same asset class that was previously recognised through operating result. Revaluation decrements for a class of assets are recognised directly through operating result except to the extent that they reverse a previous revaluation increment for that class.

Any accumulated depreciation as at the revaluation date is eliminated against the gross carrying amount of the asset and the asset restated to the revalued amount.

A revaluation of the artworks was conducted as at 30 June 2009. All valuations are conducted by an independent qualified valuer.


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Depreciation

Depreciable property, plant and equipment assets are written-off to their estimated residual values over their estimated useful lives to the Department using, in all cases, the straight-line method of depreciation.

Depreciation rates (useful lives), residual values and methods are reviewed at each reporting date and necessary adjustments are recognised in the current, or current and future reporting periods, as appropriate.

Depreciation rates applying to each class of depreciable asset are based on the following useful lives:

2009 2008

Buildings on freehold land

30 to 50 years 30 to 50 years

Leasehold improvements

Lease term Lease term

Plant and equipment

2 to 50 years 2 to 50 years

The aggregate amount of depreciation allocated for each class of asset during the reporting period is disclosed in Note 4D.

Impairment

All assets were assessed for impairment at 30 June 2009. Where indications of impairment exist, the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated and an impairment adjustment made if the asset’s recoverable amount is less than its carrying amount.

The recoverable amount of an asset is the higher of its fair value less costs to sell and its value inuse. Value in use is the present value of the future cash flows expected to be derived from the asset. Where the future economic benefit of an asset is not primarily dependent on the asset’s ability to generate future cash flows, and the asset would be replaced if the Department were deprived of the asset, its value in use is taken to be its depreciated replacement cost.

No indicators of impairment were found for assets at fair value.

1.20 Intangibles

The Department’s intangibles comprise internally developed software for internal use. These assets are carried at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.

Software is amortised on a straight-line basis over its anticipated useful life. The useful lives of the Department’s software are 3 to 17 years (2007-08: 3 to 17 years).

All software assets were assessed for indications of impairment as at 30 June 2009.


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1.21 Inventories

Inventories held for sale are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

Inventories held for distribution are valued at cost, adjusted for any loss of service potential.

Costs incurred in bringing each item of inventory to its present location and conditions are assigned as follows:

• raw materials and stores – purchase cost on a first-in-first-out basis;

• fuel – weighted average cost; and

• finished goods and work in progress – cost of direct materials and labour plus attributable costs that are capable of being allocated on a reasonable basis.

Inventories acquired at no cost or nominal considerations are measured at current replacement cost at the date of acquisition.

1.22 Make Good Provisions

A provision for make good is recognised if, as a result of a past event, the Department has a present obligation (legal or constructive) that can be estimated reliably and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation. Make good provisions are measured at the best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the present obligation at the reporting date, including the risks and uncertainties specific to the liabilities.

Make good provisions are discounted to present value when the time value of money is material. Increases in present value are recognised as borrowing costs.

Provisions are reviewed at each reporting date and adjusted to reflect the current best estimate.

Provision for Antarctic Base Restitution

Australia is required by the Madrid Protocol to remove all accumulated waste from the Antarctic Territories. A process of gradual removal is in effect. The provision for Antarctic Base restitution is for the estimated future costs of this obligation and is derived from an expert valuation which provides a “best estimate” in accordance with AASB 137 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets.

Provision for Make Good – Antarctic Regions

This provision represents the estimated future costs of making good Australian Antarctic Territories upon which premises occupied by the Department are located. The obligation to make good arises from the requirements of the Madrid Protocol. The estimated future costs represent the cost of decommissioning, dismantling, and expatriation to Australia of all building and associated materials and the cost of site rehabilitation. Buildings and buildings support infrastructure are decommissioned and replaced on an ongoing basis, infrequently, and the majority of costs will be incurred during any major Antarctic Base rebuilding program. The provision is derived from an expert valuation and a costing model which provides a “best estimate” in accordance with AASB 137 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets.

Provision for Make Good – Other Localities

This provision represents the estimated costs of making good leasehold premises occupied by the Department at the John Gorton Building, Barton ACT, 5 Farrell Place Canberra ACT, 33 Allara Street, Canberra ACT, Temperate Marine Conservation Branch in Kingston Tasmania and the office of the Supervising Scientist Division in Darwin, NT. The provision is derived from an expert valuation which provides a “best estimate” in accordance with AASB 137 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets.


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1.23 Taxation

The Department is exempt from all forms of taxation except Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) and the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of GST:

• except where the amount of GST incurred is not recoverable from the Australian Taxation Office; and

• except for receivables and payables.

1.24 Northern Territory Flexible Funding Pool (NTFFP) Special Account

Financial Management and Accountability Determination 2007/21 established the NTFFP Special Account under subsection 20(1) of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (FMA Act) to develop, promote, assist or implement employment creation initiatives in relation to the Northern Territory Emergency Response.

The NTFFP Special Account is managed by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).

Interim arrangements in the 2007-08 financial year required FaHCSIA to make payments out of the NTFFP Special Account directly to third parties on behalf of the Department. These payments are reflected in the Special Account in Note 24 only.

Subsequent arrangements in the 2008-09 financial year required FaHCSIA to make payments out of the NTFFP Special Account directly to the Department. Administered amounts received from the NTFFP Special Account are treated as appropriations under section 15 of Appropriation Act (No. 3) 2008-09 whilst departmental amounts received from the NTFFP Special Account are receipted under section 31 of the FMAAct.

1.25 Reports of Administered Activities

Administered revenues, expenses, assets, liabilities and cash flows are disclosed in the Schedule of Administered Items and related notes.

Except where otherwise stated below, administered items are accounted for on the same basis and using the same policies as for departmental items, including the application of Australian Accounting Standards.

Administered Cash Transfers to and from Official Public Account

Revenue collected by the Department for use by the Government rather than the Department is Administered Revenue. Collections are transferred to the Official Public Account (OPA) maintained by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. Conversely, cash is drawn from the OPA to make payments under Parliamentary appropriation on behalf of Government.

These transfers to and from the OPA are adjustments to the administered cash held by the Department on behalf of the Government and reported as such in the Administered Cash Flows in the Schedule of Administered Items and in the Administered Reconciliation Table in Note 19. The Schedule of Administered Items largely reflects the Government’s transactions, through the Department, with parties outside the Government.

Revenue

All administered revenues are revenues relating to the course of ordinary activities performed by the Department on behalf of the Australian Government.


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Collectability of debts is reviewed at balance date. Allowances are made when collectability of the debt is judged to be less rather than more likely.

Intangible Assets

Water entitlements are carried at cost where there is no active market. When an active market exists they are carried at fair value. These assets are assessed as having an indefinite useful life. Water entitlements are tested for impairment annually as per AASB 136 Impairment of Assets. Impairment testing of water entitlements held by the Department occurs on 30 June each year.

Loans and Receivables

Where loans and receivables are not subject to concessional treatment, they are carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Gains and losses due to impairment, derecognition and amortisation are recognised through surplus and deficit.

Administered Investments

Administered investments in controlled entities are not consolidated because their consolidation is relevant only at the Whole of Government level.

Administered investments other than those held for sale are classified as available for sale and are measured at their fair value as at 30 April 2009. Fair value is also reviewed for material changes as at 30 June 2009. Fair value has been taken to be the net assets of the entities as at balance date.

For the comparative period administered investments were measured on the net asset method, adjusted for any subsequent capital injections or withdrawals and for any impairment losses.

Administered investments were assessed for impairment at 30 June 2009. No indicators of impairment were noted.

Land and Buildings

The Department from time to time holds various assets to account for Government decisions to transfer certain Land and Buildings. During 2008-09 two properties have been accounted for including:

• Macquarie Light Station (NSW) • Point Nepean (VIC)

Macquarie Light Station was vested to the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust on 1 July 2008.

Point Nepean Land and Buildings were transferred to the Victorian Government on 8 June 2009.

Grants and Subsidies

The Department administers a number of grant and subsidy schemes on behalf of the Government

Grant and subsidy liabilities are recognised to the extent that (i) the services required to be performed by the grantee have been performed or (ii) the grant eligibility criteria have been satisfied, but payments due have not been made. A commitment is recorded when the Government enters into an agreement to make these grants but services have not been performed or criteria satisfied.

Payments to CAC Act Bodies

From 2008-09, payments to CAC Act bodies from amounts appropriated for that purpose are classified as administered expenses of the relevant portfolio department. The appropriation to the Department is disclosed in Note 23: Appropriations Tables A and B.

National Halon Bank

In accordance with the Government’s National Halon Management Strategy, the Government operates the National Halon Bank. Halons are fire-fighting agents whose ozone depleting potential is ten times greater than that of chlorofluorocarbons. Under State and Territory legislation, the


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Notes to and forming part of the Financial Statements continued use of halon in non-essential equipment has been banned.

The National Halon Bank stores decommissioned halon for destruction or reclamation, and to meet Australia’s essential use needs until the year 2030 or until an alternative is found for all current uses.

There are four categories of Halon holdings:

• Strategic reserve;

• Waste halon;

• Clean halon; and

• Other halon still in cylinders

The halon stored in the National Halon Bank is a resource controlled by the Government and from which economic benefits are expected to flow to the Government. The current holdings of halon are recognised as inventory.

Note 2: Events after the Balance Sheet Date

There are no known events occurring after balance date that could impact on the financial statements.


Financial Statem

ents

Note 3: Income

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Revenue

Note 3A: Revenue from Government

Appropriations: Departmental outputs 442,667 467,729Total revenue from Government 442,667 467,729

Note 3B: Sale of Goods and Rendering of Services

Provision of goods – related entities - 6Provision of goods – external parties 293 118Rendering of services – related entities 80,379 55,716Rendering of services – external parties 12,721 11,232Total sale of goods and rendering of services 93,393 67,072

Note 3C: Interest

Deposits - 225Total interest - 225

Note 3D: Other Revenue

Grants received 8,043 4,546Miscellaneous revenue 5,303 6,942Insurance recoveries 316 1,350Repayments of prior years expenditure 982 285Total other revenue 14,644 13,123


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Gains

Note 3E: Sale of Assets

Infrastructure, plant and equipment Proceeds from sale 47 38 Carrying value of assets sold (170) (81)Net gain/(loss) from infrastructure, plant and equipment (123) (43)

Non-listed assets (Below recognition threshold) Proceeds from sale 144 416Net gain/(loss) from non-listed assets 144 416

Net gain/(loss) from sale of assets 21 373

Note 3F: Reversals of Previous Asset Write-Downs and Impairments

Asset revaluation increment Doubtful debts received - receivables - 5Total reversals of previous asset write-downs and impairments - 5

Note 3G: Other Gains

Resources received free of charge 688 620Write-down of provisions and payables 2,570 1,788Total other gains 3,258 2,408


Financial Statem

ents

Note 4: Expenses

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Note 4A: Employee Benefits

Wages and salaries 167,792 143,925Superannuation: Defined contribution plans 7,420 4,367 Defined benefit plans 24,356 24,004Leave and other entitlements 36,912 33,880Separations and redundancies 221 188Total employee benefits 236,701 206,364

Note 4B: Suppliers

Provision of goods – related entities - 432Provision of goods – external parties 24,433 20,755Rendering of services – related entities 2,044 21,023Rendering of services – external parties 148,616 138,727Operating lease rentals – external parties: Minimum lease repayments 49,768 41,967Workers compensation premiums 2,130 3,018Total supplier expenses 226,991 225,922

Note 4C: Grants and Transfer Funding

Public sector: Australian Government Entities (related Entities) 3,861 5,109 State and Territory Governments 8,665 8,163 Local Governments 295 9Private sector: Non-profit organisations 7,400 4,073 Profit-making entities 162 3,077 Universities 1,111 1,159 Individuals 25 603Overseas 1,032 3,136Total grants 22,551 25,329

Payment to the Director of National Parks 44,196 44,051Payment to Murray Darling Basin Authority - 2,566

Total transfer funding 44,196 46,617


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Note 4D: Depreciation and Amortisation

Depreciation: Infrastructure, plant and equipment 15,038 14,511 Buildings 20,777 18,648 Leasehold Improvements 142 - Total depreciation 35,957 33,159

Amortisation: Intangibles: Internally developed software 623 1,378 Purchased software 825 695Total amortisation 1,448 2,073

Total depreciation and amortisation 37,405 35,232

Note 4E: Finance Costs

Loans - 4Unwinding of discount 13,218 12,144Total finance costs 13,218 12,148

Note 4F: Write-Down and Impairment of Assets

Asset write-downs and impairments from: Financial assets: Bad and doubtful debts 567 505 Non-financial assets: Write-down / impairment of property, plant and equipment 824 3,600 Write-down / impairment on intangible assets 534 2,417 Write-down / impairment on land and buildings 54 556 Write-down of inventories 303 - Total write-down and impairment of assets 2,282 7,078

Note 4G: Other Expenses

Assets provided free of charge - 446Miscellaneous expenses 190 114Total other expenses 190 560


Financial Statem

ents

Note 5: Financial Assets

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Note 5A: Cash and cash equivalents

Cash on hand 3,003 3,768Deposits 9,274 15,547Total cash and cash equivalents 12,277 19,315


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Note 5B: Trade and other receivables

Goods and services - related entities 8,847 9,327Goods and services - external parties 1,828 -

Total receivables for goods and services 10,675 9,327Appropriation receivable: for existing outputs 84,438 95,129

Total appropriations receivable 84,438 95,129GST receivable from the Australian Taxation Office 4,637 5,201Other receivables 553 235

Total trade and other receivables (gross) 100,303 109,892

Less impairment allowance account: Goods and services (857) (752) Other (85) -

Total trade and other receivables (net) 99,361 109,140

Receivables are represented by: Current 99,361 109,140Non-current - -

Total trade and other receivables (net) 99,361 109,140

Receivables are aged as follows: Not overdue 97,363 106,388Overdue by: Less than 30 days 234 1,289 30 to 60 days 173 515 61 to 90 days 192 475 More than 90 days 2,341 1,225

Total receivables (gross) 100,303 109,892

The impairment allowance account is aged as follows: Not overdue - - Overdue by: More than 90 days (942) (752)Total impairment allowance account (942) (752)

Credit terms are generally net 30 days (2008: 30 days). No interest rate applies and payments are generally one-off. Appropriations receivable are appropriations controlled by the Department but held in the Official Public Account under the Government’s just-in-time drawdown arrangements.


Financial Statem

ents

Reconciliation of the impairment allowance account:

Movement in relation to 2009 Goods and

services 2009

Otherreceivables

2009 Total 2009

$'000 $'000 $'000Opening balance (86) (666) (752) Amounts written off - - - Amounts recovered and reversed 267 672 939 (Increase)/decrease recognised in net surplus (1,038) (90) (1,128)Closing balance (857) (85) (942)

Movement in relation to 2008 Goods and

services 2008

Otherreceivables

2008 Total 2008

$'000 $'000 $'000Opening balance (189) (76) (265) Amounts written off 15 - 15 Amounts recovered and reversed 3 - 3 (Increase)/decrease recognised in net surplus 85 (590) (505)Closing balance (86) (666) (752)

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Note 5C: Other Financial AssetsAccrued revenue – goods and services 191 615Total other financial assets 191 615


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

Note 6: Non-Financial Assets

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Note 6A: Land and Buildings

Freehold land at gross carrying value (at fair value) 240 240Buildings on freehold land: Work in progress 101,866 5,462 Fair value 267,666 265,463 Accumulated depreciation (53,596) (32,927)Total buildings on freehold land 316,176 238,238

Leasehold improvements: Work in progress 355 850 Fair value 32,726 29,559 Accumulated depreciation (7,795) (7,654)Total leasehold improvements 25,286 22,755

Total land and buildings (non-current) 341,462 260,993

All revaluations are independent and are conducted in accordance with the revaluation policy stated in Note 1.

No revaluations increments for land (2008: Nil) on freehold land (2008: Nil) were credited to the asset revaluation reserve by class and included in the equity section of the balance sheet; decrements of $17,000 were expensed (2008: Nil).

No indicators of impairment were found for land and buildings.


Financial Statem

ents

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Note 6B: Infrastructure, Plant and Equipment

Gross carrying value (at fair value) 211,318 195,408Accumulated depreciation (43,414) (29,291)Work in progress 7,712 5,046Total infrastructure, plant and equipment 175,616 171,163

All revaluations are independent and are conducted in accordance with the revaluation policy stated in Note 1.

A revaluation decrement of $1,678,000 for infrastructure, plant and equipment (2008: an increment of $5,222,000) was debited to the asset revaluation reserve by class and included in the equity section of the balance sheet; no decrements were expensed (2008: Nil).

No indicators of impairment were found for infrastructure, plant and equipment.

Note 6C: Intangibles

Computer software Purchased At cost 8,701 5,774 Accumulated amortisation (2,098) (1,487) Work in progress - at cost 959 3,374

Total purchased computer software 7,562 7,661

Internally developed At cost 12,106 7,369 Accumulated amortisation (7,059) (6,472) Work in progress - at cost 1,405 2,201Total internally developed computer software 6,452 3,098

Total intangibles (non-current) 14,014 10,759

No indicators of impairment were found for intangibles.


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

Not

e 6D

: Ana

lysi

s of

Pro

pert

y, P

lant

and

Equ

ipm

ent

TAB

LE A

: Rec

onci

liatio

n of

the

open

ing

and

clos

ing

bala

nces

of p

rope

rty,

pla

nt a

nd e

quip

men

t (20

08-2

009)

Land

Bui

ldin

gsLe

aseh

old

Impr

ovem

ents

Tota

l Lan

d a

nd B

uild

ings

Oth

er IP

& E

Tota

l$'

000

$'00

0$'

000

$'00

0$'

000

$'00

0A

s at

1 J

uly

2008

G

ross

boo

k va

lue

240

270,

925

30,4

0930

1,57

420

0,45

450

2,02

8 A

ccum

ulat

ed d

epre

ciat

ion/

amor

tisat

ion

and

impa

irmen

t -

(32,

927)

(7,6

54)

(40,

581)

(29,

291)

(69,

872)

N

et b

ook

valu

e 1

July

200

8 24

023

7,99

822

,755

260,

993

171,

163

432,

156

Add

ition

s:

B

y pu

rcha

se

- 15

,150

2,79

217

,942

23,8

8641

,828

By

mak

e go

od a

djus

tmen

ts

- -

- -

- -

Fr

om a

cqui

sitio

n of

ent

ities

or o

pera

tions

(inc

ludi

ng re

stru

ctur

ing)

-

83,6

36 -

83,6

36 -

83,6

36

Rev

alua

tions

and

impa

irmen

ts th

roug

h eq

uity

-

- -

- (1

,678

)(1

,678

)R

eval

uatio

ns re

cogn

ised

in th

e op

erat

ing

resu

lt -

(17)

- (1

7) -

(17)

Impa

irmen

ts re

cogn

ised

in th

e op

erat

ing

resu

lt -

(54)

- (5

4)(8

24)

(878

)R

ecla

ssifi

catio

n -

- (1

05)

(105

)(1

0)(1

15)

Dep

reci

atio

n/am

ortis

atio

n ex

pens

e -

(20,

777)

(142

)(2

0,91

9)(1

5,03

8)(3

5,95

7)

Oth

er m

ovem

ents

– g

ross

val

ue

- -

- -

- -

Oth

er m

ovem

ents

– a

ccum

ulat

ed d

epre

ciat

ion

- -

- -

- -

Dis

posa

ls:

Fr

om d

ispo

sal o

f ent

ities

or o

pera

tions

(inc

ludi

ng re

stru

ctur

ing)

-

- (1

4)(1

4)(1

,713

)(1

,727

)

Mak

egoo

d ad

just

men

ts

- -

- -

- -

O

ther

dis

posa

ls

- -

- -

(170

)(1

70)

Net

boo

k va

lue

30 J

une

2009

24

031

5,93

625

,286

341,

462

175,

616

517,

078

Net

boo

k va

lue

as o

f 30

June

200

9 re

pres

ente

d by

: G

ross

boo

k va

lue

240

369,

532

33,0

8140

2,85

321

9,03

062

1,88

3 A

ccum

ulat

ed d

epre

ciat

ion/

amor

tisat

ion

and

impa

irmen

t -

(53,

596)

(7,7

95)

(61,

391)

(43,

414)

(104

,805

) 24

031

5,93

625

,286

341,

462

175,

616

517,

078


Financial Statem

ents

TAB

LE B

: Rec

onci

liatio

n of

the

open

ing

and

clos

ing

bala

nces

of p

rope

rty,

pla

nt a

nd e

quip

men

t (20

07-2

008)

Land

Bui

ldin

gsLe

aseh

old

Impr

ovem

ents

Tota

l Lan

d an

d B

uild

ings

Oth

er IP

& E

Tota

l $'

000

$'00

0$'

000

$'00

0$'

000

$'00

0 A

s at

1 J

uly

2007

G

ross

boo

k va

lue

240

281,

026

- 28

1,26

613

6,82

641

8,09

2 A

ccum

ulat

ed d

epre

ciat

ion/

amor

tisat

ion

and

impa

irmen

t -

(21,

816)

