Outcome: 1	1. Environment		Question No: 32
Division/Agency:	International Land and Analysis Division
Topic:	Climate Change
Hansard Page ECITA:	127

Senator Carr asked:
Are you able to provide me with a table showing the overspends and the underspends that have occurred for climate change programs since 1996?       If you could, take it back to when the Greenhouse Office was established. Clearly that would be easily available. If there is other data available prior to that I would appreciate that. Are there any particular climate change programs that were consistently underspent in that period?

Answer/s:
Relevant information on the climate change programs can be found in each of the annual reports of the Australian Greenhouse Office, and in the 2004-2005 annual report of the Department of the Environment and Heritage.
1998 			Establishment of Australian Greenhouse Office
1999-2000		No significant variation from budget
2000-2001	$150.0 million below budgeted estimates.
	Associated with lead time for Measures for a Better Environment package initiated by the Government in 2000.
These programs are –
•	Greenhouse Gas Abatement Program
•	Alternative Fuels Conversion Program
•	Photovoltaic Rebate Program
•	Renewable Remote Power Generation Program
•	Renewable Energy Commercialisation Program 
2001-2002	$141.1 million below budgeted estimates. Primarily under the Measures for a Better Environment package
2002-2003	$23.9 million below budgeted estimates. Primarily, in the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Program due to slippage of grant milestones, and fewer approvals of projects under Round 2 than provided for in the budget estimates.
2003-2004		$12.6 million below budgeted estimates. 
2004-2005	$6.4million below budgeted estimates.
Australian Greenhouse Office amalgamated into the Department of Environment and Heritage.	
Figures reflect financial adjustments relating to amalgamation, new measures and additional estimates.

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 33
Division/Agency:	International, Land and Analysis Division (AGO)
Topic:	Climate Change
Hansard Page ECITA:	127

Senator Carr asked:
What action is being undertaken by this national government, as distinct from the state governments, to cut greenhouse emissions so that we avoid that 23 per cent increase by 2020?

How many of those can be attributed to national government actions?

Can you take on notice for me which programs are specifically Commonwealth action only and what levels they are at under that program that you have just alluded to?

Answer/s:
The Australian Government’s total funding commitment to addressing climate change is 
$1.8 billion. This investment supports a range of Australian Government programmes that together provide a comprehensive strategy for meeting Australia’s climate change objectives in the short-term and a framework for action beyond Kyoto.

The 2004 Energy White Paper in particular introduced a range of new measures specifically focused on long term abatement of greenhouse emissions beyond the Kyoto target period. These measures include the $500 million Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund; action on energy efficiency to increase the uptake of opportunities that will reduce greenhouse emissions, reduce energy demand and improve Australia’s competitiveness; and further investment in renewable energy including a $75 million Solar Cities Trial and a $100 million Renewable Energy Development Initiative. The Australian Government is also continuing to support and engage local government, communities and individual households in identifying and implementing practical actions to reduce their emissions.

The 2004 greenhouse measures abatement estimates (which are relevant to the figure of 23 per cent) attributable to government measures are shown in the table below. (The 2005 estimates were released on 30 November 2005).

Measures Abatement (2004 Best Estimate)	2010
Annual Mt CO2e	2020
Annual Mt CO2e	

Total Projected Abatement
	
94	
119	
Australian Government 
including:
GGAP, Challenge Plus (including Greenhouse Friendly), MRET and related renewable programs, Synthetic gas legislation, agriculture, transport programs (ESMVI, AFCP), Energy Efficiency Best Practice and Energy Efficiency Opportunities, Low Emission Technology and Abatement (LETA) and Australian Government Operations 	23.1	28.4	
Collaborative (Aust. Gov/State/Local), including:
Action on energy efficiency (appliances and buildings), Local Greenhouse Action, Waste sector and Green Power	36.0	54.5	
State, Territory and Local Government 
including
Land clearing, NSW benchmark scheme, State transport and other State measures	34.3	36.2	

Outcome:	1. Environment			Question No: 34
Division/Agency:	International Land and Analysis Division (AGO)
Topic:	Climate Change Risk and Vulnerability Report
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice

Senator Carr asked:
1. The Climate Change Risk and Vulnerability report is a major contribution to climate change debate in this country. Why did it take so long to release the report, given that it was received in March 2005 and released in July?

2. Was the report’s release held back so it would be timed to come out just before the announcement of the Asia-Pacific Climate Pact?

3. The report recommends “particular priority should be given to World Heritage listed systems”. What action has the Australian Government taken to reduce the impact of, and to adapt to, climate change in our World Heritage areas?

4. Could you outline what action has been taken in general terms across all World Heritage areas, and for each specific World Heritage area?  How much funding has been allocated for this work and where has it been allocated?

5. The report outlines three highly vulnerable regions: Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef; Murray-Darling Basin and south-western Australia. What action has the Australian Government taken to reduce the impact of, and to adapt to, climate change in each of these three areas?
6. The report recommends that deliberations under the Australian Government’s Disaster Mitigation Australia package be informed by climate change risks. What action has been taken to implement this recommendation?  Has the Department been involved in any discussions with any other Department regarding this recommendation?

7. The report concludes that “a review of the adequacy of current regulatory requirements and emergency management protocols for Australia’s off shore energy infrastructure” could be merited given the potential impact of climate change. What action has been taken to implement this recommendation?  Has the Department been involved in any discussions with any other Department regarding this recommendation?

Answer/s:

1. There was no intentional delay between receiving and releasing the report. The elapsed time merely reflects the normal administrative processes involved in approving and preparing an important document for publication.

2. No.

3 – 4. The Australian Government has commenced consideration of how to manage the impacts of climate change on world heritage properties. The Climate Change Risk and Vulnerability Report was a first step.

5. The Australian Government is contributing to work to improve understanding of climate change impacts and practical adaptation options in all three regions. This is occurring in partnership with relevant state governments and key management agencies.

6. The Department has discussed this matter with the agencies responsible for the Disaster Mitigation Australia package.

7. The Department has commissioned a study of the vulnerability of Australia’s energy infrastructure to the impacts of climate change. The Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources has been involved in relevant discussions.