This week’s federal budget brings new money and planned reforms for the Australian environment. 

The Albanese government says it will spend; 

  • Over $200 million to protect and restore the Great Barrier Reef 

  • $90 million to employ and upskill up to 1,000 Landcare Rangers to conserve and restore the environment 

  • An additional $66.5 million to support 10 new Indigenous Protected Areas, bringing the government closer to its commitment to protect and conserve 30 per cent of land and ocean by 2030. 

  • $224.5 million for Australia’s most imperilled native species. 

  • $10.8 million to improve ocean and marine park management in Australia and to strengthen Australia’s international environmental leadership in ocean-related policy

  • $91 million for the first round of a $200 million election promise to improve local waterways through the Urban Rivers and Catchment Program

  • $14.7 million for the protection of cultural and First Nations heritage sites

The Reef funding includes $96.6 million to address critical gaps in implementing the Reef 2050 Plan and $91.8 million to deliver ‘shovel ready’ projects that accelerate Reef protection and restoration activities. Another $15.3 million will support the Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC) at Central Queensland University in Gladstone.

The $224.5 million for the Saving Native Species program should help cover a commitment to save Australia’s iconic koala and tackle yellow crazy ants and gamba grass, which are threatening already imperilled native species. 

The government has also announced a new Threatened Species Action Plan: Towards Zero Extinctions, which identifies 110 priority species and 20 priority places to drive action.

The funding is targeted at environmental law reforms too. 

The Albanese Government says it is reforming outdated environment laws to restore trust and transparency, better protect the environment and deliver faster decisions to proponents. 

The government has pledged to formally respond to the Samuel Review by the end of 2022 and bring forward new legislation in 2023, as well as establish a new Environment Protection Agency. 

The budget papers also include  $117 million to support making timely environmental decisions, which is intended to ensure that the new Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has sufficient staff to assess proposals, including renewable energy and critical minerals projects, infrastructure, and residential developments in a timely manner, as well as undertake compliance activities to ensure conditions of approval are being met. 

The government will also restore funding of $10 million to the Environmental Defenders Office and Environmental Justice Australia.