- (2

1,81

6)(1

5,41

6)(3

7,23

2)

Net

boo

k va

lue

1 Ju

ly 2

007

240

259,

210

- 25

9,45

012

1,41

038

0,86

0 A

dditi

ons:

By

purc

hase

-

18,3

79 -

18,3

7911

,126

29,5

05

B

y m

ake

good

adj

ustm

ents

-

2,25

1 -

2,25

1 -

2,25

1

From

acq

uisi

tion

of e

ntiti

es o

r ope

ratio

ns (i

nclu

ding

rest

ruct

urin

g)

- 12

3 -

123

51,3

7151

,494

R

eval

uatio

ns a

nd im

pairm

ents

thro

ugh

equi

ty

- -

- -

5,52

25,

522

Rev

alua

tions

reco

gnis

ed in

the

oper

atin

g re

sult

- -

- -

-Im

pairm

ents

reco

gnis

ed in

the

oper

atin

g re

sult

- (5

56)

- (5

56)

(3,6

00)

(4,1

56)

Rec

lass

ifica

tion

- -

- -

1919

Dep

reci

atio

n/am

ortis

atio

n ex

pens

e -

(18,

648)

- (1

8,64

8)(1

4,51

1)(3

3,15

9)

Oth

er m

ovem

ents

– g

ross

val

ue

- (2

10)

- (2

10)

(636

)(8

46)

Oth

er m

ovem

ents

– a

ccum

ulat

ed d

epre

ciat

ion

- 21

0 -

210

636

846

Dis

posa

ls:

Fr

om d

ispo

sal o

f ent

ities

or o

pera

tions

(inc

ludi

ng re

stru

ctur

ing)

-

- -

- (7

0)(7

0)

Mak

egoo

d ad

just

men

ts

- (6

) -

(6)

(23)

(29)

O

ther

dis

posa

ls

- -

- -

(81)

(81)

Net

boo

k va

lue

30 J

une

2008

24

026

0,75

3 -

260,

993

171,

163

432,

156

Net

boo

k va

lue

as o

f 30

June

200

8 re

pres

ente

d by

: G

ross

boo

k va

lue

240

301,

007

- 30

1,24

720

0,45

450

1,70

1 A

ccum

ulat

ed d

epre

ciat

ion/

amor

tisat

ion

and

impa

irmen

t -

(40,

254)

- (4

0,25

4)(2

9,29

1)(6

9,54

5)

240

260,

753

- 26

0,99

317

1,16

343

2,15

6


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

Not

e 6E

: Ana

lysi

s of

Inta

ngib

les

TAB

LE A

: Rec

onci

liatio

n of

the

open

ing

and

clos

ing

bala

nces

of i

ntan

gibl

es (2

008-

2009

)C

ompu

ter s

oftw

are

in

tern

ally

dev

elop

ed

Com

pute

r sof

twar

e

purc

hase

dO

ther

inta

ngib

les

pu

rcha

sed

Tota

l $'

000

$'00

0$'

000

$'00

0A

s at

1 J

uly

2008

G

ross

boo

k va

lue

9,57

09,

148

-18

,718

A

ccum

ulat

ed d

epre

ciat

ion/

amor

tisat

ion

and

impa

irmen

t (6

,472

)(1

,487

)-

(7,9

59)

Net

boo

k va

lue

1 Ju

ly 2

008

3,09

87,

661

-10

,759

A

dditi

ons:

By

purc

hase

or i

nter

nally

dev

elop

ed

3,71

91,

403

-5,

122

Fr

om a

cqui

sitio

n of

ent

ities

or o

pera

tions

(inc

ludi

ng re

stru

ctur

ing)

-

- -

-Im

pairm

ents

reco

gnis

ed in

the

oper

atin

g re

sult

(536

)2

-(5

34)

Rev

ersa

l of i

mpa

irmen

ts re

cogn

ised

in th

e op

erat

ing

resu

lt -

- -

-R

ecla

ssifi

catio

n 79

4(6

79)

-11

5A

mor

tisat

ion

(623

)(8

25)

-(1

,448

)O

ther

mov

emen

ts –

gro

ss v

alue

-

- -

-O

ther

mov

emen

ts –

acc

umul

ated

dep

reci

atio

n -

- -

-D

ispo

sals

:

From

dis

posa

l of e

ntiti

es o

r ope

ratio

ns (i

nclu

ding

rest

ruct

urin

g)

- -

- -

P

rovi

ded

free

of c

harg

e -

- -

-N

et b

ook

valu

e 30

Jun

e 20

09

6,45

27,

562

- 14

,014

Net

boo

k va

lue

as o

f 30

June

200

9 re

pres

ente

d by

: G

ross

boo

k va

lue

13,5

11

9,66

0-

23,1

71

Acc

umul

ated

dep

reci

atio

n/am

ortis

atio

n an

d im

pairm

ent

(7,0

59)

(2,0

98)

-(9

,157

)6,

452

7,56

2-

14,0

14


Financial Statem

ents

Com

pute

r sof

twar

e in

tern

ally

dev

elop

ed

Com

pute

r sof

twar

e pu

rcha

sed

Oth

er in

tang

ible

s pu

rcha

sed

Tota

l $'

000

$'00

0$'

000

$'00

0 A

s at

1 J

uly

2007

G

ross

boo

k va

lue

16,5

38

7,78

662

324

,947

A

ccum

ulat

ed d

epre

ciat

ion/

amor

tisat

ion

and

impa

irmen

t (7

,512

)(3

,016

)(6

23)

(11,

151)

N

et b

ook

valu

e 1

July

200

7 9,

026

4,77

0-

13,7

96

Add

ition

s:

B

y pu

rcha

se o

r int

erna

lly d

evel

oped

1,

625

4,29

4 -

5,91

9

From

acq

uisi

tion

of e

ntiti

es o

r ope

ratio

ns (i

nclu

ding

rest

ruct

urin

g)

-29

- 29

Impa

irmen

ts re

cogn

ised

in th

e op

erat

ing

resu

lt (1

,699

)(7

18)

- (2

,417

)R

ever

sal o

f im

pairm

ents

reco

gnis

ed in

the

oper

atin

g re

sult

- -

- -

Rec

lass

ifica

tion

-(1

9) -

(19)

Am

ortis

atio

n(1

,378

)(6

95)

-(2

,073

)O

ther

mov

emen

ts –

gro

ss v

alue

(2,4

18)

(2,2

24)

-(4

,642

)O

ther

mov

emen

ts –

acc

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Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Note 6F: Inventories

Inventories held for sale: Finished goods 223 256Total inventories held for sale 223 256

Inventories held for distribution: Work in progress 38 35 Finished goods 7,332 8,069Total inventories held for distribution 7,370 8,104

Total inventories (current) 7,593 8,360

During 2008-09, $17,326 of inventory held for sale was recognised as an expense (2007-08: $22,670).

During 2008-09, $5,031,765 of inventory held for distribution was recognised as an expense (2007-08: $2,269,646).

No items of inventory were recognised at fair value less cost to sell.

Note 6G: Other Non-Financial Assets

Prepayments 928 4,136Total other non-financial assets 928 4,136

All other non-financial assets were current assets.

No indicators of impairment were found for other non-financial assets.


Financial Statem

ents

Note 7: Payables

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Note 7A: Suppliers

Trade creditors 2,071 783Total supplier payables 2,071 783

Supplier payables – related entities are represented by: Current - - Non-current - - Supplier payables – external parties are represented by: Current 2,071 783 Non-current - - Total supplier payables 2,071 783

Settlement is usually made net 30 days.

Note 7B: Grants, Subsidies and Personal Benefits

Public sector: Australian Government entities (related entities) 20 157 State and Territory Governments 1,734 1,083Private sector: Non-profit organisations 408 433 Profit-making entities - 20 Universities 70 43Overseas 112 2,077Total grants, subsidies and personal benefits 2,344 3,813

Grants, subsidies and personal benefits are represented by: Current 2,344 3,813 Non-current - - Total grants, subsidies and personal benefits 2,344 3,813

Settlement is made according to the terms and conditions of each grant. This is usually within 30 days of meeting the grant eligibility criteria.

Note 7C: Other Payables

Salaries and wages 6,789 6,013Superannuation 5,003 4,312Separations and redundancies 76 48Accrued expenses 22,723 23,123Lease incentives 197 308Unearned income 14,530 15,695Other 2,213 108Total other payables 51,531 49,607

Other payables are represented by: Current 51,531 49,607 Non-current - - Total other payables 51,531 49,607


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Note 8: Provisions

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Note 8A: Employee Provisions

Leave 55,566 47,312Total employee provisions 55,566 47,312

Employee provisions are represented by: Current 48,860 39,253 Non-current 6,706 8,059Total employee provisions 55,566 47,312

The classification of current employee provisions includes amounts for which there is not an unconditional right to defer settlement by one year, hence in the case of employee provisions the above classification does not represent the amount expected to be settled within one year of reporting date. Employee provisions expected to be settled in twelve months from the reporting date is $21,051,000 (2008: $18,660,000), and in excess of one year $34,515,000 ($2008: $28,652,000).

Note 8B: Other Provisions

Provision for Antarctic base restitution 49,525 43,560Provision for make good - Antarctic regions 188,383 155,817Provision for make good - other localities 4,831 3,112Total other provisions 242,739 202,489

Other provisions are represented by: Current 3,076 1,462 Non-current 239,663 201,027Total other provisions 242,739 202,489


Financial Statem

ents

Reconciliation of other provisions:

Movement in relation to 2009 Provision for

Antarctic base

restitution

Provision for make good -

Antarctic regions


otherlocalities Total

$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000Opening balance 43,560 155,817 3,112 202,489 Additional provisions made - 267 533 800 Amounts used (731) (196) - (927) Amounts reversed - - - - Revaluation on change in discount rate 3,902 22,338 75 26,315 Amounts transferred - - - - Unwinding of discount or change in discount rate 2,794 10,157 1,111 14,062 Closing balance 49,525 188,383 4,831 242,739

Movement in relation to 2008 Provision for

Antarctic base

restitution


Antarctic regions


otherlocalities Total

$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000Opening balance 42,181 150,861 2,253 195,295 Additional provisions made 1,363 888 2,251 Amounts used (1,261) - (232) (1,493) Amounts reversed - (29) - (29) Revaluation on change in discount rate - (5,695) (11) (5,706) Amounts transferred - - 27 27 Unwinding of discount or change in discount rate 2,640 9,317 187 12,144 Closing balance 43,560 155,817 3,112 202,489


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Note 9: Restructuring

Note 9A: Departmental Restructuring

As a result of a restructuring of administrative arrangements, the Department relinquished responsibility for the following functions:

• Old Parliament House function on 1 July 2008 to the Old Parliament House as an Executive Agency. • The Indigenous Sport and Recreation Program on 1 July 2008 to the Department of Health and

Ageing.• Murray Darling Basin Authority came into existence on 30 March 2008 and commenced operations

on 8 September 08. • Department of Climate Change1 on 2 December 2007.

In respect of functions relinquished, the following assets and liabilities were transferred by the Department:

2009$'000

Old Parliament House Function Assets relinquished Cash and cash equivalents 12 Trade and other receivables 2,354 Infrastructure, plant and equipment 1,727Total assets relinquished 4,093Liabilities relinquished Suppliers 5 Other Payables 573 Employee Provisions 865Total liabilities relinquished 1,443Net assets/(liabilities) relinquished 2,650

Indigenous Sport and Recreation Program Assets relinquished 159Total assets relinquished 159Liabilities relinquished Suppliers - Other payables 5 Employee provisions 170Total liabilities relinquished 175Net assets/(liabilities) relinquished (16)

Murray Darling Basin Authority Function Assets relinquished Trade and other receivables 2,566Total assets relinquished 2,566Net assets/(liabilities) relinquished 2,566

Department of Climate Change Total assets relinquished -Total liabilities relinquished -Net assets/(liabilities) relinquished -

Net assets/(liabilities) relinquished 5,200


Financial Statem

ents

1. There were no Assets and Liabilities transferred to the Department of Climate Change by the Department during the 2008-2009 financial year.

As a result of a restructuring of administrative arrangements, the Department assumed responsibility for the following function:

• National Portrait Gallery Asset on 18 December 2008.

In respect of function assumed, the net book value of asset transferred to the Department for no consideration and recognised as at the date of transfer was:

2009$'000

National Portrait Gallery Assets recognised Building 83,636Total assets recognised 83,636Net assets assumed 83,636

Note 9B: Administered Restructuring

As a result of a restructuring of administrative arrangements, the Department relinquished responsibility for the following functions:

• Old Parliament House function on 1 July 2008 to the Old Parliament House as an Executive Agency.

• The Macquarie Lighthouse Asset to Sydney Harbour Federation Trust on 1 July 2008 under sub-section 21(2) and (3) of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Act 2001.

In respect of functions relinquished, the following assets and liabilities were transferred by the Department:

2009$'000

Old Parliament House Function Assets relinquished Trade and other receivables 3 Land and buildings 54,358 Heritage and cultural assets 4,178Total assets relinquished 58,539Liabilities relinquished Other payables 625Total liabilities relinquished 625Net assets/(liabilities) relinquished 57,914

Macquarie Lighthouse Assets relinquished Land and buildings 9,389Total assets relinquished 9,389Net assets/(liabilities) relinquished 9,389

Net assets/(liabilities) relinquished 67,303


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Note 10: Cash Flow Reconciliation

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents as per Balance Sheet to Cash Flow Statement

Report cash and cash equivalents as per: Cash Flow Statement 12,277 19,315 Balance Sheet 12,277 19,315Difference - -

Reconciliation of operating result to net cash from operating activities: Operating result (29,551) (8,315)Assets provided free of charge - 446Adjustments made directly to balance sheet1 (39,587) 4,768Other income not providing cash (2,591) - Depreciation and amortisation 37,405 35,232Net write-down of non-current assets 1,715 6,573Net (gains) / loss from sale of assets - (373)Decrease/(increase) in net receivables 9,779 (33,911)Decrease/(increase) in accrued income 424 (205)Decrease/(increase) in prepayments 3,208 (3,367)Decrease/(increase) in inventories 767 (974)Increase/(decrease) in employee provisions 8,254 14,666Increase/(decrease) in suppliers payable 3,551 (1,566)Increase in net assets from restructuring - 1,960Increase/(decrease) in other provisions 40,250 7,194Increase/(decrease) in other payables 1,924 21,328Increase/(decrease) in grant liabilities (1,469) 2,034Net cash from / (used by) operating activities 34,079 45,490

1. Refer to the Statement of Changes in Equity: Adjustment for errors 449 600 Revaluation increment - make good provision (22,406) 5,706 Appropriation transfers (14,419) - Refer to the Asset Movement Table: Additional make good deferred assets - (2,251) Make good disposals - 29Other (3,211) 684Total adjustments made directly to balance sheet (39,587) 4,768


Financial Statem

ents

Note 11: Contingent Liabilities and Assets

Quantifiable ContingenciesThe Schedule of Contingencies reports contingent assets in respect of claims for damages of $6,306,000 (2008: $5,697,000). This amount represents losses arising from events insured by the Australian Antarctic Division and insurance claims which are still pending as at 30 June 2009.

Unquantifiable Contingencies2009: Nil (2008: Nil)

Remote ContingenciesThe Department has entered into an arrangement with CIT Aerospace to guarantee Skytraders Pty Ltd financial performance of the A319 Airlink lease. The liability under the guarantee is capped at US$500 million; however this amount is then matched by the insurance obligations under the lease. The net effect is A$0.2009: Nil (2008: Nil)


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Note 12: Senior Executive Remuneration

The number of senior executives who received, or were due to receive, total remuneration of $130,000 or more:

2009 2008$130,000 to $144,999 3 5$145,000 to $159,999 1 3$160,000 to $174,999 4 3$175,000 to $189,999 - 5$190,000 to $204,999 7 9$205,000 to $219,999 9 9$220,000 to $234,999 10 8$235,000 to $249,999 10 - $250,000 to $264,999 5 2$265,000 to $279,999 1 5$280,000 to $294,999 4 1$295,000 to $309,999 4 2$310,000 to $324,999 1 1$325,000 to $339,999 1 1$340,000 to $354,999 - - $355,000 to $369,999 - - $370,000 to $384,999 3 - $385,000 to $399,999 1 - $400,000 to $414,999 - - $415,000 to $429,999 - - $430,000 to $444,999 - - $445,000 to $459,999 - - $460,000 to $474,999 - - $475,000 to $489,999 - 1$490,000 to $504,999 - - $505,000 to $519,999 - - $535,000 to $549,999 - -

64 55

The aggregate amount of total remuneration of senior executives shown above. $15,362,337 $11,971,777

The aggregate amount of separation and redundancy/termination benefit payments during the year to executives shown above. - -

Note 13: Remuneration of Auditors

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Financial statement audit services are provided free of charge to the Department. The fair value of the services provided was: 555 531

555 531

No other services were provided by the Auditor-General.


Financial Statem

ents

Note 14: Financial Instruments

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Note 14A: Categories of Financial Instruments

Financial assets Cash equivalents and other receivables: Deposits 9,274 15,547 Cash on hand or on deposit 3,003 3,768 Goods and services receivables 9,818 8,575 Other receivables 468 235 Accrued revenue – goods and services 191 465Carrying amount of financial assets 22,754 28,590

Financial liabilities At amortised cost: Trade creditors 2,071 783 Grant payable 2,344 3,813Carrying amount of financial liabilities 4,415 4,596

Note 14B: Net Income and Expense from Financial Assets

Loans and receivables Interest revenue - 75Impairment (567) (505)Net gain/(loss) loans and receivables (567) (430)

Note 14C: Net Income and Expense from Financial Liabilities

There have been no net gains/(losses) recorded for financial liabilities in 2008-09 financial year (2007-08: nil).

Note 14D: Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value of all financial assets and liabilities approximate their carrying amounts.


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Note 14E: Credit Risk

The Department is exposed to minimal credit risk as loans and receivables are cash and trade receivables. The maximum exposure to credit risk is the risk that arises from potential default of a debtor. This amount is equal to the total amount of goods and services and other receivables (2009: $11,228,000 and 2008: $9,562,000). The Department has assessed the risk of default on payment and has allocated $942,000 in 2009 (2008: $752,000) to an allowance for doubtful debts account.

The following table illustrates the Department’s exposure to credit risk, excluding any collateral or credit enhancements.

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Financial assets Cash and cash equivalents and other receivables Deposits 9,274 15,547 Cash on hand 3,003 3,768 Goods and services receivables 9,818 8,575 Other receivables 468 235 Accrued revenue – goods and services 191 615Total 22,754 28,740

The Department manages its credit risk by undertaking background and credit checks prior to allowing a debtor relationship. In addition, the Department has policies and procedures that guide employees’ debt recovery techniques that are to be applied. The Department holds no collateral to mitigate against credit risk.

Credit quality of financial instruments not past due or individually determined as impaired Not past due nor

impaired

Not past due nor

impairedPast due or

impairedPast due or

impaired2009 2008 2009 2008$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000

Cash and cash equivalents and other receivables Deposits 9,274 15,547 - - Cash on hand 3,003 3,768 - - Goods and services receivables 7,905 5,823 1,913 2,752 Other receivables 383 235 85 - Accrued revenue – goods and services 191 615 - - Total 20,756 25,988 1,998 2,752


Financial Statem

ents

Note 14E: Credit Risk (continued)

Ageing of financial assets that are past due but not impaired for 2009 0 to 30

days31 to 60

days61 to 90

days90+

days Total$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000

Cash and cash equivalents and other receivables Goods and services and other receivables 234 173 192 1,399 1,998Total 234 173 192 1,399 1,998


days31 to 60

days61 to 90

days90+

days Total$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000

Cash and cash equivalents and other receivables Goods and services and other receivables 1,289 515 475 473 2,752Total 1,289 515 475 473 2,752


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Note 14F: Liquidity Risk

The Department’s financial liabilities are trade creditors and grant payables. The exposure to liquidity risk is based on the notion that the Department will encounter difficulty in meeting its obligations associated with financial liabilities.

This is highly unlikely as the Department is appropriated funding from the Australian Government and the Department manages its budgeted funds to ensure it has adequate funds to meet payments as they fall due. In addition, the Department has policies in place to ensure timely payments are made when due and has no past experience of default.

The following tables illustrate the maturities for financial liabilities.

Maturities for financial liabilities 2009 On

demandWithin 1

year1 to 2 years

2 to 5 years >5 years Total

2009 2009 2009 2009 2009 2009$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000

Other liabilities Trade creditors - 2,071 - - - 2,071 Grants payable - 2,344 - - - 2,344Total - 4,415 - - - 4,415


demandWithin 1

year1 to 5 years


2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000

Other liabilities Trade creditors - 783 - - - 783 Grants payable - 3,813 - - - 3,813Total - 4,596 - - - 4,596

Note 14G: Market Risk

The Department holds basic financial instruments that do not expose the Department to certain market risks. The Department is not exposed to 'Currency risk' or 'Other price risk' or 'Interest rate risk'.


Financial Statem

ents

Notes to the Schedule of Administered Items

Note 15: Income Administered on Behalf of Government

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Revenue

Taxation Revenue

Note 15A: Other Taxes

Other taxes, fees and fines 1,448 1,342

Total other taxes 1,448 1,342

Non-Taxation Revenue

Note 15B: Sale of Goods and Rendering of Services

Provision of goods – external parties 114 84

Total sale of goods 114 84 Rendering of services – external parties 3,116 3,534 Other fees from regulatory services – external 1,195 3,542Total rendering of services 4,311 7,076

Total sale of goods and rendering of services 4,425 7,160

Note 15C: Interest

Loans – State and Territory Governments 1,512 1,074

Total interest 1,512 1,074

Note 15D: Grant Repayments

Grant repayments 22,466 3,607

Total grant repayments 22,466 3,607

Note 15E: Other Revenue

Other sources of non-taxation revenues 194 214

Total other revenue 194 214

Gains

Note 15F: Other Gains

Audit services received free of charge for NHT 71 83Assets now recognised 71,939 - Gain on derecognition of financial assets 440,851 -

Total other gains 512,861 83


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Note 16: Expenses Administered on Behalf of Government

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Expenses

Note 16A: Suppliers

Provision of goods – related entities 136 75Provision of goods – external parties 149 684Rendering of services – related entities 21,119 7,017Rendering of services – external parties 49,228 45,342

Total suppliers 70,632 53,118

Note 16B: Grants

Public sector: Australian Government entities (related entities) 137,022 120,096 State and Territory Governments 483,716 568,494 Local Governments 111,086 26,481Private sector: Non-profit organisations 180,996 207,032 Profit-making entities 189,641 79,462 Individuals 228,905 29,209 Universities 19,261 13,483Overseas 162 17,367

Total grants 1,350,789 1,061,624

The grants relate to the following programs: Caring for our Country 335,438 - Solar Homes and Communities 206,690 - Water Smart Australia 144,059 - Hot Water Rebate Program 77,656 11,345National Solar Schools Plan 69,551 8,985Home Owner Insulation 64,683 - Screen Australia 60,500 - Cultural Development Program 55,954 34,814Living Murray Initiative 45,033 67,444Renewable Remote Power Generation Program 39,122 29,926NCERF Research Facility 25,364 14,189Indigenous Art Culture and Language 23,706 14,070Point Nepean Community Trust 16,800 7,256Restoring the Balance 16,122 - Connect Australia 15,881 - Tasmanian Forests 15,212 4,699Northern Territory Flexible Funding Program 14,947 - Indigenous Broadcasting 13,742 7,066National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns 13,041 10,000Community Water Grants 10,917 162,872Urban Water 10,000 - Scout Hall Water Program 9,456 - Water Cycle Management Planning 8,980 - Working on Country 7,639 5,625Murray Environmental Flows 7,500 7,500Other Grants 7,294 5,000


Financial Statem

ents

2009 2008$'000 $'000

The grants relate to the following programs (continued) Solar Cities 7,156 9,095Murray Darling Basin Commission 4,999 13,517Stewardship Initiative 3,839 2,301Indigenous Heritage Program 3,576 3,514Low Emissions 2,496 2,000Action on Energy Efficiency 2,220 - Books Alive 2,000 2,000Australian Biological Resources Study Participatory Program 1,818 1,780Low Emissions Technology Demo Fund 1,625 3,067Greenhouse Gas Abatement Program 1,359 7,694Kokoda Track assistance to PNG 1,280 95National Trusts Partner 911 894Green Precincts 500 - NEPC Service Corporation 429 429National Cultural Heritage Account 371 310Ozone Protection & SGG Account 320 339Prime Minister’s Life 200 - National Heritage Investment Initiative 199 3,450Water Resources Assessment and Research 140 175Cape York Welfare Relief 64 - National Heritage Trust – Bush Care - 118,508Taking Early Action - 84,000National Heritage Trust – Land Care - 79,163Representative Areas Program – Structural Adjustment Package - 67,813National Heritage Trust – Coast Care - 55,083Photovoltaic Rebate Program/Solar Homes - 50,706National Heritage Trust – River Care - 46,556Water Efficiency Western Australia - 35,000Film Finance Corporation Australia - 22,800Maintaining Australia’s Biodiversity Hotspots - 13,440National Indigenous Television - 8,981Marine and Tropical Science Research Facility - 8,770Climate Change Strategy Programs - 8,458Great Artesian Basin Sustainability - 8,148Modernising Irrigation - 8,054Blackburn Lakes Land Purchase - 1,600Alternative Fuels Conversion Program - 815Strengthening Tasmania Programs - 750Tasmanian Water Infrastructure - 500Local Greenhouse Action Program - 393Advanced Electricity Storage - 300Launceston Air Quality - 203Renewable Energy Equity Fund - 132

Total grants 1,350,789 1,061,624

Note 16C: Depreciation and Amortisation

Depreciation: Buildings 4,064 4,561 Infrastructure, plant and equipment: 2,654 99

Total depreciation and amortisation 6,718 4,660


Fina

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ents

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Note 16D: Write-down and Impairment of Assets

Asset write-downs and impairments from: Financial assets – receivables – loans to Commonwealth Entities 1,574 1,667 Financial assets – receivables – other 856 290 Financial assets – other 4,317 - Fixed assets – intangibles - 224

Total write-down and impairment of assets 6,747 2,181

Note 16E: Losses from Asset Transfers

Land and buildings: Carrying value of asset transferred 59,756 - Total net loss from disposal of assets 59,756 -

Note 16F: Payments to CAC bodies

Australia Council 166,290 - Australian Film, Television and Radio School 23,301 - Australian National Maritime Museum 23,069 - National Film and Sound Archive 25,082 - National Gallery of Australia 41,796 - National Library of Australia 57,680 - National Museum of Australia 40,275 - Screen Australia 31,389 - Sydney Harbour Federation Trust 24 -

Total payments to CAC bodies 408,906 -

Note 16G: Other Expenses

Royalties paid 18,830 18,146

Total other expenses 18,830 18,146

Note 17: Assets Administered on Behalf of Government 2009 2008$'000 $'000

Financial Assets

Note 17A: Cash and Cash Equivalents

Other 386 67

Total cash and cash equivalents 386 67


Financial Statem

ents

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Note 17B: Receivables

Advances and loans: State and Territory Governments 13,369 14,812 Commonwealth Entities 9,672 10,115Other receivables: GST receivable from ATO 10,756 10,513 Other receivables 2,421 2,342

Total receivables (gross) 36,218 37,782

Less: impairment allowance account: Advances and loans (9,672) (8,098) Other receivables (778) (431)

Total receivables (net) 25,768 29,253

Receivables were aged as follows: Not overdue 35,263 28,253Overdue by: Less than 30 days 68 872 30 to 60 days 112 50 61 to 90 days 65 - More than 90 days 710 78

Total receivables (net) 36,218 29,253

The impairment allowance account is aged as follows: Overdue by: More than 90 days (10,450) (8,529)

Total impairment allowance account (10,450) (8,529)

All receivables are with entities external to the Department.

Loans to State and Territory Governments: The Captain Flat loan was made under financial assistance legislation. Interest rates are fixed and range from 9% to 14.475%.

The QLD and NSW Sewerage Loans were made under the Sewerage Agreement Act. Interest rates are fixed and range from 8.5% to 9.05%.

The Adelaide and Northern Towns Loan was made under the National Water Resources (Financial Assistance) Act. The interest rate is fixed at 10.93%.

Loan to Commonwealth Entity: The loan represents the funding payments to IIF Investment Pty Ltd (IIPL) less repayments under the Renewable Energy Equity Fund (REEF) Program in CVC REEF Limited (CVC REEF). The loan agreement was negotiated between the IIPL and the Industry Research Program. The Annual Report of IIPL provides further information on the investments under the REEF Program.

The Department has impaired the full amount of the IIPF Loan for the period ended 30 June 2009. This is due to the continued significant uncertainty over the recoverable value of IIF Investments Pty Limited’s investments in CVC REEF.


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ents

Reconciliation of the impairment allowance accounts:

Movement in relation to 2009: Taxation

ReceivablesAdvances

and LoansOther

Receivables Total$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000

Opening balance - (8,098) (431) (8,529) Amounts written off - - 249 249 Amounts recovered and reversed - - 362 362 Increase/decrease recognised in net surplus - (1,574) (958) (2,532)Closing balance - (9,672) (778) (10,450)

Movement in relation to 2008: Taxation

ReceivablesAdvances

and LoansOther

Receivables Total$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000

Opening balance - (6,431) (143) (6,574) Amounts written off - - 2 2 Amounts recovered and reversed - - 2 2 Increase/decrease recognised in net surplus - (1,667) (292) (1,959)Closing balance - (8,098) (431) (8,529)

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Note 17C: Other Investments

Director of National Parks 168,947 167,418Sydney Harbour Federation Trust 253,328 221,528Murray Darling Basin Commission - 485,224Australia Council 20,828 31,700Australian Film Commission - 98,557National Film and Sound Archive 89,525 - Screen Australia 118,060 - Australian Film, Television and Radio School 45,105 44,900Australian National Maritime Museum 285,726 290,000National Gallery of Australia 4,082,500 3,600,002National Library of Australia 1,686,275 1,702,147National Museum of Australia 391,188 383,081Film Finance Corporation Australia Ltd - 40,715Australia Business Arts Foundation Ltd 1,304 1,526Bundanon Trust 32,136 31,682Film Australia Ltd - 25,002

Total other investments 7,174,922 7,123,482

Note 17D: Other Financial Assets

Interest on loans 434 287Total other financial assets 434 287


Financial Statem

ents

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Non-Financial Assets

Note 17E: Land and Buildings

Freehold land at gross carrying value (at fair value) 1,007 12,454Buildings on freehold land Buildings: Fair value 37,560 114,813 Accumulated depreciation (2,954) (5,877)Heritage buildings: Fair value - 39,932

Total buildings on freehold land 35,613 161,322

Total land and buildings 35,613 161,322

Note 17F: Infrastructure, Plant and Equipment

Gross carrying value (at fair value) 388,695 -

Total infrastructure, plant and equipment 388,695 -

Note 17G: Heritage and Cultural Assets

Heritage collections: Gross carrying value (at fair value) 1,047 1,047Heritage furniture: Gross carrying value (at fair value) - 4,277 Accumulated depreciation - (99)Total heritage and cultural assets 1,047 5,225


Fina

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tem

ents

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)(5

,877

) -

(99)

(5,9

76)

Net

boo

k va

lue

1 Ju

ly 2

008

12,4

5414

8,86

816

1,32

2 -

5,22

516

6,54

7 A

dditi

ons:

By

purc

hase

-

851

851

2,18

5 -

3,03

6

From

acq

uisi

tion

of e

ntiti

es o

r ope

ratio

ns (i

nclu

ding

rest

ruct

urin

g)

--

--

--

Rev

alua

tions

and

impa

irmen

ts th

roug

h eq

uity

-

--

--

-R

eval

uatio

ns re

cogn

ised

in th

e op

erat

ing

resu

lt -

- -

7,58

0 -

7,58

0R

ecla

ssifi

catio

n 1,

007

- 1,

007

378,

930

- 37

9,93

7 A

sset

s he

ld fo

r sal

e or

in a

dis

posa

l gro

up h

eld

for s

ale

- -

- 2,

654

- 2,

654

Dep

reci

atio

n/am

ortis

atio

n ex

pens

e -

(4,0

64)

(4,0

64)

(2,6

54)

- (6

,718

)D

ispo

sals

:

From

dis

posa

l of e

ntiti

es o

r ope

ratio

ns (i

nclu

ding

rest

ruct

urin

g)

(5,4

54)

(58,

293)

(63,

747)

- (4

,178

)(6

7,92

5)

O

ther

dis

posa

ls

(7,0

00)

(52,

756)

(59,

756)

- -

(59,

756)

N

et b

ook

valu

e 30

Jun

e 20

09

1,00

734

,606

35,6

1338

8,69

51,

047

425,

355

Net

boo

k va

lue

as o

f 30

June

200

9 re

pres

ente

d by

: G

ross

boo

k va

lue

1,00

737

,560

38,5

6738

8,69

51,

047

428,

309

Acc

umul

ated

dep

reci

atio

n/am

ortis

atio

n an

d im

pairm

ent

- (2

,954

)(2

,954

) -

- (2

,954

)1,

007

34,6

0635

,613

388,

695

1,04

742

5,35

5


Financial Statem

ents

TAB

LE B

: Rec

onci

liatio

n of

the

open

ing

and

clos

ing

bala

nces

of p

rope

rty,

pla

nt a

nd e

quip

men

t (20

07-2

008)

Land

Bui

ldin

gsTo

tal L

and

and

Bui

ldin

gsO

ther

IP &

EH

erita

ge a

nd

Cul

tura

lTo

tal

$'00

0$'

000

$'00

0$'

000

$'00

0$'

000

As

at 1

Jul

y 20

07

Gro

ss b

ook

valu

e 12

,454

62,5

8175

,035

- 1,

271

76,3

06

Acc

umul

ated

dep

reci

atio

n/am

ortis

atio

n an

d im

pairm

ent

- (1

,316

)(1

,316

) -

- (1

,316

)N

et b

ook

valu

e 1

July

200

7 12

,454

61,2

6573

,719

- 1,

271

74,9

90

Add

ition

s:

B

y pu

rcha

se

- 1,

951

1,95

1 -

- 1,

951

Fr

om a

cqui

sitio

n of

ent

ities

or o

pera

tions

(inc

ludi

ng re

stru

ctur

ing)

-

90,2

1390

,213

- 4,

277

94,4

90

Rev

alua

tions

and

impa

irmen

ts th

roug

h eq

uity

-

- -

- (2

24)

(224

)R

eval

uatio

ns re

cogn

ised

in th

e op

erat

ing

resu

lt -

- -

- -

-R

ecla

ssifi

catio

n -

- -

- -

-A

sset

s he

ld fo

r sal

e or

in a

dis

posa

l gro

up h

eld

for s

ale

- -

- -

- -

Dep

reci

atio

n/am

ortis

atio

n ex

pens

e -

(4,5

61)

(4,5

61)

- (9

9)(4

,660

)D

ispo

sals

:

From

dis

posa

l of e

ntiti

es o

r ope

ratio

ns (i

nclu

ding

rest

ruct

urin

g)

- -

- -

- -

O

ther

dis

posa

ls

- -

- -

- -

Net

boo

k va

lue

30 J

une

2008

12

,454

148,

868

161,

322

- 5,

225

166,

547

Net

boo

k va

lue

as o

f 30

June

200

8 re

pres

ente

d by

: G

ross

boo

k va

lue

12,4

5415

4,74

516

7,19

9 -

5,32

417

2,52

3 A

ccum

ulat

ed d

epre

ciat

ion/

amor

tisat

ion

and

impa

irmen

t -

(5,8

77)

(5,8

77)

- (9

9)(5

,976

)12

,454

148,

868

161,

322

- 5,

225

166,

547


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Note 17I: Water Assets

Gross carrying value (at fair value) 201,024 - Pending registration 291,136 -

Total water assets 492,160 -

Note 17J: Analysis of Intangibles

TABLE C: Reconciliation of the opening and closing balances of intangibles (2008-2009)Water assets Total

$'000 $'000As at 1 July 2008 Gross book value - - Accumulated depreciation/amortisation and impairment - - Net book value 1 July 2008 - - Additions: By purchase or internally developed 435,956 435,956Reclassification 56,204 56,204Net book value 30 June 2009 492,160 492,160

Net book value as of 30 June 2009 represented by: Gross book value 492,160 492,160Accumulated depreciation/amortisation and impairment - -

492,160 492,160

TABLE D: Reconciliation of the opening and closing balances of intangibles (2007-2008)Water assets Total

$'000 $'000As at 1 July 2007 Gross book value - - Accumulated depreciation/amortisation and impairment - - Net book value 1 July 2007 - - Additions: By purchase or internally developed - - Reclassification - - Net book value 30 June 2008 - -

Net book value as of 30 June 2008represented by: Gross book value - - Accumulated depreciation/amortisation and impairment - -

- -


Financial Statem

ents

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Note 17K: Inventories

Inventories held for sale 13,189 -

Total inventories 13,189 -

Note 17L: Other Non-Financial Assets

Prepaid Grant – Point Nepean Trust - 16,800Prepaid Grant – Scout Hall Water Program 2,312 11,768Other Prepayments - 667

Total other non-financial assets 2,312 29,235

Note 18: Liabilities Administered on Behalf of Government

Payables

Note 18A: Suppliers

Trade creditors 1,829 422

Total suppliers 1,829 422

Settlement is usually made net 30 days.

Note 18B: Grants

Public sector: Australian Government entities (related entities) 1,593 1,961 State and Territory Governments 9,081 23,670 Local Governments 2,189 460Private sector: Non-profit organisations 62,399 4,101 Profit making entities 3,793 3,051 Individuals 41,777 24Universities 1,809 433

Total grants 122,641 33,700

Settlement is usually made according to the terms and conditions of each grant. This is usually within 30 days of performance or eligibility.

Note 18C: Other Payables

Accrued expenses 3,818 16,618GST payable 3 -

Total other payables 3,821 16,618


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

Note 19: Administered Reconciliation Table

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Opening administered assets less administered liabilities as at 1 July 7,298,131 905,085Plus: Administered income1 542,906 13,480Less: Administered expenses (non CAC) (1,922,378) (1,139,729)Administered transfers to/from Australian Government: Appropriation transfers from OPA: Annual appropriations for administered expenses (non CAC) 1,338,432 824,142 Annual appropriations for payment to CAC Act bodies 469,963 - Special appropriations (limited) (non CAC) 381,096 326,414Transfers to OPA2 (473,668) (64,422)Restructuring (67,303) 6,091,434Investments revaluation - 341,727Administered revaluations taken to/from reserves 428,740 - Derecognition of financial assets 10,316 -

Closing administered assets less administered liabilities as at 30 June 8,006,235 7,298,131

1. $431,171 relates to the gain on derecognition of MDBC’s financial assets 2. $441,478 relates to the transfer of MDBC’s cash to the OPA

Note 20: Administered Contingent Liabilities and Assets

Quantifiable Administered Contingencies

There are no quantifiable contingencies in either the current or the immediately preceding reporting periods, therefore there is no schedule for such items.

Unquantifiable Administered Contingencies

Nil for 2009 and 2008.

Remote Administered Contingencies

Nil for 2009 and 2008.


Financial Statem

ents

Note 21: Administered Investments

The principal activities of each of the Department's administered investments are as follows:

Director of National Parks Assists the Minister and the Department in the conservation and appreciation of Australia's biological diversity and associated cultural heritage, through leadership and cooperation in the management of the Commonwealth's protected areas.

Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Is responsible for planning, managing, conserving, enhancing and making publicly accessible certain lands on or near the foreshores of Sydney Harbour.

Murray-Darling Basin Commission The Commission was the executive arm of the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council and was responsible for advising the Ministerial Council on matters related to the use of the water, land and other environmental resources of the Murray-Darling Basin.

With effect from 15 December 2008, the Murray-Darling Basin Commission has been replaced by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, a Commonwealth controlled Agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997.

Australia Council Provides advice and support for artistic practice of individuals and companies. Encourages participation of all Australian people, communities, and institutions in cultural activities. A body corporate established under the Australia Council Act 1975.

Australian Film Commission Contributed to the creation, availability and preservation of Australian audiovisual content. A body corporate established under the Australian Film Commission Act 1975. The Australian Film Commission was merged with Film Australia Ltd and Film Finance Corporation Australia Ltd and became Screen Australia on 1 July 2008.

National Film and Sound Archive Is the national audiovisual archive, playing a key role in documenting and interpreting the Australian experience and actively contributing to the development of Australia's audiovisual industry. Established as a statutory authority following the de-merger of this institution from the Australian Film Commission. A body corporate established under the National Film and Sound Archive Act 2008.

Screen Australia Supports and promotes the development of a highly creative, innovative and commercially sustainable Australian screen production industry. Established following the merger of the Australian Film Commission, Film Australia Ltd, and Film Finance Corporation Australia Ltd on 1 July 2008. A body corporate established under the Screen Australia Act 2008.

Australian Film, Television and Radio School Provides advanced education programs and training for the Australian screen and broadcasting industries. A body corporate established under the Australian Film, Television and Radio School Act 1973.

Australian National Maritime Museum Acquires, researches, conserves and presents relevant material to Australia's maritime heritage. A body corporate established under the Australian National Maritime Act 1990.


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

National Gallery of Australia Provides access to works of art and information about them locally, nationally and internationally. A body corporate established under the National Gallery Act 1975.

National Library of Australia Provides a comprehensive collection of Australian library material and international documentary resources. A body corporate established under the National Library Act 1960.

National Museum of Australia Provides access to Australian historical collections and public programs to develop Australia's history and culture. A body corporate established under the National Museum of Australia Act 1980.

Film Finance Corporation Australia Ltd Provided financial support to the Australian film and television production industry. Incorporated in Australia. Film Finance Corporation Australia Ltd was merged with the Australian Film Commission and Film Australia Ltd and became Screen Australia on 1 July 2008.

Australia Business Arts Foundation Ltd A company established to promote private sector support for the arts. Incorporated in Australia.

Bundanon Trust A trust established to develop and manage the Bundanon properties on the Shoalhaven NSW as an arts and education centre. Incorporated in Australia.

Film Australia Ltd Distributed and marketed films and, in particular, produced programs of national interest. Incorporated in Australia. Film Australia Ltd was merged with the Australian Film Commission and Film Finance Corporation Australia Ltd and became Screen Australia on 1 July 2008.


Financial Statem

ents

Note 22: Administered Financial Instruments

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Note 22A: Categories of Financial Instruments

Financial assets Cash equivalents and other receivables:

386 67 Other cash 13,369 14,812 Loans to State and Territory Governments

- 2,017 Loans to Commonwealth entity 1,643 1,911 Other receivables

57 287 Accrued interest on loans 15,455 19,094Carrying amount of financial assets

Financial liabilities At amortised cost:

1,829 422 Trade creditors 122,641 33,700 Grant payables 124,470 34,122Carrying amount of financial liabilities

Note 22B: Net Income and Expense from Financial Assets

Loans and receivables 1,512 1,074 Interest revenue

(2,430) (1,957) Impairment (918) (883)Net gain/(loss) loans and receivables

Note 22C: Net Income and Expense from Financial Liabilities

There have been no net gains/(losses) recorded for financial liabilities in 2008-09 financial year (2007-08: nil).

Note 22D: Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value of all financial assets and liabilities approximate their carrying amounts.


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

Note 22E: Credit Risk

The Department is exposed to minimal credit risk as the cash equivalents, investments and other receivables are cash, loan to State and Territory Governments, shares to Government controlled and funded entities and trade receivables.

The Department manages its credit risk by undertaking background and credit checks prior to allowing a debtor relationship. In addition, the Department has policies and procedures that guide employee debt recovery techniques that are to be applied.

The following table illustrates the Department’s gross exposure to credit risk, excluding any collateral or credit enhancements.

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Financial assets Cash equivalents and other receivables

386 67 Other cash 13,369 14,812 Loans to State and Territory Governments

- 2,017 Loans to Commonwealth entity 1,643 1,911 Other receivables

57 287 Accrued interest on loans 15,455 19,094Total

The Department holds no collateral to mitigate against credit risk.

Credit quality of financial instruments not past due or individually determined as impaired Not past due nor

impaired

Not past due nor

impaired

Past due or

impairedPast due or

impaired2009 2008 2009 2008$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000

Cash equivalents and other receivables386 67 - - Other cash

13,369 14,812 - - Loans to State and Territory Governments - 2,017 - - Loans to Commonwealth entity

1,643 911 - 1,000 Other receivables 57 287 - - Accrued interest on loans

15,455 18,094 - 1,000Total

The maximum exposure to credit risk is the risk that arises from potential default of a debtor. This amount is equal to the total amount of loans and other receivables in 2009 of $25,462,000 (2008: $27,269,000). The Department has assessed the risk of the default on payment and has allocated $10,450,000 in 2009 (2008: $8,529,000) to an allowance for doubtful debts account.


Financial Statem

ents


days31 to 60

days61 to 90

days 90+ days Total$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000

Cash equivalents and other receivables Other receivables 68 112 65 710 955Total 68 112 65 710 955

- - -Ageing of financial assets that are past due but not impaired for 2008

0 to 30 days

31 to 60 days

61 to 90 days 90+ days Total

$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000Cash equivalents and other receivables Other receivables 872 50 - 78 1,000Total 872 50 - 78 1,000

The following list of assets have been individually assessed as impaired • Loans to Commonwealth entity

Note 22F: Liquidity Risk

The Department’s financial liabilities are trade creditors and grant payables. The exposure to liquidity risk is based on the notion that the Department will encounter difficulty in meeting its obligations associated with financial liabilities. This is highly unlikely as the Department is appropriated funding from the Australian Government and the Department manages its budgeted funds to ensure it has adequate funds to meet payments as they fall due. In addition, the Department has policies in place to ensure timely payment are made when due and has no past experience of default. The following tables illustrate the maturities for financial liabilities.


demandWithin 1

year1 to 2 years


$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000Other liabilities Trade creditors - 1,829 - - - 1,829 Grants payable - 122,641 - - - 122,641Total - 124,470 - - - 124,470


demandWithin 1

year1 to 5 years


$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000 $'000Other liabilities Trade creditors - 422 - - - 422 Grants payable - 33,700 - - - 33,700Total - 34,122 - - - 34,122

Note 22G: Market Risk

The only interest bearing items on the balance sheet are the ‘Loans to State and Territory Governments’. These items have fixed interest and will not fluctuate due to changes in the market interest rate.


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

Not

e 23

: App

ropr

iatio

ns

Not

e 23

A: A

cqui

ttal o

f Aut

horit

y to

Dra

w C

ash

from

the

Con

solid

ated

Rev

enue

Fun

d fo

r Ord

inar

y A

nnua

l Ser

vice

s A

ppro

pria

tions

Adm

inis

tere

d E

xpen

ses

Out

com

e 1

Out

com

e 2

Out

com

e 3

Out

com

e 4

Pay

men

ts to

CA

C A

ct

bodi

es

Dep

artm

enta

l Out

puts

To

tal

2009

20

0820

0920

0820

0920

0820

0920

0820

0920

0820

0920

0820

09

2008

Part

icul

ars

$$

$$

$$

$$

$$

$$

$$

97,9

20,5

2485

,611

,257

3,00

0,00

03,

000,

000

17,8

39,4

18 -

35,4

55,2

80 -

- -

108,

689,

816

78,2

65,2

3526

2,90

5,03

816

6,87

6,49

2 B

alan

ce b

roug

ht fo

rwar

d fro

m p

revi

ous

perio

d

(App

ropr

iatio

n A

cts)

App

ropr

iatio

n A

ct:

677,

782,

000

684,

129,

000

- -

676,

395,

000

21,4

82,0

0020

8,21

9,00

0 -

408,

906,

000

-46

9,86

6,00

049

8,69

0,00

02,

441,

168,

0001

,204

,301

,000

A

ppro

pria

tion

Act

(No.

1) 2

008-

2009

as

pass

ed

130,

686,

000

168,

188,

000

-3,

000,

000

-39

,068

,000

-19

8,00

0 -

-4,

793,

000

-13

5,47

9,00

021

0,45

4,00

0 A

ppro

pria

tion

Act

(No.

3) 2

008-

2009

as

pass

ed

18,5

51,0

00 -

- -

-11

2,32

9,00

0 -

- -

-1,

010,

000

-19

,561

,000

112,

329,

000

App

ropr

iatio

n A

ct (N

o. 5

) 200

8-20

09 a

s pa

ssed

1,30

0,61

6 -

1,30

0,61

6 C

omco

ver r

ecei

pts

(App

ropr

iatio

n A

ct s

13)

39,0

00,0

00 -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

39,0

00,0

00 -

Oth

er a

nnua

l app

ropr

iatio

n ac

ts a

s pa

ssed

(12,

103,

000)

(34,

171,

000)

(12,

103,

000)

(34,

171,

000)

D

epar

tmen

tal a

ppro

pria

tions

redu

ced

(App

ropr

iatio

n

Act

sec

tion

10)

(79,

786,

855)

(84,

167,

486)

(3,0

00,0

00)

(3,0

00,0

00)

(15,

717,

412)

-(1

0,62

8,66

2) -

- -

(109

,132

,928

)(8

7,16

7,48

6)

Adm

inis

tere

d ap

prop

riatio

ns re

duce

d (n

on C

AC

)

(App

ropr

iatio

n A

ct s

11)

11,2

29,5

15 -

- -

3,96

0,09

7 -

- -

2,07

3,68

017

,263

,292

- Fl

exib

le fu

ndin

g po

ol re

ceip

ts (A

ppro

pria

tion

Act

sect

ion

15)

FMA

Act

:

1,14

3,97

898

7,19

0 -

-28

2,74

0 -

-92

,400

- -

16,5

30,7

764,

244,

072

17,9

57,4

945,

323,

662

Rep

aym

ents

to th

e C

omm

onw

ealth

(FM

A A

ct s

ectio

n

30)

14,0

78,3

4928

,490

,460

- -

12,5

82,4

3532

,339

9,29

5,48

32,

850,

972

- -

23,2

57,6

2425

,063

,608

59,2

13,8

9156

,437

,379

A

ppro

pria

tions

to ta

ke a

ccou

nt o

f rec

over

able

GST

(FM

A A

ct s

ectio

n 30

A)

Rel

evan

t age

ncy

rece

ipts

(FM

A A

ct s

31)

-

--

97,6

05,1

5692

,195

,580

97,6

05,1

5692

,195

,580

-(7

8,21

3,02

7) -

- -

-(1

1,25

3,24

1)14

7,26

3,99

5 -

-(3

7,63

3,02

9)3,

862,

664

(48,

886,

270)

72,9

13,6

32

Adj

ustm

ent o

f app

ropr

iatio

ns o

n ch

ange

of a

genc

y

func

tion

(FM

A A

ct s

32)

Tota

l app

ropr

iatio

n av

aila

ble

for p

aym

ents

91

0,60

4,51

180

5,02

5,39

4 -

3,00

0,00

069

1,38

2,18

117

2,91

1,33

923

5,04

7,95

715

0,40

5,36

740

8,90

6,00

0 -

674,

090,

023

669,

450,

775

2,92

0,03

0,67

11,8

00,7

92,8

75

459,

772,

495

405,

552,

919

- -

188,

265,

572

155,

071,

921

207,

067,

417

114,

950,

087

408,

906,

000

-58

4,23

4,55

756

0,76

0,95

91,

848,

246,

0411

,236

,335

,886

C

ash

paym

ents

mad

e du

ring

the

year

(GST

incl

usiv

e)

App

ropr

iatio

ns c

redi

ted

to s

peci

al a

ccou

nts

(GST

35

7,69

8,73

230

1,55

1,95

1 -

-98

5,00

0 -

- -

- -

908,

000

-35

9,59

1,73

230

1,55

1,95

1


Financial Statem

ents

excl

usiv

e)

Bal

ance

of a

utho

rity

to d

raw

cas

h fr

om th

e

Con

solid

ated

Rev

enue

Fun

d fo

r ord

inar

y an

nual

serv

ices

app

ropr

iatio

ns a

nd a

s re

pres

ente

d by

:

93,1

33,2

8397

,920

,524

-3,

000,

000

502,

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Financial Statem

ents

Note 23C: Acquittal of Authority to Draw Cash from the Consolidated Revenue Fund - Special Appropriations (Unlimited Amount)

2009 2008National Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997 Subsection 6(2) Outcome 1 Purpose: Amount equal to the fixed-income percentage of the uninvested amount standing to the credit of the account at the end of the financial year $'000 $'000

Cash payments made during the year Nil payments were processed during the year - $27,800,207.92 was transferred to the account via self executing provisions of the legislation (2007-2008: $25,245,823)

- -

Estimated actual 22,155 24,972

Note 23D: Acquittal of Authority to Draw Cash from the Consolidated Revenue Fund - Special Appropriations (Refund Provisions)

2009 2008Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 Section 28 Purpose: For refunds of application fees received under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and monies incorrectly forwarded to the Official Public Account

$'000 $'000

7 179Cash payments made during the year Total charged to Special Appropriation 7 179


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

Note 23E: Acquittal of Authority to Draw Cash from the Consolidated Revenue Fund - Special Appropriation (Limited Amount)

The Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts has responsibility for the following special appropriation legislation. There were zero transactions and budgets during the reporting year.

Departmental - Outcome 1

Legislation: Appropriation (Supplementary Measures) Act (No. 2) 1999 Section: Section 3 Purpose: • Developing a product stewardship system for the reuse and recycling of waste oil

• Supporting the development and implementation of in-service emissions testing capabilities for diesel and petrol vehicles, where the diesel emissions testing is in connection with the making and/or implementation of a Diesel National Environment Protection Measure.

Balance of this appropriation at 30 June 2009 is nil (2007-08: nil)

Administered - Outcome 1

Legislation: Appropriation (Supplementary Measures) Act (No. 2) 1999 Section: Section 3 Purpose: • Supporting conversions to CNG or LPG for commercial vehicles that have a GVM equal to or

greater than 3.5 tonnes, buses that have a GVM equal to or greater than 3.5 tonnes, trains and ferries.

• Supporting the utilisation of photovoltaic systems on residential buildings and community-use buildings

• Supporting the development and commercialisation of renewable energy • Supporting the use of renewable energy for remote power generation • Greenhouse gas abatement program

Balance of this appropriation at 30 June 2009 is nil (2007-08: nil) Legislation: Captains Flat (Abatement of Pollution) Agreement Act 1975 Section: Section 4 Purpose: • Amounts payable to the Government of New South Wales in accordance with an agreement

made under section 3, by way of financial assistance


Legislation: Sewerage Agreements Act 1973 Section: Section 8 Purpose: • Provide funding to clear backlog of sewerage works in principal Australian cities


Administered - Outcome 3

Legislation: Natural Resources Management (Financial Assistance) Act 1992 Section: Section 25(1) Purpose: • To grant financial assistance in connection with projects relating to natural resources

management.



Financial Statem

ents

Note 24: Special Accounts

a) Special accounts that comprise part of the Department’s departmental and administered reporting entities.

2009 2008 Art Rental Special Account (Departmental)

$ $Legal Authority: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997; section 20 Appropriation: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997; section 21 Purpose: Amounts may be debited from the special account for: (a) acquire, deaccession, lease, promote, develop, exhibit, lend, conserve and undertake any other activities in relation to managing an art rental collection for the Commonwealth; (b) activities that are incidental to the purpose mentioned in paragraph (a); (c) the repayment of amounts where an Act or other law requires or permits the repayment of an amount received. This account is non interest bearing.

1,763,037 - Balance carried from previous period - 1,758,286 Restructure- transfer from DCITA

3,454,974 1,876,159 Sale of goods and services 188,132 166,633 GST credits (FMA Act section 30A)

Total credits 3,643,107 3,801,078 Available for payments 5,406,144 3,801,078

1,018,095 693,345 Payments made-Employees 2,734,796 1,344,696 Payments made-Suppliers 3,752,891 2,038,041 Total debits

Balance carried to next period (excluding investment balances) and represented by: 1,653,252 1,763,037

1,653,252 1,763,037 Cash – held by the agency Total balance carried to the next period 1,653,252 1,763,037

2009 2008 Cultural Ministers' Council Special Account (Departmental)

$ $Legal Authority: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997; section 20 Appropriation: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997; section 21 Purpose: Amounts may be debited from the special account for: (a) conducting activities of the working parties initiated by the Cultural Minister's council; (b) activities that are incidental to the purpose mentioned in paragraph (a); and (c) the repayment of amounts where an Act or other law requires or permits the repayment of an amount received. This account is non-interest bearing.

380,311 - Balance carried from previous period - 523,185 Restructure- transfer from DCITA

241,348 211,799 Sale of goods and services 291,905 - Other Receipts

8,222 35,467 GST credits (FMA Act section 30A) Total credits 541,475 770,451 Available for payments 921,786 770,451

70,225 346,140 Payments made- Suppliers 44,000 44,000 Payments made- Grants

102,185 - Payments made- Employees 216,410 390,140 Total debits

Balance carried to next period (excluding investment balances) and represented by: 705,376 380,311

705,376 683,311 Cash - transferred to the Official Public Account Cash expended from Departmental cash reserves (not drawn from OPA at 30 June 2009) - (303,000)

Total balance carried to the next period 705,376 380,311


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

2009 2008 National Collections Special Account (Departmental)

$ $Legal Authority: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997; section 20 Appropriation: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997; section 21 Purpose: Amounts may be debited from the special account for: (a) conducting projects, programmes and strategies approved by the responsible agency, associated with future directions, needs and priorities of the collection sector; (b) activities that are incidental to the purpose mentioned in paragraph (a); (c) the repayment of amounts where an Act or other law requires or permits the repayment of an amount received. This account is non-interest bearing.

226,190 - Balance carried from previous period - 236,690 Restructure- transfer from DCITA

303,002 392,411 Sale of goods and services 540,000 - Other Receipts 78,835 40,291 GST credits (FMA Act section 30A)

Total credits 921,837 669,392 Available for payments 1,148,027 669,392

440,000 110,000 Payments made-suppliers 427,180 333,202 Payments made-grants 867,180 443,202 Total debits

Balance carried to next period (excluding investment balances) and represented by: 280,847 226,190

280,847 326,190 Cash - transferred to the Official Public Account Cash expended from Departmental cash reserves (not drawn from OPA at 30 June 2009) - (100,000)

Total balance carried to the next period 280,847 226,190

2009 2008 National Portrait Gallery Special Account (Departmental)

$ $Legal Authority: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997; section 20 Appropriation: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997; section 21 Purpose: Amounts may be debited from the special account for: (a) acquisition of works of art for the National Portrait Gallery;(b) organising National Portrait Gallery activities and mounting exhibitions in accordance with the Gallery's programme; (c) assisting with National Portrait Gallery Circle of Friends events. (d) activities that are incidental to the purpose mentioned in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c); (e) the repayment of amounts where an Act or other law requires or permits the repayment of an amount received. This account is a non-interest bearing except for the money held in the bank account for receiving donations. Interest on this bank account is earned at the rate of interest earned by the Commonwealth as at the beginning of the financial year on deposits held with the Reserve Bank of Australia.


43,355 8,351Sale of goods and services 934,039 3,520,167 Other receipts 20,233 41,517 GST credits (FMA Act section 30A)

Total credits 997,627 6,920,906 Available for payments 7,453,672 6,920,906

200,556 46,187 Payments made- Suppliers 573,176 418,674 Payments made- Asset acquisitions 773,731 464,861 Total debits


108,257 79,346 Cash - transferred to the Official Public Account 6,571,683 6,347,815 Cash – held by the agency

- 28,884 Cash held with departmental cash reserves at 30 June 2009 Total balance carried to the next period 6,679,941 6,456,045


Financial Statem

ents

2009 2008 Return of Indigenous Cultural Property Special Account (Departmental) $ $Legal Authority: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997; section 21 Appropriation: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997; section 21 Purpose: Amounts may be debited from the special account for: (a) developing and conduction projects, programmes and strategies associated with the repatriation of indigenous cultural material, on behalf of the Cultural Ministers' council; (b) activities that are incidental to the purpose mentioned in paragraph (a); (c) the repayment of amounts where an Act or other law requires or permits the repayment of an amount received. This account is non-interest bearing.


908,000 - Appropriation Act No 1 205,616 - Other receipts 89,184 - GST credits (FMA Act section 30A)


434 - Payments made - Suppliers 976,250 - Payments made - Grants


1,362,008 1,135,892 Cash - transferred to the Official Public Account Cash expended from/received in Departmental cash reserves (not drawn from/swept to OPA at 30 June 2009) - -

Total balance carried to the next period 1,362,008 1,135,892


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

2009 2008 Australian Antarctic Heritage Conservation Special Account (Administered) $ $Legal Authority: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997, Section 20 Purpose: Amounts standing to the credit of the account may be debited for: (a) the conservation of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic heritage, including the conservation of the Mawson's Huts Historic Site; and b) activities that are incidental to that conservation. c) meeting the expenses of administering the Account This account is non-interest bearing. There were no transactions of this account during 2008-2009 (2007-2008: Nil). The balance of this account at 30 June 2009 is Nil (2007-2008: Nil).

2009 2008 Building Australia Fund - BAF Water Portfolio Special Account (Administered) $ $Legal Authority: Building Australia Funds Act 2008 - BAF Water Portfolio Special Account, Section 82 Appropriation: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997, Section 21 Purpose: Amounts standing to the credit of the account may be debited for: (a) Making payments in relation to the creation or development of water infrastructure, so long as the payments are specified under subsection 84(2). b)meeting the expenses of administering the Account This account is non-interest bearing. There were no transactions of this account during 2008-2009. This is the first year the account has been in operation, therefore there is no comparative.

2009 2008 Environmental Water Holdings Special Account (Administered)

$ $Legal Authority: Water Act 2007, section 111 Appropriation: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997; section 21 Purpose: Amounts standing to the credit of the account may be debited for: (a) the payment or discharge of the costs, expenses and other obligations incurred by the Commonwealth Water Holder in the performance of the functions of the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder b)meeting the expenses of administering the Account This account is non-interest bearing.

2,022,800 - Balance carried from previous period 1,898,959 2,022,800 Sale of goods and services

189,881 - GST credits (FMA Act section 30A) Total credits 2,088,840 2,022,800 Available for payments 4,111,640 2,022,800

219,392 - Payments made Balance carried to next period (excluding investment balances) and represented by: 3,892,248 2,022,800

3,892,248 2,022,800 Cash – transferred to the Official Public Account Total balance carried to the next period 3,892,248 2,022,800


Financial Statem

ents

2009 2008 National Cultural Heritage Account (Administered)

$ $Legal Authority: Protection of Moveable Cultural Heritage Act 1986; section 25 Appropriation: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997; section 21 Purpose: Amounts standing to the credit of the National Cultural Heritage Account may be expended for the purpose of facilitating the acquisition of the Australian protected objects for display or self keeping. This account is non-interest bearing.

1,060 214,049 Balance carried from previous period 498,940 285,951 Appropriations Act (No.1) 37,100 41,994 GST credits (FMA Act section 30A)

Total credits 536,040 327,945 Available for payments 537,100 541,994

408,100 540,934 Payments made- Grants Balance carried to next period (excluding investment balances) and represented by: 129,000 1,060

129,000 1,060Cash – transferred to the Official Public Account Total balance carried to the next period 129,000 1,060

2009 2008 Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Account (Administered)

$ $Legal Authority: Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997; section 4 Appropriation: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997; section 21 Purpose: The purposes of the reserves are as follows: (a) the National Vegetation initiative; (b) the Murray-Darling 2001 Project; (c ) the National Land and Water Resources Audit; (d) the National Reserve System; (e) the Coasts and Clean Seas Initiative; (f) environmental protection (as defined by section 15 of the Act); (g) supporting sustainable agriculture (as defined by section 16 of the Act); (h) natural resources management (as defined by section 17 of the Act); (i) a purpose incidental or ancillary to any of the above purposes; and (k) an accounting transfer purpose (as defined by section 18 of the Act) This account earns interest at the rate of interest earned by the Commonwealth as at the end of the financial year on deposits held with the Reserve Bank of Australia.

383,451,143 403,933,174 Balance carried from previous period Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997 credits:

27,800,000 25,245,823 Sub-section 6(2) 357,200,000 300,000,000 Sub-section 23(1)

2,274,856 1,642,702 Other receipts 16,410,091 19,169,427 GST credits (FMA Act section 30A)


52,077,789 47,160,810 Payments made- Suppliers 338,657,145 319,348,733 Payments made- Grants

- 30,440 Payments made- Other 390,734,934 366,539,983 Total debits


396,400,156 383,451,143 Cash – transferred to the Official Public Account 1,000 - Cash – held by the agency



Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

2009 2008 Northern Territory Flexible Funding Pool Special Account (Administered) $ $Legal Authority: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997, Section 20 Purpose: Amounts standing to the credit of the Account may be debited to: (a) develop, promote, assist or implement employment creation initiatives in relation to the Northern Territory Emergency Response. (b) repay amounts where an Act or other law requires or permits the repayment of an amount received. This account is non-interest bearing and is administered by the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs made the following payments out of the Northern Territory Flexible Funding Pool Special Account, directly to third parties, on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

- -Departmental - 3,344,043 Administered

These amounts have been recognised in the primary financial statements and the schedule of items administered on behalf of Government as appropriate

2009 2008 Ozone protection and SGG Account (Administered)

$ $Legal Authority: Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 Appropriation: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997; section 21 Purpose: The following are the purposes of the account: (a) paying or reimbursing the Commonwealth's costs associated with the administration of the Act and the regulations; (b) paying or reimbursing the Commonwealth's costs associated with furthering the following programs (including providing the information about those programs; (c) paying or reimbursing the Commonwealth’s costs associated with the management of the National Halon Bank; and(d) refunding any amounts credited to the Account in error

19,586,399 17,378,541 Balance carried from previous period 1,314,934 1,343,171 Taxation- levies 1,844,245 3,319,238 Sale of goods and services

- 69,559 Receipts from other sources 35,770 41,306 GST credits (FMA Act section 30A)


125,144 2,117,267 Payments made- Suppliers 320,128 371,866 Payments made- Grants

4,240,476 76,283 Payments made- Other 4,685,748 2,565,416 Total debits


5,315Cash – held by the agency 18,090,284 19,586,399 Cash – transferred to the Official Public Account


2009 2008 Sea Installations Account (Administered)

$ $Legal Authority: Sea Installations Act 1987, Section 38 Appropriation - Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997, Section 21 Purpose: There must be transferred to the Account from the Consolidated Revenue Fund amounts equal to money paid as a security under section 37 by way of a cash deposit. There were no transactions of this account during 2008-2009 (2007-2008: Nil). The balance of this account at 30 June 2009 is Nil (2007-2008: Nil).


Financial Statem

ents

2009 2008 WELS Account (Administered)

$ $Legal Authority: Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005; section 64 Appropriation: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997; section 21 Purpose: The purpose of the account is to make payments: (a) To further the objects of the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005 (as set out in section 3 of the Act); and(b) Otherwise in connection with the performance of the Regulator's functions under the Act, the regulations or a corresponding State-Territory law. This account is non-interest bearing.

3,435,587 1,577,211 Balance carried from previous period 985,000 1,266,000 Appropriation Act (No. 1) 437,579 713,652 Services- Rendering of services to external entities 103,109 10,808 GST credits (FMA Act section 30A)


1,809,596 118,884 Payments made- Suppliers 9,000 13,200 Payments made- Other

1,818,596 132,084 Total debits Balance carried to next period (excluding investment balances) and represented by: 3,142,679 3,435,587

3,142,679 3,435,587 Cash – transferred to the Official Public Account Total balance carried to the next period 3,142,679 3,435,587

b) Special public moneys are trust account in nature and do not comprise part of the Department’s reporting entity.

2009 2008 Other Trust Moneys Account (Special Public Money)

$ $Legal Authority: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997; s20 Appropriation: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997; s21 Purpose: (a) For the expenditure of moneys temporarily held on trust or otherwise for the benefit of a person other than the Commonwealth; and (b) To credit another special account to which amounts held on trust or otherwise for the benefit of a person other than the Commonwealth may be credited. This account is interest bearing

405,260 280,951 Balance carried from previous period 122 252,849 Other receipts

Total credits 122 252,849 Available for payments 405,382 533,800

131,078 128,539 Payments made- other Balance carried to next period and represented by: 274,305 405,261

274,305 405,260 Cash - transferred to the Official Public Account Total balance carried to the next period 274,305 405,260


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

2009 2008 Environment- Services for other Governments and Non-agency Bodies Account (Special Public Money) $ $Legal Authority: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997; s20 Appropriation: Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997; s21 Purpose: (a) for the expenditure in connection with services performed on behalf of other governments and bodies that are not FMA Act agencies; and (b) To credit another special account to which amounts received in connection with services performed on behalf of other Governments and bodies that are not FMA Act agencies may be credited. This account is interest bearing Balance carried from previous period 3,474,031 3,705,986 Sale of goods and services 673,346 302,072 Other receipts - 849GST credits (FMA Act section 30A) 17,713 33,137 Total credits 691,060 336,058 Available for payments 4,165,091 4,042,044 Payments made- Suppliers 473,784 546,013 Payments made- Grants 25,065 22,000 Total debits 498,849 568,013 Balance carried to next period and represented by: 3,666,242 4,610,057 Cash - transferred to the Official Public Account 3,666,242 3,474,031 Total balance carried to the next period 3,666,242 3,474,031

Note 25: Compensation and Debt Relief

2009 2008$'000 $'000

Administered

No ‘Act of Grace’ expenses were incurred during the reporting period (2008: No expenses). - -

No waivers of amounts owing to the Australian Government were made pursuant to subsection 34(1) of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997. (2008: No waivers) - -

No ex-gratia payments were provided for during the reporting period. (2008: No payments) - -

Departmental

No payments were made during the reporting period. (2008: No payments made) - -

No waivers of amounts owing to the Australian Government were made pursuant to subsection 34(1) of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997. (2008: No waivers) - -

No ex-gratia payments were provided for during the reporting period. (2008: No payments) - -


Financial Statem

ents

Not

e 26

: Rep

ortin

g of

Out

com

es

Not

e 26

A: N

et C

ost o

f Out

com

e D

eliv

ery

The

Dep

artm

ent u

ses

an A

ctiv

ity B

ased

Cos

ting

Sys

tem

to d

eter

min

e th

e at

tribu

tion

of it

s sh

ared

item

s. T

he b

asis

of a

ttrib

utio

n in

the

tabl

e is

con

sist

ent w

ith th

e ba

sis

used

for t

he B

udge

t.

Out

com

e 1

Out

com

e 2

Out

com

e 3

Out

com

e 4

Paym

ents

to C

AC

A

ct b

odie

s*

Tota

l

2009

20

08

2009

20

08

2009

20

08

2009

20

08

2009

20

08

2009

20

08

$'00

0$'

000

$'00

0$'

000

$'00

0$'

000

$'00

0$'

000

$'00

0$'

000

$'00

0$'

000

Expe

nses

1,

045,

891

789,

853

- 22

426

9,01

8 23

5,99

2 19

8,56

3 11

3,66

0 40

8,90

6 -

1,92

2,37

8 1,

139,

729

Adm

inis

tere

d 31

4,34

5 34

1,85

9 15

1,25

4 13

5,99

6 60

,879

37

,004

57

,056

44

,391

58

3,53

4 55

9,25

0 D

epar

tmen

tal

1,36

0,23

6 1,

131,

712

151,

254

136,

220

329,

897

272,

996

255,

619

158,

051

408,

906

- 2,

505,

912

1,69

8,97

9 To

tal e

xpen

ses

Cos

ts re

cove

red

from

pro

visi

on o

f go

ods

and

serv

ices

to th

e no

n-go

vern

men

t sec

tor

2,08

75,

773

- -

2,33

82,

729

- 54

8 -

- 4,

425

9,05

0Ad

min

iste

red

70,8

83

11,3

50

13,9

63

- 5,

092

- 3,

455

- 93

,393

11

,350

D

epar

tmen

tal

72,9

70

17,1

23

13,9

63

- 7,

430

2,72

93,

455

548

- -

97,8

18

20,4

00

Tota

l cos

ts re

cove

red

Oth

er e

xter

nal r

even

ues

22,0

92

3,16

5 -

- 2,

161

1,26

51,

367

- -

- 25

,620

4,

430

Adm

inis

tere

d 4,

499

51,0

69

2,72

56,

243

162

2,55

07,

283

11,9

94

14,6

69

71,8

56

Dep

artm

enta

l 26

,591

54

,234

2,

725

6,24

32,

323

3,81

58,

650

11,9

94

- -

40,2

89

76,2

86

Tota

l oth

er e

xter

nal r

even

ues

1,26

0,67

5 1,

060,

355

134,

566

129,

977

320,

144

266,

452

243,

514

145,

509

408,

906

- 2,

367,

805

1,60

2,29

3 N

et c

ost/(

cont

ribut

ion)

of o

utco

me

Out

com

es 1

, 2, 3

and

4 a

re d

escr

ibed

in N

ote

1.1.

Net

cos

ts s

how

n in

clud

e in

tra-g

over

nmen

t cos

ts th

at a

re e

limin

ated

in c

alcu

latin

g th

e ac

tual

Bud

get O

utco

me.

R

efer

to O

utco

me

1 R

esou

rcin

g Ta

ble,

Out

com

e 2

Res

ourc

ing

Tabl

e, O

utco

me

3 R

esou

rcin

g Ta

ble

and

Out

com

e 4

Res

ourc

ing

Tabl

e of

this

Ann

ual R

epor

t.

*Pay

men

ts to

CA

C A

ct b

odie

s ar

e no

t rel

ated

to o

utco

mes

. The

y ar

e in

clud

ed h

ere

so th

e to

tal c

an a

gree

with

the

reso

urci

ng ta

ble.


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

Not

e 26

B: M

ajor

Cla

sses

of D

epar

tmen

tal I

ncom

e an

d Ex

pens

es b

y O

utpu

t Gro

ups

and

Out

puts

Out

com

e 1

Out

com

e 2

Out

com

e 3

Out

com

e 4

Tota

l 20

09

2008

20

09

2008

20

09

2008

20

09

2008

20

09

2008

To

tals

$'

000

$'00

0 $'

000

$'00

0 $'

000

$'00

0 $'

000

$'00

0 $'

000

$'00

0 D

epar

tmen

tal e

xpen

ses

138,

823

136,

728

38,8

53

35,4

20

28,5

62

12,6

84

30,4

63

21,5

32

236,

701

206,

364

Em

ploy

ees

110,

782

132,

155

67,8

21

57,8

90

25,2

73

18,7

91

23,1

15

17,0

86

226,

991

225,

922

Sup

plie

rs

56,8

77

63,0

39

2,62

21,

428

5,65

84,

956

1,59

02,

523

66,7

47

71,9

46

Gra

nts

and

trans

fer f

undi

ng

6,47

36,

114

28,0

25

27,7

65

1,23

042

21,

677

931

37,4

05

35,2

32

Dep

reci

atio

n an

d am

ortis

atio

n 1,

390

3,82

313

,933

13

,493

15

615

121

12,

319

15,6

90

19,7

86

Oth

er e

xpen

ses

Tota

l dep

artm

enta

l exp

ense

s 31

4,34

5 34

1,85

9 15

1,25

4 13

5,99

6 60

,879

37

,004

57

,056

44

,391

58

3,53

4 55

9,25

0

Fund

ed b

y:

234,

465

286,

409

104,

045

105,

522

58,8

47

40,1

41

45,3

10

35,6

57

442,

667

467,

729

Rev

enue

s fro

m G

over

nmen

t 70

,883

58

,162

13

,963

3,

121

5,09

22,

440

3,45

53,

349

93,3

93

67,0

72

Sal

e of

goo

ds a

nd s

ervi

ces

- -

- -

- -

- 22

5 -

225

Int

eres

t 5,

187

4,25

72,

725

3,12

22,

728

110

7,28

38,

420

17,9

23

15,9

09

Oth

er re

venu

e 31

0,53

5 34

8,82

8 12

0,73

3 11

1,76

5 66

,667

42

,691

56

,048

47

,651

55

3,98

3 55

0,93

5 To

tal d

epar

tmen

tal i

ncom

e


Financial Statem

ents

Out

put 1

.1

Out

put 1

.2

Out

put 1

.3

Out

put 1

.4

Out

put 1

.5

Tota

l 20

09

2008

20

09

2008

20

09

2008

20

09

2008

20

09

2008

20

09

2008

O

utco

me

1 $'

000

$'00

0 $'

000

$'00

0 $'

000

$'00

0 $'

000

$'00

0 $'

000

$'00

0 $'

000

$'00

0 D

epar

tmen

tal e

xpen

ses

25,0

20

27,5

54

27,9

55

31,0

30

17,9

23

17,3

43

13,7

53

13,6

55

54,1

72

47,1

46

138,

823

136,

728

Em

ploy

ees

26,6

91

40,4

43

17,1

08

23,8

12

15,5

00

15,2

48

7,62

69,

244

43,8

57

43,4

08

110,

782

132,

155

Sup

plie

rs

2,88

24,

676

47,0

95

47,8

17

579

1,92

82,

977

2,92

43,

344

5,69

456

,877

63

,039

G

rant

s an

d tra

nsfe

r fun

ding

92

21,

283

1,01

376

295

059

956

572

83,

023

2,74

26,

473

6,11

4 D

epre

ciat

ion

and

amor

tisat

ion

401

822

8327

136

722

865

492

474

2,01

01,

390

3,82

3 O

ther

exp

ense

s To

tal d

epar

tmen

tal e

xpen

ses

55,9

16

74,7

78

93,2

54

103,

692

35,3

19

35,3

46

24,9

86

27,0

43

104,

870

101,

000

314,

345

341,

859

Fund

ed b

y:

54,5

41

89,4

14

65,9

93

82,0

93

23,5

86

21,7

13

21,4

17

21,1

56

68,9

28

72,0

33

234,

465

286,

409

Rev

enue

s fro

m G

over

nmen

t 2,

026

4,11

527

,872

18

,861

10

,019

8,

324

1,72

21,

809

29,2

44

25,0

53

70,8

83

58,1

62

Sal

e of

goo

ds a

nd s

ervi

ces

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

- -

Int

eres

t 12

124

73,

439

1,45

948

657

271

71,

388

424

591

5,18

74,

257

Oth

er re

venu

e 56

,688

93

,776

97

,304

10

2,41

3 34

,091

30

,609

23

,856

24

,353

98

,596

97

,677

31

0,53

5 34

8,82

8 To

tal d

epar

tmen

tal i

ncom

e


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

Out

put 2

.1

Out

put 2

.2

Tota

l 20

09

2008

20

09

2008

20

09

2008

O

utco

me

2 $'

000

$'00

0 $'

000

$'00

0 $'

000

$'00

0 D

epar

tmen

tal e

xpen

ses

12,4

33

12,7

51

26,4

20

22,6

69

38,8

53

35,4

20

Em

ploy

ees

21,3

46

20,8

40

46,4

75

37,0

50

67,8

21

57,8

90

Sup

plie

rs

839

514

1,78

391

42,

622

1,42

8 G

rant

s an

d tra

nsfe

r fun

ding

8,

917

9,99

519

,108

17

,770

28

,025

27

,765

D

epre

ciat

ion

and

amor

tisat

ion

4,39

24,

857

9,54

18,

636

13,9

33

13,4

93

Oth

er e

xpen

ses

Tota

l dep

artm

enta

l exp

ense

s 47

,927

48

,957

10

3,32

7 87

,039

15

1,25

4 13

5,99

6

Fund

ed b

y:

33,4

73

37,9

87

70,5

72

67,5

35

104,

045

105,

522

Rev

enue

s fro

m G

over

nmen

t 4,

503

1,12

39,

460

1,99

813

,963

3,

121

Sal

e of

goo

ds a

nd s

ervi

ces

- -

- -

- -

Int

eres

t 75

51,

123

1,97

01,

999

2,72

53,

122

Oth

er re

venu

e 38

,731

40

,233

82

,002

71

,532

12

0,73

3 11

1,76

5 To

tal d

epar

tmen

tal i

ncom

e


Financial Statem

ents

Out

put 3

.1

Out

put 3

.2

Tota

l 20

09

2008

20

09

2008

20

09

2008

O

utco

me

3 $'

000

$'00

0 $'

000

$'00

0 $'

000

$'00

0 D

epar

tmen

tal e

xpen

ses

9,34

62,

894

19,2

16

9,79

028

,562

12

,684

E

mpl

oyee

s 10

,390

6,

633

14,8

83

12,1

58

25,2

73

18,7

91

Sup

plie

rs

5,11

84,

795

540

161

5,65

84,

956

Gra

nts

and

trans

fer f

undi

ng

418

8081

234

21,

230

422

Dep

reci

atio

n an

d am

ortis

atio

n 46

3111

012

015

615

1 O

ther

exp

ense

s To

tal d

epar

tmen

tal e

xpen

ses

25,3

18

14,4

33

35,5

61

22,5

71

60,8

79

37,0

04

Fund

ed b

y:

25,5

64

18,1

42

33,2

83

21,9

99

58,8

47

40,1

41

Rev

enue

s fro

m G

over

nmen

t 3,

196

260

1,89

62,

180

5,09

22,

440

Sal

e of

goo

ds a

nd s

ervi

ces

- -

- -

- -

Int

eres

t 2,

608

2012

090

2,72

811

0 O

ther

reve

nue

31,3

68

18,4

22

35,2

99

24,2

69

66,6

67

42,6

91

Tota

l dep

artm

enta

l inc

ome


Fina

ncia

l Sta

tem

ents

Out

put 4

.1

Tota

l 20

09

2008

20

09

2008

O

utco

me

4 $'

000

$'00

0 $'

000

$'00

0 D

epar

tmen

tal e

xpen

ses

30,4

63

21,5

32

30,4

63

21,5

32

Em

ploy

ees

23,1

15

17,0

86

23,1

15

17,0

86

Sup

plie

rs

1,59

02,

523

1,59

02,

523

Gra

nts

and

trans

fer f

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Glo

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GLOSSARY

Acrolein is a colourless or yellow liquid with a disagreeable odour. It is highly flammable. Acrolein is prepared industrially by the oxidation of propene. It is used in the manufacture of colloidal forms of metals, to make plastics and perfumes and as a warning agent in methyl chloride refrigerant. Near hazardous waste sites in which acrolein is not properly stored, acrolein might be found in the air, water or soil.

Administered items are expenses, revenues, assets or liabilities managed by agencies on behalf of the Commonwealth. Administered expenses include grants, subsidies and benefits, and may fund the delivery of third party outputs. For example the department administers appropriations for the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust to provide grants. This annual report refers to appropriations for administered items as ‘administered appropriations’.

Additional estimates is a process where the parliament may appropriate more funds to portfolios if the amounts appropriated at Budget time are insufficient. There can also be supplementary additional estimates.

In Antarctic science research, aerogeophysical surveys are airborne surveys to collect data such as ice surface, ice

thickness, bedrock configurations, airborne gravity and aeromagnetic anomalies.

Appropriations are authorisations by the parliament to spend monies from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. Two appropriation Bills are introduced into parliament in May and comprise the Budget. Further Bills are introduced later in the financial year as part of the additional estimates.

Bayesian: a type of risk modelling that can integrate quantitative information with qualitative expert knowledge.

Bioaccumulation refers to the accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other organic chemicals in an organism.

Biodiversity in essence means the variety of life. The term ‘biodiversity’ is a contraction of, and synonymous with, ‘biological diversity’. Biological diversity is defined in Article 2 of the Convention on Biological Diversity to mean ‘the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems’ (a similar definition appears in the glossary to the Ramsar Convention on wetlands). This term was first defined around 1980 to include


Glossary

two related concepts, genetic diversity (the amount of genetic variability within species) and ecological diversity (the number of species in a community of organisms). In terms of the diversity between species, estimates of the total number of species range from three to 100 million. The contracted form ‘biodiversity’ was coined around 1986.

Bioregion in essence means a geographic area characterised by a combination of physical and biological characteristics, for example, terrain, climate and ecological communities. The glossary of terms related to the Convention on Biological Diversity provides the following definition: ‘a territory defined by a combination of biological, social, and geographic criteria, rather than geopolitical considerations; generally, a system of related, interconnected ecosystems’. The term ‘bioregion’ is a contraction of biogeographic region and is usually synonymous with that term. The glossary to the Ramsar Convention on wetlands provides the following definition of ‘biogeographic region’ in relation to wetland management: ‘a scientifically rigorous determination of regions as established using biological and physical parameters such as climate, soil type, vegetation cover, etc’. Bioregions are a useful way to analyse patterns of biodiversity. The definition of a particular bioregion depends on the scale at which its characteristic features are measured.

Carbon dioxide equivalent is a term used by scientists to express the warming potential of various gases in carbon dioxide equivalent. For example over the next 100 years, compared with one kilogram of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere today, one kilogram of

methane will result in about 21 times more warming. Similarly, over the next 100 years, compared with one kilogram of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere today, one kilogram of chlorofluorocarbon-12 will result in 8,500 times more warming.

Carbon sink is a natural or human activity or mechanism that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, such as the absorption of carbon dioxide by growing trees (see also forest sink and geosequestration).

Climate change in Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change usage refers to any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or human activity. This differs from the Framework Convention on Climate Change, where climate change refers to a change of climate that is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity, that alters the composition of the global atmosphere, and that is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods.

The Commonwealth Heritage List under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 comprises places which are owned or controlled by the Australian Government, and that have natural, Indigenous and/or historic heritage values. These include places connected to defence, communications, customs and other government activities that also reflect Australia’s development as a nation.

Conservation covenants are a voluntarily entered, but permanently legally binding, restriction on the way in which landowners are able to use their land. For example, grazing may be prohibited on a covenanted area and


Glo

ssar

y

additional weed control may be expected. The restriction is in the form of a conservation covenant that is attached to the land title. Compliance with the conservation covenant is generally via a regular inspection by the body which is a party to the conservation covenant (usually a government department or statutory authority in Australia).

Corporate governance is the process by which agencies are directed, controlled and held to account. It is generally understood to encompass authority, accountability, stewardship, leadership, direction and control.

Cryptic fish are those that are often hard to see – either because they bury themselves in holes in the sand, or because their colouration enables them to blend into the background. Non-cryptic fish do not have this feature.

Departmental items are assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses that are controlled by agencies in providing their outputs. Departmental items would generally include computers, plant and equipment assets used by agencies in providing goods and services, and most employee expenses, supplier costs and other administrative expenses incurred. This annual report refers to appropriations for departmental items as ‘departmental appropriations’.

Discretionary grants are payments made to particular applicants, either organisations or individuals, at the discretion of the portfolio minister or the paying agency. The definition of discretionary grants does not include service agreements, which are treated as contracts rather than grants; intra-Australian Government agency funding; payments

to states and other government agencies (specific purpose payments) and inter-government transfers; payments to overseas aid organisations; government income support programs; emergency payment programs; grants under commercial industry development programs (including to increase research and development, and assist exporters); grant programs specifically for educational institutions and medical research institutions; grants approved by Australian Government bodies outside the general government sector; or payments of a specific sum of money or a fixed percentage of shared funding to an organisation or individual that are made according to a Cabinet decision, a letter from the Prime Minister, or a determination of a ministerial council. From 1 January 2009 annual reports must contain a list of all grant programs–not just discretionary grant programs–administered by the department.

Distributed generation systems are small, modular, decentralised, grid-connected energy systems located in or near the place where energy is used. Distributed generation permits consumers who are generating heat or electricity for their own needs to send surplus electrical power back into the power grid.

Ecologically sustainable is used to describe activities that meet present needs without compromising the ability to meet future needs because of damage to the environment. For example, the National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development defines ecologically sustainable development as ‘using, conserving and enhancing the community’s resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained, and the total quality


Glossary

of life, now and in the future, can be increased’. The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 defines ecologically sustainable use of natural resources as ‘use of the natural resources within their capacity to sustain natural processes while maintaining the life-support systems of nature and ensuring that the benefit of the use to the present generation does not diminish the potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations’.

Ecological communities are any naturally occurring group of species inhabiting a common environment, interacting with each other especially through food relationships and relatively independent of other groups. Ecological communities may vary in size, and larger ones may contain smaller ones. In the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 they are defined as assemblages of native species that inhabit particular areas in nature.

Environmental flow is water provided for the environment to sustain, and where necessary, restore ecological processes and biodiversity of water dependent ecosystems.

The Environment Protection and Heritage Council comprises environment and planning ministers from Australia’s federal, state and territory governments, and from the governments of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, and a representative of the Australian Local Government Association. The council incorporates the National Environment Protection Council. The Environment Protection and Heritage Council’s responsibilities cover environment protection and natural, historic and Indigenous heritage.

Emissions trading is a mechanism for achieving emissions reductions in a whole economy (either national, regional or global) for the lowest cost. Participants in carbon trading schemes may buy and sell contractual commitments or certificates that represent specified amounts of carbon-related emissions that are allowed to be emitted; and may include reductions in emissions (new technology, energy efficiency, renewable energy); and offsets against emissions, such as carbon sequestration (capture of carbon in biomass or storage in geological structures).

ERISS – Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a collective term for the transfer of water, as water vapour, to the atmosphere from both vegetated and unvegetated land surfaces. It is affected by climate, availability of water and vegetation.

Expense is the total value of all of the resources consumed in producing goods and services.

Fertigation is the application of fertilisers, soil amendments, or other water soluble products through an irrigation system.

Financial results are the results shown in the financial statements of an agency.

A forest sink is a forest that stores more carbon than it releases. Forests absorb or take up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow, and store carbon in the trees and soil. Some carbon is returned to the atmosphere, for example through loss of leaves and branches.


Glo

ssar

y

Geosequestration, a contraction of ‘geological sequestration’, involves storing gases such as carbon dioxide underground in deep saline aquifers, depleted oil and gas reservoirs, coal seams or natural underground pore spaces. Scientists are investigating whether it is feasible to store carbon dioxide in this way instead of emitting it to the atmosphere, where it would add to the greenhouse effect.

One gigalitre is equal to 1 000 megalitres and one megalitre is equal to one million litres.

A geographic information system (GIS) is an information system for capturing, storing, analysing, managing and presenting data which are spatially referenced (linked to location). GIS applications are tools that allow users to create interactive queries (user created searches), analyse spatial information, edit data, maps, and present the results of all these operations.

Greenhouse gases are heat-trapping gases that are a natural part of the atmosphere. They maintain higher temperatures at the earth’s surface than would otherwise be possible. This phenomenon is called the greenhouse effect. Water vapour is the most abundant greenhouse gas. Its concentration is highly variable and human activities have little direct impact on its amount in the atmosphere. Humans have most impact on carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Various artificial chemicals such as halocarbons also make a small contribution to climate change. The earth’s climate is warming. Scientists agree that some of this warming is due to human activities–particularly burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) and land clearing–

increasing the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Ground truthing is a term used in cartography, meteorology, analysis of aerial photographs, satellite imagery and a range of other remote sensing techniques in which data are gathered at a distance. Ground truth refers to information that is collected “on location.” In remote sensing, this is especially important in order to relate image data to real features and materials on the ground. The collection of ground-truth data enables calibration of remote-sensing data, and aids in the interpretation and analysis of what is being sensed.

Infauna are aquatic animals that live in the substrate of a body of water, especially in a soft sea bottom.

Integrated natural resource management is a way to ensure that uses of natural resources are ecologically sustainable. It is integrated because it attempts to manage all the activities that could affect natural resources, taking natural processes into account as well. It combines managing uses of natural resources with conservation. To do this it cuts across artificial distinctions such as government agency responsibilities, government or property boundaries, industry sectors and scientific disciplines. In defining management areas it gives priority to natural over human boundaries, for example using river catchments or bioregions as the primary basis for planning and management.

The objective of the ISO14001 standard is to specify requirements for an environmental management system (EMS) to enable an


Glossary

organisation to develop and implement a policy and objectives which take into account legal requirements and other requirements to which the organisation subscribes.

Karst is terrain with special landforms and drainage characteristics due to greater solubility of certain rocks in natural waters than is common. The term is derived from the geographical name of part of Slovenia.

Matters of national environmental significance are aspects of the work of protecting the environment (including heritage places) for which the Australian Government is responsible or in which it has an interest. The current list of 30 matters was identified in the 1997 Heads of Agreement on Commonwealth and State Roles and Responsibilities for the Environment signed by the Council of Australian Governments. The agreement allows for other matters to be added in the future. The referral, assessment and approval requirements of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 help to protect seven of the 30 matters. The Australian Government’s interests in the other matters are met through other legislation, cooperative approaches with the states and territories, and the delivery of programs and funding.

One megalitre is equal to one million litres.

Mis-fuelling occurs when different fuel types becomed mixed by accident, for example with the addition of automotive diesel fuel to the fuel tank of a gasoline fuelled vehicle at retail filling stations.

In December 2008 the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) assumed responsibility

for all of the functions of the former Murray-Darling Basin Commission. The Basin states passed legislation to enable the Australian Government to amend the Water Act 2007 so that additional functions could be performed by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. The authority reports to the Australian Government Minister for Climate Change and Water. The establishment of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) means that, for the first time, a single agency is now responsible for planning integrated management of the water resources of the Murray-Darling Basin.

The National Environment Protection Council comprises the environment ministers of each state, territory and the Australian Government. The council has law-making powers under the National Environment Protection Council Act 1994 and works cooperatively to develop these laws, which are called National Environment Protection Measures. The council is part of the Environment Protection and Heritage Council.

National Environment Protection Measures outline agreed national objectives for protecting or managing particular aspects of the environment. These measures have the force of law under the National Environment Protection Measures (Implementation) Act 1998 and similar legislation in the states and territories. Measures made to date cover a range of issues including standards for air quality, movements of controlled waste, and used packaging.

The National Heritage List under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 comprises places or groups of places which have outstanding


Glo

ssar

y

heritage value to the nation—whether natural, Indigenous or historic or a combination of these. Places on the National Heritage List are protected to the full extent of Australian Government powers.

The Natural Heritage Trust was set up by the Australian Government in 1997 to help restore and conserve Australia’s environment and natural resources. Since then, thousands of community groups have received funding for environmental and natural resource management projects.

The Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council comprises ministers of the Australian Government and the state and territory governments. The council is responsible for collective national decisions about the conservation and sustainable use of Australia’s natural resources. The council has subsumed part of the work of the former Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and other former ministerial councils dealing with primary industry matters.

Outcomes are the results, impacts or consequences of actions by the Australian Government on the Australian community. They are listed in agencies’ portfolio budget statements and portfolio additional estimates statements.

Outputs are the goods and services produced by agencies on behalf of the Australian Government for external organisations or individuals. Outputs also include goods and services produced for other areas of government external to an agency. In practice, most of the department’s outputs

are expressed in broad terms linked to major environmental themes.

Ozone depleting substances are substances that deplete the earth’s protective ozone layer. They are widely used in refrigerators, air conditioners, fire extinguishers, in dry cleaning, as solvents for cleaning, electronic equipment and as agricultural fumigants. Ozone depleting substances include chlorofluorocarbons, halon, hydrochlorofluorocarbons and methyl bromide. Countries have agreed to phase out ozone depleting substances through the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Some industries that use ozone depleting substances are replacing those substances with synthetic greenhouse gases.

The Palaearctic is one of the eight ecozones dividing the Earth surface. Physically, the Palaearctic is the largest ecozone. It includes the terrestrial ecoregions of Europe, Asia north of the Himalaya foothills, northern Africa, and the northern and central parts of the Arabian Peninsula.

Particulate matter is the generic term used for a type of air pollution that consists of complex and varying mixtures of particles suspended in the air. Particulate matter is a combination of fine solids such as dirt, soil dust, pollens, moulds, ashes, and soot; and aerosols (smog) that are formed in the atmosphere from gaseous combustion by-products such as volatile organic compounds, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

Persistent organic pollutants are hazardous and environmentally persistent substances which can be transported between countries by the earth’s oceans and atmosphere. The


Glossary

substances bioaccumulate and have been traced in the fatty tissues of humans and other animals. Persistent organic pollutants include dieldrin, polychlorinated byphenyls, DDT, dioxins and furans. Countries have agreed to control the manufacture and trade of persistent organic pollutants through the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

Photovoltaic is technology that converts light into electricity. Photo means ‘light’ and voltaic means ‘electric’. It is often referred to as ‘PV’ for short, but more commonly is referred to as ‘solar electric’.

Phytophthora (from Greek phytón, “plant” and phthorá, “destruction”; “the plant-destroyer”) is a genus of plant-damaging Oomycetes (water moulds), whose member species are capable of causing enormous economic losses on crops worldwide, as well as environmental damage in natural ecosystems. The genus was first described by Heinrich Anton de Bary in 1875.

Procurement encompasses the whole process of acquiring property and services. It begins when the department has identified a need and decided on its procurement requirement. Procurement continues through the processes of developing a business case, including risk assessment, identifying and evaluating alternative solutions, approaching the market, assessing tenders or quotes, contract award, delivery of and payment for the property and services and, where relevant, the ongoing management of a contract and consideration of options related to the contract. Procurement also extends to the ultimate disposal of property at the end of its useful life.

Product stewardship means recognising that manufacturers, importers and other people who benefit from making and selling a product share some responsibility for the environmental impacts of that product.

In horticulture, a propagule is any plant material used for the purpose of plant propagation.

Purchaser-provider arrangements are arrangements under which the outputs of one agency are purchased by another agency to contribute to outcomes. Purchaser-provider arrangements can occur between Australian Government agencies or between Australian Government agencies and state or territory government or private sector bodies.

Revenue is the total value of resources earned or received to cover the production of goods and services.

Riparian vegetation is situated on the banks of watercourses. In central Australia, where watercourses are usually dry, riparian communities often extend across the bed of the creek or river. The major threats to riparian communities are introduced weeds and fire.

Sclerophyll forests are a typically Australian vegetation type having plants with hard, short and often spiky leaves. They occur in a band around Australia from southern Queensland to the south-west of Western Australia. Sclerophyll is a Greek word meaning “hard-leaved” (sclero = hard; phyllon = leaf). The hardness in the leaves comes from lignin and prevents the leaves from wilting in dry conditions. However, Australian sclerophyllous


Glo

ssar

y

plants evolved in response to low levels of soil phosphorus, not to low levels of moisture.

Special appropriations are monies appropriated by the parliament in an Act separate to an annual Appropriation Act, where the payment is for a specified amount. For example, the department receives special appropriations under laws that require industry to pay a levy on the import of ozone depleting substances. Special appropriations are not subject to annual budget control by the parliament, unlike the annual appropriations.

Synthetic greenhouse gases are greenhouse gases that are either used in industrial applications or emitted as a by-product of industrial activity. They include hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. Some industries that use ozone depleting substances are replacing those substances with synthetic greenhouse gases.

A terabyte is equal to 1000 gigabytes.

Wayfinding encompasses all of the ways in which people and animals orient themselves in physical space and navigate from place to place. Wayfinding is used in the context of architecture to refer to the user experience of orientation and choosing a path within the built environment, and it also refers to the set of architectural and/or design elements that aid orientation. Historically, wayfinding refers to the techniques used by travelers over land and sea to find relatively unmarked and often mislabeled routes. This term is also used in reference to parking management strategies that help drivers find parking garages.

A worm farm has been established to provide live feed for breeding populations of fish used for research purposes by ERISS staff


Com

pliance Index

Ref 1 Description Requirement Page

A.4 Letter of transmittal Mandatory 2

A.5 Table of contents Mandatory 1

A.5 Index Mandatory 438

A.5 Glossary Mandatory 425

A.5 Contact officer(s) Mandatory cover

A.5 Internet home page address and internet address for report Mandatory cover

9.1 Review by departmental secretary Mandatory 3

9.2 Summary of significant issues and developments Suggested 4

9.2 Overview of department’s performance and financial results Suggested 14

9.2 Outlook for following year Suggested 8, 14

9.3 Significant issues and developments—portfolio Portfolio departments—suggested

4

10 Overview description of department Mandatory 9–12

10.1 Role and functions Mandatory 9

10.1 Organisational structure Mandatory 9–12

10.1 Outcome and output structure Mandatory 13

10.2 Where outcome and output structures differ from portfolio budget statement format, details of variation and reasons for change

Mandatory N/A

10.3 Portfolio structure Portfolio departments—mandatory

9–12

11.1 Review of performance during the year in relation to outputs and contribution to outcomes

Mandatory 15–218, 232

11.1 Actual performance in relation to performance targets set out in portfolio budget statement and portfolio additional estimates statement

Mandatory 15–218, 232

COMPLIANCE INDEX


Com

plia

nce

Inde

x


11.1 Performance of purchaser—provider arrangements If applicable, mandatory

N/A

11.1 Where performance targets differ from the portfolio budget statement and portfolio additional estimates statement, details of both former and new targets, and reasons for the change

Mandatory 62, 107

11.1 Narrative discussion and analysis of performance Mandatory 15–218, 232

11.1 Trend information Suggested 15–218, 225, 240

11.1 Factors, events or trends influencing departmental performance Suggested 15–218,

11.1 Significant changes in nature of principal functions or services Suggested 3

11.1 Performance against service charter customer service standards, complaints data, and the department’s response to complaints

If applicable, mandatory

262

11.1 Social justice and equity impacts Suggested 263

11.2 Discussion and analysis of the department’s financial performance Mandatory 14, 303

11.2 Discussion of any significant changes from the prior year or from budget Suggested 14, 303

11.3 Agency resource statement and summary resource tables by outcomes Mandatory 317, 320

11.4 Developments since the end of the financial year that have affected or may significantly affect the department’s operations or financial results in future

If applicable, mandatory

303–307

12.1 Statement of the main corporate governance practices in place Mandatory 248–260

12.1 Names of the senior executive and their responsibilities Suggested 10–12, 248–250

12.1 Senior management committees and their roles Suggested 253–256

12.1 Corporate and operational planning and associated performance reporting and review

Suggested 256

12.1 Approach adopted to identifying areas of significant financial or operational risk and arrangements in place to manage risks

Suggested 257

12.1 Agency heads are required to certify that their agency complies with the Commonwealth Fraud Control Guidelines

Mandatory 2

12.1 Policy and practices on the establishment and maintenance of appropriate ethical standards

Suggested 261

12.1 How nature and amount of remuneration for senior executive service officers is determined

Suggested 292

12.2 Significant developments in external scrutiny Mandatory 263–272


Com

pliance Index


12.2 Judicial decisions and decisions of administrative tribunals Mandatory 263

12.2 Reports by the Auditor-General, a parliamentary committee or the Commonwealth Ombudsman

Mandatory 267

12.3 Assessment of effectiveness in managing and developing human resources to achieve departmental objectives

Mandatory 287–288

12.3 Workforce planning, staff turnover and retention Suggested 287

12.3 Impact and features of collective, determinations, common law contracts and Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs)

Suggested 292

12.3 Training and development undertaken and its impact Suggested 295

12.3 Occupational health and safety performance Suggested 297–298

12.3 Productivity gains Suggested N/A

12.3 Statistics on staffing Mandatory 289–291

12.3 Collective agreements, determinations, common law contracts and AWAs

Mandatory 292

12.3 Performance pay Mandatory 294

12.4 Assessment of effectiveness of assets management If applicable, mandatory

307

12.5 Assessment of purchasing against core policies and principles Mandatory 307

12.6 The annual report must include a summary statement detailing the number of new consultancy services contracts let during the year; the total actual expenditure on all new consultancy contracts let during the year (inclusive of GST); the number of ongoing consultancy contracts that were active in the reporting year; and the total actual expenditure in the reporting year on the ongoing consultancy contracts (inclusive of GST) (Additional information as in Attachment D of the Requirements for Annual Reports to be available on the internet or published as an appendix to the report. Information must be presented in accordance with the proforma as set out in Attachment D.)

Mandatory 308

12.7 Absence of provisions in contracts allowing access by the Auditor-General

Mandatory 308

12.8 Contracts exempt from the AusTender Mandatory 308

12.9 Report on performance in implementing the Commonwealth Disability Strategy

Mandatory 298–302

13 Financial statements Mandatory 327


Com

plia

nce

Inde

x


14.1 Occupational health and safety (section 74 of the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991)

Mandatory 297–298

14.1 Freedom of information (subsection 8(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 1982)

Mandatory 264

14.1 Advertising and market research (section 311A of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918)

Mandatory 309

14.1 Ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance (section 516A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999)

Mandatory 272–286

14.2 Grant programs Mandatory 310

14.3 Correction of material errors in previous annual report If applicable, mandatory

277

Note: 1 Refers to the location of the item in the Requirements for Annual Reports. For example, ‘9.1’ refers to subsection 9(1) of the requirements, and ‘A.4’ refers to the fourth item in Attachment A of the requirements.


Index INDEX

AAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984, 5, 93, 102, 106, 240

Aboriginal Program Exchange, The, (TAPE), 200

Access and Equity Report 2006-08, 263

Action on Energy Efficiency program, 16, 31

Adelaide Park Lands and City Layout, 5, 94, 97

Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing, 47

advertising and market research, 309

Aerial Medical Service, 105

Agency Resource Statement, 317–19

Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP), 145–7, 155

air quality, 116–18

Airlink flight (Australia-Antarctic), 145, 148

Alice Solar City, 21, 24

Aliens in Antarctica, 146, 149, 153–4, 157, 232

Alligator Rivers Region, 49, 111–12, 122–4

alternative fuels, 117

Alternative Fuels Conversion Programme, 31

Aluminium Foil Insulation Association (AFIA), 19

Amerianna cumingi snail, 135–6

Anangu Rangers, 46

ANAO audit, 134

Angas Downs, 46

Angkor Wat World Heritage site, 101, 106

Anindilyakwa Rangers, 54–5

Anne Cay, 80

Antarctic Ice Sheet, 152

Antarctic Master Directory (AMD), 149

Antarctic Operations, 150

Antarctic policy, 145

Antarctic science, 145, 148–50

Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, 6, 144–7, 155

Antarctic Treaty System, 144–5, 151

Antarctica, 144–60

evaluation, 150–1

highlights, 144

objectives, 145

resources, 160

results, 145–7, 155–9

strategy, 147–50

Antarctica’s Gamburtsev Province Project (AGAP), 149


Inde

x

anti-whaling policy, 74–7, 90

Approvals and Wildlife Division, 110, 220

Arafura and Timor Seas Expert Forum, 70

Arid Lands Environment Centre, 24

Art Indemnity Australia, 196, 213, 217

Artbank, 188–9, 191, 198

Artbeat, 231

arts and culture, 188–217

case studies, 202–8

evaluation, 200–1

highlights, 189–90

objectives, 191

resources, 217

results, 191, 209–16

strategies, 191–200

Arts Division, 188

arts policy, 191–2

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Agreement, 70, 87

Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, 26

Asian Development Bank, 78

Atlas of Living Australia project, 46

Audit Committee, 252–3, 256–7

Auditor-General reports, 267

Aurora Australis, 145

AusBIOSEC agreement, 63

AusBiotech, 47

Ausfilm, 198

Australasian bittern, 56

Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators Network (AELERT), 133, 243

Australasian Journal of Ecotoxicology, 37

Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF), 9, 195, 200–1, 212

Australia film, 7

Australia International Cultural Council (AICC), 196–7

Australian Alps, 5, 94, 97

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality, 49

Australian Antarctic Data Centre (AADC), 149–50, 158

Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), 6, 144–5, 148–50, 152–3, 156–8

Australian Antarctic magazine, 157

Australian Antarctic Science Grants Program, 310

Australian Art Orchestra, 205–6

Australian Ballet, 192

Australian Ballet School (ABS), 196, 202, 215

Australian Biological Resources Study, 32, 44, 47, 51, 67

Eureka Prize, 34, 58

National Taxonomy Research Grant, 37, 47, 51, 62

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 64, 77

Australian Cellulose Insulation Manufacturers’ Association (ACIMA), 19

Australian Chamber Orchestra, 192

Australian Children’s Television Foundation, 198, 212

Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS), 198

Australian Government Land and Coasts, 32, 220

Australian Heritage Council, 5, 93, 96–8

publications, 102

Australian Institute of Architects, 18

Australian Institute of Marine Science, 47, 79


Index

Australian Ladybird Beetles, 47

Australian Marine Mammal Centre, 157, 228, 312–13

Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), 196

Australian Pest Animal Strategy, 36

Implementation Plan, 42–3

Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, 118

Australian Refrigeration Council, 231

Australian Research Institute in Education for Sustainability (ARIES), 121

Australian Resource Managers Survey (ARMS), 64

Australian Science and Teachers Association, 47

Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AusSSI), 121

Australian Weeds Committee, 36, 42

Australian Weeds Strategy, 36

Australian World Heritage Advisory Committee, 94, 99, 106

Australian World Heritage Indigenous Network, 99

Australian World Heritage Tentative List, 97

Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO), 196, 215

Australia’s Strategy for the National Reserve System 2009–30, 34

BBabel Island, 45

Bailey, Geoff, 12

Baird, Arthur, 105

Bara, Nathan, 54

Barkly Tablelands-Desert Channels, 50

Basser, Sally, 12, 257

Beachley, Layne, 207–8

Beale Review of Quarantine and Biosecurity, 33, 63

Bean, Lynn, 12

Bell Shakespeare Company, 192

Bergstrom, Dana, 154

BHP Billiton, 47

Big Dog Island, 45

bilateral activities, 223

biodegradable plastics, 115

Biodiscovery Industry Panel, 47

Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, 39, 63

biodiversity principle, 274

Biofuels taskforce, 142

bioregional profiles, 69, 71, 76

biotechnology risk assessment, 119–20

Bishop, Mervin, 200

Blackman, Dr Graeme, 99

Blacksmith Workshop, Eveleigh, 98

Blanchett, Cate, 190, 207

Bondi Beach, 95

Booderee National Park, 44

Books Alive, 217

Borthwick, David, 8

profile, 251

Bosak, Evelyn, 257

Bourne, Greg, 121

Box Gum Grassy Woodland, 33, 35, 40, 52, 63

Breakthrough, 189

Brigalow Belt South, 61

Brown, Chris, 99

Buckley, Kristal, 99

Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape Visitor Enhancement Project, 94

Budj Bim ranger group, 234


Inde

x

Building a Free Australia: Places of Democracy, 102

Building Designers Association of Australia, 18

Bundanon trust, 9, 196, 212

Burnett, Peter, 12, 257

Bushcare Penrith, 67

Bushfire Recovery Program, 34, 51

Business Continuity Plan, 259

CCairns Yacht Club, 98

Callaghan, Mike, 252

Callitris rhomboidea forest, 45

Campball, David, 54–5

Canberra Offices, environmental performance, 276–8

cane toads, 39, 43

Cape Barren Geese, 45

Cape York Peninsula, 61

Cape York Welfare Reform Trial, 214

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, 4, 19, 22

Caring for our Country, 4–5, 32–6, 38–46, 49–55, 57, 70–1, 77, 232, 234

Carr, Kim, 198

Carter, Ross, 12

Casey station, 148–50, 152

Catalyst, 154

Catherine Hill Bay Conservation Area, 98

Cave, Nick, 207

Certificate of Compliance, 259–60

chemical policy, 118–19

China, bilateral activities, 223

Chowilla Floodplain, 174–5

Cities for Climate Protection Australia program, 26

Clean Air Research Program, 118

Cliffe, The, Peppermint Grove, 98

Climate Change Action, Energy Efficiency and, 16–31

Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT), 132

Coastal Environments and Critical Aquatic Habitats priority area, 33

coastal zone management, 70, 73

coasts and oceans conservation, 68–92


evaluation, 76–7

highlights, 69

objectives, 70–1

resources, 92

results, 71–3, 87–91

strategies, 73–6

Cobar Peneplain, 61

Cochrane, Peter, 12

Cod Grounds Commonwealth Marine Reserve, 71

Collections Australia Network (CAN), 199

Colonial Sugar Refineries (CSR) Ethanol Biodunder project, 85

Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), 145, 147–8, 155, 158

Commonwealth Environmental Research Facilities (CERF), 49, 227–30

fellowships, 229

research hubs, 227–8

significant projects, 229

Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, 174–5, 179

Commonwealth Heritage List, 96–8, 106

emergency list, 97–8

management, 98–9


Index

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 39, 72, 79, 231

Community Coastcare, 36, 43, 64, 68–9, 71, 73, 75–7, 86, 88–9

Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP), 189

Community Heritage Grants Program, 196

Community Information Unit, 262

Community Water Grants, 67, 311

Compliance and Enforcement Policy, 132–3

Compliance Committee, 252, 254

Compliance Executive Committee (CEC), 242

Compliance Operational Network (CON), 242

computer recycling, 115

Conservation International, 79

Conservation Value Measure, 40

Consultative Committee, 252, 255

Conte, Steven, 189–90

Contemporary Music Touring Program, 192–3, 209–10, 314

Contemporary Touring Initiative, 192–3, 209, 314–15

Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals, 155

Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage 1972, 93, 96

future of, 101

Convention on Biological Diversity, 44, 47, 70, 87, 119

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, 70, 87, 112, 130–2, 242–3

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species, 70, 87

Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matters, 129, 244

Cooperative National Heritage Agenda, 99–100

Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia, 70

Coral Geographic, 79

Coral Sea Conservation Zone, 69, 71, 82–3, 232

Coral Triangle Initiative, 70, 78–9, 87, 223

corporate governance, 248–56

Corporate Project Management Office (CPMO), 258–9

Corporate Strategies Division, 220

Council of Australian Governments (COAG), 19–20, 22, 28, 166, 243

covenants for private land conservation, 40–1

Cranebrook, 36, 45

Creative Industries Innovation Centre, 198

CReefs, 47

cross-cutting activities, 220–45

Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities (CERF), 227–30

compliance and enforcement, 241–5

economic advice, 224–7

Indigenous policy and engagement, 234–40

objectives, 221–3

online information, 240

public affairs, 230–2

support for environment and heritage organisations, 232–3

Crossing Roper Bar, 205–6

Crowne Plaza Hotel, Alice Springs, 21, 24

Cultural Development Program, 196, 217, 314

Cultural Gifts Program, 195


Inde

x

Cultural Ministers Council, 189, 191–2, 194, 199

Culture Division, 188

Culture Portal, 199

Cumberland Plain Woodland, 36, 45

Curtin, John, House at Cottesloe, 94

DDalumba Bay, 54

Daly and Mitchell River catchments, 62

Darling Riverine Plains, 57, 61

Darwin (Charles) Education kit and poster, 47, 48

Deception Bay Pool, 31

degradable plastics, 115

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, 33, 37, 42, 63–4

Department of Climate Change, 9

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 196–7

Department of Health and Ageing, 119

Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, 122


corporate governance, 248–56

executive committees, 252–6

financial performance, 14, 303–7

human resources, 287–302

matters dealt with, 9

mission, 9

offices, 11

overview, 9, 12

roles and functions, 9

stakeholder relations, 260–3

structure, 10–11

Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre, 24

Diesel Vehicle Emissions National Environment Protection Measure, 122

Director of National Parks, 44

Disability Strategy, Commonwealth, 298–302

d/Lux/ MediaArts, 192

Dog on the Tuckerbox, 98

dogfish, 88

dolphin and whale sanctuaries, 70, 75

EEarly, Gerard, 10, 12

profile, 249

East Asia Summit Environment Ministers’ Meeting, 221, 223

Eastaugh, Stephen, 232

Eastern Creek Wetlands, 39

eastern gemfish, 71

Economics and Strategic Policy Section, 224

Education for Sustainability, 121–2

Grants program, 121, 310

Educational Lending Right (ELR), 198, 211, 217

Egg Islands Reserve, 45, 56

Elliot, Adam, 7

employment agreements, 292–3

end-of-life tyres, 114–15

Energy Efficiency, National Strategy for, 4

Energy Efficiency and Climate Change Action, 16–31


evaluation, 22–3

highlights, 16–17

objectives, 17–18


Index

resources, 31

results, 18, 26–30

strategies, 19–22

Energy Efficiency in Government Operations (EEGO), 30

Energy Efficiency of Electrical Appliances, 31

Energy Efficient Homes Package, 3, 16, 17, 19, 23, 28, 230

enforcement outcomes, 241

Envirofund small grants program, 43, 76

Environment Protection (Alligator Rivers Region) Act 1978, 122, 134

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, 37, 40, 44, 52, 69–71, 73, 93, 96–8, 102, 106, 109, 111, 113–14, 124–5, 225, 239, 244, 263

review of, 4, 111, 134

Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC), 28, 99–100, 106, 112, 114, 118, 122

Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981, 114, 129–30, 244

Environment Quality Division, 110

environmental assessments and approvals, 112, 127–9

Environmental Economics Research Hub, 228

Environmental Guidelines for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Geological Storage, 122

environmental performance, 276–86

Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist (ERISS), 37, 47, 49, 62

Environmental Resources Information Network (ERIN), 226–7

Environmental Stewardship, 33, 35, 38, 40, 51, 52–3, 63–4, 67, 312

Environmental Water Scientific Advisory Committee, 165, 174, 179

ethical standards, 260

European Commission, bilateral activities, 223

Evans, Cadel, 208

Experimenta Media Arts Inc, 192

FFestivals Australia program, 194, 209, 211, 314

film tax offsets, 200

Finalised Priority Assessment List (FPAL), 113

financial performance, 14, 303–7

Finke, 61

fisheries, 70, 72, 91

Flemington Racecourse, 95

Flinders, 61

Flinders Lofty Block, 61

Flora of Australia, 47, 48

Flying Fruit Fly Circus (FFFC), 196

Forbes, Malcolm, 11, 12, 252, 257

profile, 250

Forest Conservation Fund, 33, 39–40, 63

Revolving Fund, 40

Fox Free Tasmania, 39

Franzke, J David, 190

fraud control, 259

freedom of information, 264–5

Freeman, Robert, 12

Fremantle Prison, 95

Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000, 110–11, 113, 116–17, 139, 245

Fuel Spill Contingency Plan, 147

Fuel Standard (Autogas) Determination 2003, 116


Inde

x

Fuel Standard (Automotive Diesel) Determination 2001, 111, 116

fuel standards, 116–18

alternative fuels, 117

monitoring compliance and enforcement, 117

Fullerton, Jan, 12

Future of the World Heritage Convention, 94

Fysh, Hudson, 105

GGadigal Information Service, 203–4

Garden, Associate Professor Don, 99

Garrett, Peter, AM MP, 4, 9, 12, 24, 73, 190, 197–8, 202

letter to, 2

Gene Technology Act 2000, 119

Gene Technology Regulator, 119

Genetic Resources Management, 46–7

Georgina Cay, 80

Gerber, Matthys, 208

Ginini Wetlands, 50

Gippsland Lakes, 36, 39, 43–4

Glenelg to Adelaide Parklands Recycled Water Project, 176

Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), 149

Grabowsky, Paul, 205–6

Graduate Steering Committee, 252, 255

grant programs, 310–16

list, 315–16

Grants to Voluntary Environment and Heritage Organisations, 233, 313

Great Artesian Basin, 180, 184

Great Barrier Reef, 84, 95

environmental impact assessment, 113

Foundation, 47

Intergovernmental Agreement, 71

Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships Program, 74, 85, 89

Ministerial Council, 70–1

Rescue Plan see Reef Rescue

Structural Adjustment Package, 68, 72, 77

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2008, 69, 71, 125

Great Sandy Desert, 61

Green Loans Program, 18, 31

Greenhouse Gas Abatement Program, 26, 31, 310

Grigg, Professor Gordon, 229

Groote Eylandt Archipelago, 55

Guerin, Lucy, 190

Gulpilil, David, 207

Gundabooka National Park, 57

Hhalon collection, 113

Hamilton, Dr Stephen, 229

Harley, Ruth, 12

Harley, Tom, 99

Harris, Rolf, AM OBE, 199

Harwood, Mary, 12

Hattah Lakes, 175

Hawke, Dr Allan, 4, 111, 134, 269

Hawkesbury Nepean catchments, 50

Hawksbill sea turtle, 55

hazardous substance regulation, 118, 140


Index

Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989, 118, 245

Healthy Country, Healthy People Schedule, 238

Heard Island, 145, 156–7

Henderson, Paul, 24

Henry, Dr Ken, AC, 252

Hercules Aircraft, 144

heritage, natural, Indigenous and historic, 93–108

case study, 105

evaluation, 104–5

highlights, 94

objectives, 94

resources, 108

results, 94–6, 106–7


Heritage Division, 93

Heritage Economics, 104–5

Heritage Working Group, 99

Hicks, Petrina, 208

Hidden Republic, 192

Hirst, Dr John, 102

Historic Shipwrecks, 103–4, 106

Program, 104, 311

Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976, 93, 103–4, 232, 245

HMAS Sydney II, 95, 103

HMCS Mermaid, 96, 103

Hollway, Sandy, AO, 72, 74

Homeowner Insulation Program, 4, 16, 19, 29

Horne, Dr James, 10, 12

profile, 250

House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Water, Environment and the Arts, 271–2

Housing Institute of Australia, 18

HSK Kormoran, 95, 103

Hughes, Alan, 12

human settlements, 109–42


evaluation, 133–4

highlights, 110–11

objectives, 112

resources, 142

results, 113–14, 139–41


Humphreys, Dr Bill, 34, 58

Hunter, Ruby, 205–6

IIan Darling, 190

Ian Potter Foundation, 189

ICECAP, 148–9

Imanpa community, 46

Incheon, permanent Secretariat, 72

Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC), 239

Indigenous Arts and Culture Programs, 194–5, 213, 217, 239

Indigenous Broadcasting program, 194, 200, 203–4, 214, 217, 313–14

Indigenous Carbon Market Participation project, 42

Indigenous communities, 41–2

Indigenous Contemporary Music Action Plan, 7, 189


Inde

x

Indigenous Culture Support program, 7, 194, 206, 213, 313

Indigenous Emissions Trading, 38, 42, 234, 238

Indigenous heritage, 102, 106, 239–40

program, 102–3, 108, 311

Indigenous Policy Leadership Group, 239, 252, 254

Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs), 32, 34, 37, 38, 44, 45–6, 51, 55, 61, 232, 234, 238–9, 313

Indigenous rangers, 33, 36, 46, 54–5, 64

Indigenous Remote Radio Replacement (IRRR), 194–5

Indonesia, bilateral activities, 223

Indonesian Bird Banding Scheme, 70, 72

Information Management Committee, 252–3

inland waters, 43–4

in-service emissions, 117–18

in situ testing, 135–6

Insulation Council of Australia and New Zealand (ICANZ), 19

Insulation Manufacturers Association of Australia (IMAA), 19

Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Framework for a National Cooperative Approach to, 70, 73

integration principle, 273

intergenerational principle, 274

International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), 96

International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement (INECE), 242

International Polar Year (IPY) projects, 144, 148–9, 232

International Policing Organisation (INTERPOL), 242

International Union for Conservation of Nature, 221–2

International Whaling Commission (IWC), 68, 70, 74, 87, 148

reform discussions, 72, 90

Invasive species policy, 32

Irrigation Modernisation Planning Assistance (IMPA), 177–8

JJames Price Point, 128

Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, 49

Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (J.A.R.E.), 150

Jervis Bay, 98

Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT), 270–1

Jones, Philip, 189–90

judicial decisions, 263

KKakadu National Park, 37, 44, 63

Kanmantoo, 61

Keele, Kathy, 12

Keyline Farming Development Site, 98

Kokoda Track, 94–5, 100, 106, 108, 223

Korea, Republic of, bilateral activities, 223

Kruk, Robyn, AM, 12

letter to Ministers, 2

profile, 248

responsibilities, 10

Secretary’s review, 3–8

Kyoto and Carbon Initiative, 49


Index

LLalara, Simeon, 54

Land and Coasts Division, 68

land and inland waters, 32–67


evaluation, 49–51

highlights, 33–4

objectives, 34–5

resources, 67

results, 35–7, 61–6

strategies, 37–49

Land and Water Australia, 34

Landcare Sustainable Practice Grants, 33

Leak, Bill, 200

learning and development strategies, 295–6

letter to Ministers, 2

Levy, Sandra, 12

Lihou Reef National Nature Reserve, 80–1

Likens, Professor Gene, 229

Literary Awards, Prime Minister’s, 7, 189, 212, 217, 231

Living Greener online portal, 22, 27–8, 30

Living Murray Initiative, 165, 180, 184

‘Living Sustainably’ National Action Plan, 111, 113

Logan Escarpment, 45

Lorna Cay, 80

Low Emissions Assistance Plan for Renters, 4, 16, 19, 29, 31

Low Emissions Technology and Abatement program, 18, 31, 310

Luhrmann, Baz, 7

Lungtalanana, 45

MM24 midget submarine, 104, 232

McDonald Islands, 145, 156–7

McEwen, Robbie, 208

McGinness, Paul J, 105

McGrathNicol, 200

McIntyre, Darryl, 12

McMaster, Fergus, 105

Macquarie Island, 39

Maddock, Lyn, 12

Magela Creek, 135

Mahoney, Tos, 206

Maintaining Australia’s Biodiversity Hotspots program, 50

Maintenance of Indigenous Languages and Records program, 7, 194, 213, 313

Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo, 58

Manado Ocean Declaration, 79

Marine and Coastal Coordination Committee, 252, 256

marine and migratory species protection, 73

Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF), 227, 229

Marine Bioregional Planning, 70, 73, 87

Marine Division, 32, 68

Marine Mammal Protected Area Conference, 74

marine pest management, 74

Marine Protected Areas, 70–1, 79, 87

National Representative System, 73

Marine Turtle Recovery Plan, 88

maritime heritage, 103–4

Maritime Museums of Australia Project Support Scheme, 196

Marton-Lefèvre, Julia, 222


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Mary and Max, 7

Master Builders Australia (MBA), 19

Matthews, Ken, 12

Melbourne Cricket Ground, 95

Middle Cay, 80

migratory and marine species protection, 73

migratory bird agreements, 70, 72

Minimum Energy Performance Standards, 20

mining impact assessment, 135–6

Minister for Climate Change and Water see Wong, Senator Penny

Minister for Foreign Affairs see Smith, Stephen, MP

Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research see Carr, Kim

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts see Garrett, Peter, AM MP

ministerial workflow system, 261

Mission Beach Cassowaries, 138

Model Environmental Management System (EMS), 276

Mole Creek, 40, 67, 312

Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement (MERI), 50, 53, 77

Moreton Bay wetland, 69

Morrison, Jenny, 257

Morton, Craddock, 12

Mudie, Virginia, 257

Mulga Lands, 57, 61

Murray-Darling Basin, 6, 162–70, 174, 179, 184, 231, 265–6

mutton-bird rookeries, 45

Nnanotechnology, 119–20

Nation Building–Economic Stimulus Package, 3, 16

National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA), 196

National Arts and Crafts Industry Support (NACIS), 7, 194, 201, 214, 314

National Arts and Disability Strategy, 7, 191–2

National Assessment Guidelines for Dredging, 129

National Biodiversity Strategy, 5, 39, 63

National Biosecurity Committee, 42

national collecting institutions, 196

National Cultural Heritage, 108

National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM), 120, 139, 275

National Environmental Information System (NEIS), 224–5

National Farmers Federation Environment Liaison Officer, 127

National Film and Sound Archive, 7, 196, 198

National Framework on Energy Efficiency, 20

National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007, 120

National Heritage

emergency list, 97–8

Investment Initiative, 108, 311

List, 93–4, 96–8, 106

management, 98–9

National Hydrological Modelling Strategy, 166

National Indigenous Television (NITV), 194

National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme, 118


Index

National In-Service Emission Testing program, 113, 117

National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA), 196, 215

National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), 196, 215–16

National Koala Conservation Strategy, 126

National Network of Whale and Dolphin Sanctuaries, 70, 75

National Packaging Covenant, 139

National Partnership Approach for the Sustainable Harvest of Marine Turtles and Dugongs in Australia, 74

National Pollutant Inventory (NPI), 110, 120–1

National Portrait Gallery, 7, 188–91, 199–200, 201, 207–8, 299

National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative, 163–4, 185

National Recovery Plan for Albatrosses and Giant Petrels, 88

National Reserve System, 32–4, 36, 38, 44–5, 49, 51, 56, 57, 61, 170, 313

strategy, 51

National Solar Schools Program, 18, 22, 25, 27–9, 31

National Strategy for Energy Efficiency, 4, 16, 19–20, 28

National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia’s Biological Diversity, 39

National System for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions, 74

National Treasures series, 95

National Trusts Partnership Program, 108, 311

National Urban Water and Desalination Plan, 163–4, 176, 182, 185

National Waste Policy, 110, 114–16

National Water Initiative (NWI), 165

National Water Knowledge and Research Plan, 166

National Water Quality Management Strategy, 162

National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns, 163, 182, 185

Native Vegetation Framework, 39, 63

Native Vegetation Information System, 41

Natural Heritage Trust, 34, 67, 76

Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council, 39

Natural Resource Management organisations, 35

Natural Resources Ministerial Council, 169

Nature Conservancy, The, 78

new building project, 276

New England Tablelands, 61

NSW North Coast, 61

New Zealand, bilateral activities, 223

New Zealand fur seals, 73

Ngadjuri Heritage Committee, 103

Ningaloo Coast, 5, 38, 97, 106

non-road engine emissions, 118

North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA), 42

North Queensland Dry Tropics, 50

Northern Australia Water Futures Assessment, 49

Northern Savannah Fire Management project, 42, 238

Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 24

Northern Territory Conservation Partnership program, 45


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OOccupational Health and Safety, 297–8

Committee, 252, 255

Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991, 146

ocean fertilisation, 130

O’Grady, Stuart, 208

Old Government House restoration, 94

Ombudsman, Commonwealth, 263–4

O’Neil, Hannah, 202

On-farm Irrigation Efficiency program, 164

online information, 240

online portal–Living Greener, 22, 27–8, 30

Open Grants, 33, 35, 43

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 119, 221–2, 242, 242

Ornamental Fish Management Implementation Group, 131

outcomes

new structure, 14

Outcome 1–Environment, 4–5, 15–142

Outcome 2–The Antarctic, 6, 143–60

Outcome 3–Water, 6, 161–86

Outcome 4–Arts and Culture, 7, 187–218

structure, 13

Outer Furneaux Islands, 45

outputs structure, 13

Owen Stanley Ranges, 94, 100

ozone layer protection, 110, 113, 119, 133, 142

Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989, 119, 133, 245

PPacific Island Archaeology in the 21st Century conference, 102

Pacific Islands World Heritage Workshop, 95, 101, 106

Pacific Regional Environment Program, 221–2

packaging waste, 115

Page, Dr T, 37

Paiwalla wetlands, 174

Papua New Guinea, bilateral activities, 223

Parker King, Lieutenant Phillip, RN, 103

Parks Australia Division, 32

environmental performance, 284–5

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, 271

performance management, 295

performance payments, 294

Petrachenko, Donna, 12

Phann, Nady, 104

philanthropic support for culture and arts, 195

Phillips, Thomas, 189, 200

Phytophthora cinnamomi, 38

Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Media Association Aboriginal Corporation (PY Media), 200

Playing Australia Program, 192–3, 205–6, 210, 314

Podger, Andrew, 257

Point Nepean Quarantine Station, 96, 98–99, 108

Policy Coordination Division, 220

pollution prevention strategies, 112

Polyester Insulation Manufacturers Association of Australia (PIMA), 19

Portfolio overview, 9

Power and Water Corporation, 24


Index

precautionary principle, 273

Prime Minister see Rudd, Kevin, MP

Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, 7, 189, 212, 217, 231

privacy matters, 267

procurement activities, 307–9

Product Stewardship for Oil Program, 115–16, 133, 140

Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986, 5, 106, 240

Protiviti Pty Ltd, 256

Public Lending Right (PLR), 198, 211, 217

Public Service Act 1999, 2

QQANTAS Hangar, Longreach, 5, 94, 97, 105, 232

Queensland Wet Tropics, 38

RRadford, Ron, 12

Rankin, Alex, 12, 257

recovery plans, 126

Redford, Scott, 207–8

Reef Rescue, 33, 38–9, 68–71, 73, 75, 77, 84–5, 89

Reef Water Quality Protection Plan, 68, 70, 73–4

regional and touring programs, 192–4

Regional Arts Fund, 194, 209, 211, 314

Register of Cultural Organisations, 195

Reichelt, Russell, 12

Renewable Remote Power Generation Program (RRPGP), 18, 29, 31, 310

Renewables and Energy Efficiency Division, 16

Resale Royalty Right for Visual Artists Bill 2008, 191–2

resources for outcomes, 320–6

Return of Indigenous Cultural Property Program, 194

rewards and recognition, 296–7

Rippon Lea grotto restoration, 94

Risk Panel, 252, 254, 257–8

Riverina, 61

Robinson, Ian, 12

Rosetzky, David, 190, 207

Rudd, Kevin, MP, 190, 207

SSafety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988, 146

St Jude’s Primary School, 25

salaries, 293

Samson and Delilah, 7

Savannah Cat, 137

Sayers, Andrew, 12

SCAR-MarBIN, 149

Scout Hall Water Saving Infrastructure Programme, 67

Screen Australia, 7, 95, 198, 217

Sculthorpe, Dr Gaye, 99

sea dumping and sea installations permits, 130

Sea Installations Act 1987, 114, 130, 244

sea lion, recovery plan, 72–3, 88

Secretary see Kruk, Robyn, AM

Senate Inquiry into Australia’s national parks, conservation reserves and marine protected areas, 51

Senate Standing Committees


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Environment, Communication and the Arts, 268–9

Finance and Public Administration, 271

Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport, 269–70

service charter, 262–3

sharks

great white, 73, 88

grey nurse, 73, 88

school shark, 71

Sherry, Senator Nick, 233

Shevlin, James, 12

shipwrecks, 103–4, 106

database, 104

Shogren, Rod, 257

Short, Dr J, 37

Slatyer, Tony, 12

Smith, Neville, 12

Smith, Stephen, MP, 197

Solar Cities Program, 20–3, 26, 29, 31, 310

Solar Homes and Communities Plan, 18, 26, 29, 31

Solar Hot Water Rebate Program, 4, 16, 17, 19, 27, 29, 31

Solar Linkages to Atmospheric Processes, 146, 149, 157, 232

solar photovoltaic system, 21, 24

South Australia Murray Darling Basin, 50

South Eastern Queensland, 61

Southern Bluefin Tuna, 88

Southern Coastcare Association of Tasmania (SCAT), 86

Southern Ocean Research Partnership (SORP), 69, 72, 74, 76, 91

Spatial Sciences and Data Integration team, 49

species listing, recovery plans and information, 125–7

Species Profile and Threats Database (SPRAT), 127

SS Florence D, 96, 103–4

Standards Australia, 28

State of the Environment report, 225–6

Stockholm Convention, Conference of Parties, 110

Stoner, Casey, 208

Strategic Contemporary Music Industry Plan, 192

Strategic Review of Australian Government Climate Change Programs, 16, 22–3

Strengthening Basin Communities program, 164

Supervising Scientist Division, 32, 37, 47, 49, 110, 122–4, 133–4, 135

environmental performance, 278, 286

Sustainability, Education for, 121–2

Grants program, 121

Sustainability in Government program, 275

sustainable farming practices, 33, 42–3

Sustainable Rural Water Use and Infrastructure program, 163, 166, 185, 231

Sydney Dance Company, 192

TTangentyere Council, 24

Tarriwa Kurrukun IPA, 46

Tasmanian Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, 86

Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement, 33, 39, 63

Tasmanian Devils, 39, 41


Index

Tasmanian Land Conservancy, 40, 56

Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Areas, 38

Taylor, Dr Andrew, 229

television recycling, 115

Tenebrionid Beetles of Australia, 47

terrestrial parks and reserves, 44

Thompson, Malcolm, 12, 257

Thornton, Warwick, 7

Threat Abatement Plans, 37–8, 88, 137

threatened species information, 126

Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC), 88, 112, 125

Throsby, Professor David, 99, 105

Toorale Station, 45, 57–8, 164, 172–4

Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge (TRaCK) research consortium, 49, 51, 62, 228

Tropical Rivers Inventory and Assessment Project, 34, 37, 51, 59–60

Tropical Wetlands Research, 47, 49

Tucker, Mark, 11, 12, 257

profile, 249

Tuggerah Lakes, 76

Tumby Bay, 43

Turtle Islet, 80

UUluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, 44

UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 95–6

United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, 221

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 70

United Nations Environment Program, 110, 221–2

United States Antarctic Program (USAP), 6

uranium mining, supervision, 112, 122–4

Urban Water Stakeholder Reference Panel, 165

VValentine, Associate Professor Peter, 99

valuation principle, 274

van Dam, Dr Rick, 37

Vatcharangkul, Erbprem, 104

vehicle emissions, 116–18

Vertebrate Pests Committee, 36, 42

Victorian Volcanic Plains, 50

Visions of Australia program, 192–3, 209, 314

WWarru, 42

Warrumbungles National Park, 95

Water, 162–85


evaluation, 169

highlights, 163

objectives, 163–4

resources, 184–5

results, 164–5, 179–83

strategies, 165–9

Water Act 2007, 163, 165, 169, 231, 245, 265

Water Amendment Act 2008, 163

Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme, 162, 165, 183, 185, 245

Water Entitlement Purchasing, 170–1

Water for the Future, 6, 57, 162–3, 165, 169, 177–8, 184, 221, 231

Water Group, 162, 221

Water Matters, 231


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Water Recovery and Environmental Use Stakeholder Reference Panel, 164, 171

water reform program, 164, 166

Water Resource Assessment and Research Grants (WRARG), 181

Water Resource Plan consultation, 266–7

Water Smart Australia, 182, 185

Webber, John, 207

Weeds of National Significance program, 36

Western Australian Rangelands Ecofire Project, 50

Wet Tropics of Queensland, 95, 138

Wet Tropics World Heritage Protection and Management Act 1993, 93

Wetlands Habitat Trust, 174

whales

anti-whaling policy, 70, 74–7, 87, 90

non-lethal research, 69, 74

sanctuaries, development, 70, 75

Special Envoy for Whale Conservation, 70, 72, 74, 90–1

Whitley Awards, 47

Wilcannia Post Office, 94

Wildlife Conservation Plan for dugongs, 88

wildlife protection and management, 112

wildlife trade, 130–2

Wilkins Review, 16, 22–3

Williams, Mary-Louise, 12

Willis, Paul, 154

Wilson, Dr G, 37

Wind Farm Industry Policy Statement, 129

Wong, Senator Penny, 9, 12, 231

letter to, 2

Woods, Peter, 12

woodsmoke pollution, 118

Workflow, 261

Workforce Management Committee, 252–3

workforce profile, 288–91

Working on Country programs, 32–3, 35–6, 38, 41–2, 54–5, 64, 67, 234–7, 311–12

World Fish Centre, 79

World Heritage

Asia-Pacific Region, support in the, 101–2

Committee, 38, 93–7, 100–1

Day, 95

List, 96–7, 106

management, 98

World Oceans Conference, 79, 87

World Wide Fund for Nature, 51, 127

World Wildlife Fund, 75, 77–8

Wright, Diana, 12

YYawtarrnga, Elma, 54

Yellow Sea Ecoregion, 72

Yothu Yindi Foundation, 206

Your Home, 18


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Volume 1– ImagesPage no. Caption Credits

21 More than 1320 solar photovoltaic panels were installed on the roof of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Alice Springs during 2008–09.

Courtesy of Crowne Plaza Hotel

24 Aerial view of Alice Springs showing the 305kw solar photovoltaic system on the roof of the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Courtesy of Crowne Plaza Hotel

25 National Solar Schools Program–entrance and solar panels. Courtesy of St Jude’s Primary School

48 Flora of Australia volume 44A and 57. Cover Design: W.M.Malcolm

48 Charles Darwin: a voyage of discovery. Poster Design: Brigitte Kuchlmayr (ABRS)

52 Box Gum Grassy Woodland, Mulligan’s Flat ACT. Photo: Graham Hodge

54 Tagging a turtle at Dalumba Bay. Photo:Simon Hartley

56 Egg Islands Reserve. Photo: Matt Newton

57 Toorale showing the Warrego River. Photo: Tim Bond

81 Georgina Cay, Lihou Reef. Courtesy of Coastwatch

81 Squirrel fish of Lihou Reef. Courtesy of Coastwatch

83 Coral and School of Sharks, Coral Sea Conservation Zone. Courtesy of Coastwatch

84 Newly converted biodunder variable rate spreader. Courtesy of CSR Ethanol, Sarina

105 QANTAS Hangar, Longreach Queensland.

147 Cover of the revised fuel spills manual. Courtesy AAD

154 Aliens in Antarctica project. Photo: Mat Oakes

168 Murray River. Photo: John Baker

173 Toorale Station. Photo: David Tonkin

175 The Chowilla Floodplain. Photo: Mark Mohell

178 Irrigation Regulating Valve. Photo: John Baker

189 Lady Ellen Stirling c. 1828 by Thomas Phillips oil on canvas. Collection: National Portrait Gallery, Canberra

190 PM’s Literary Award presentation.

190 Portrait of Cate Blanchett. © David Rosetzky

195 DEWHA Indigenous language program. Photo: 2008, Scotdesco Community


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Volume 1– ImagesPage no. Caption Credits

202 Launch of the Australian Ballet School’s refurbished training facilities. Photo: Sergey Konstantinov, 2009, courtesy Australian Ballet School

203 Koori Radio’s new media complex in Redfern. Photo: Michelle Blakeney, 2009, courtesy of Gadigal Information

205 Crossing Roper Bar performance. Photo: Bohdan Warchomij, 2008 at the Perth Concert

208 Evening in the Sculpture Gallery. Photo: Brett Boardman. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery

208 Visitors enjoying the permanent collection display. Photo: Brett Boardman. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery


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Cover and other image creditsPage Credits

Front cover DEWHA staff (Mark Mohell)

National Portrait Gallery (Brett Boardman)

Solar photovoltaic panels (Crowne Plaza Hotel)

Lake Goyder, SA (Peter Canty)

Whale Shark (Paradise Ink)

Antarctica (Chris Wilson AAD)

Screen-printed fabrics by artists from Tiwi Design, Bathurst Island art centre (Jackie Dunn)

Booderee National Park natural resource officer Tony Carter re-releasing "Billy" a sooty oystercatcher after treatment for a head injury (Parks Australia)

Back cover Sydney Opera House at night (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade)

DEWHA staff (Mark Mohell)

Dancers (DEWHA)

Purnululu National Park (Cathy Zwick)

Antarctic drilling (Australian Antarctic Division)

Tagging a turtle at Dalumba Bay (Simon Hartley)

Wind farm (Dragi Markovic)

Murray-Darling Basin (John Baker)

1 Contents-banner Waterfall (John Baker)

Rock art (Michelle McAulay)

3 Executive summary-banner Screen-printed fabrics by artists from Tiwi Design, Bathurst Island art centre (Jackie Dunn)

Kakadu National Park (S Greenaway)

15 Outcome 1-chapter cover page

Waratah (DEWHA)

Tree frog (Robert Thorn)

Heathland (A Fox)

Yellow Water Lagoon (John Baker)

16 Output 1.1-banner Wind farm (Dragi Markovic)

School yard with solar panels (DEWHA)

32 Output 1.2-banner Kakadu National Park (Michelle McAulay)



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68 Output 1.3-banner Whale shark (Paradise Ink)

Christmas Island landscapes (Colin Totterdell, Parks Australia)

93 Output 1.4-banner Rock art (Cathy Zwick)

Fraser Island (Paul Candlin)

109 Output 1.5-banner Tasmanian Devils (Dave Watts)

Cloud Effects (John Baker)


Baby seal (Chris Wilson AAD)

Penguins (Chris Wilson AAD)

Iceberg (Alison McMorrow)

Antarctica (Chris Wilson AAD)

144 Outcome 2-banner Mawson Hut (Dr M. Pearson)

Iceberg (Alison McMorrow)



WELS Label (DEWHA)


Kerang Waters (Cecilia Burke)

162 Outcome 3-banner Murray-Darling Basin (John Baker)

Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre (Dragi Markovic)


Ronisch Concert Grand Piano (Mark Mohell)

Dancers (DEWHA)

National Portrait Gallery (Brett Boardman)

Screen-printed fabrics by artists from Tiwi Design, Bathurst Island art centre (Jackie Dunn)

188 Outcome 4-banner Ronisch Concert Grand Piano (Mark Mohell)

Dancers (DEWHA)

219 Cross-cutting activities-chapter cover page


Thorny devil (M Delson)

Cloud effects (DEWHA)

Landcare planning meeting in Goondiwindi, QLD (Lyle Radford)

220 Cross-cutting activities-banner

Rock art (Cathy Zwick)



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247 Managing the department-chapter cover page

All photos DEWHA staff (Mark Mohell)

248 Managing the department-banner

All photos DEWHA staff (Mark Mohell)

326 Financial statements-chapter cover page

Wildflower, WA (Arthur Mostead)

Alice Springs Solar City (Crowne Plaza Hotel)

1911 Clayton & Shuttleworth Steam Traction Engine (DEWHA)


425 Glossary-banner Echidna (Cathy Zwick)

Rare plant species at Dandaragan, WA (Dragi Markovic)

434 Compliance index-banner Endangered grasslands being conserved on the Monaro Plains near Cooma, NSW (Georgia Curry)


438 Alphabetical index-banner Water saving taps (Michelle McAulay)

Wildflower, WA (Arthur Mostead)

All images are copyright of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (and associated photographers) unless noted above.


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annual report - department of the environment · department of the environment, water, heritage and...

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