Appendix 7 - Natural Resource Management Financial Assistance Act 1992

The Natural Resource Management (Financial Assistance) Act 1992 assists the development and implementation of an integrated approach to natural resource management (NRM) in Australia, in particular to support landcare through the National Landcare Program (NLP). Under Section 26 (1) of the Act, a report must be prepared each year on the operation of the Act and agreements made under it. Appropriations to the NLP in 2002-03 totalled $32.8 million, with $3.9 million allocated to the Natural Resource Management Reserve account and $28.9 million allocated to Payments to the States.

Section 5 of the Act provides for the Australian Government and states to agree on financial assistance for NRM projects. Framework agreements with the states and territories have been in effect since 1 July 1993.

The NLP was established in 1992 to manage Australia’s natural resources under the Act efficiently, sustainably and equitably. After the Natural Heritage Trust (the Trust) was established in 1997, major NRM programs, including the NLP were managed through the Trust One-Stop Shop. At the same time, states and territories negotiated partnership agreements to cover such programs. With the shift during 2002-03 to the new, more strategic regional NRM arrangements, NLP funding was directed to maintaining, jointly with the community, transitional support for 400 landcare facilitator and coordinator positions in the states and territories. Positions supported were those that could be most effective in assisting the community to engage in the regional NRM planning process. Priority was given to positions that supported communities engaged in landcare and sustainable agricultural activities.

Payments (in dollars) to the states and territories under the Act for facilitators and coordinators in 2002-03 were:

States and Territories	Payment ($)
Australian Capital Territory	44 000
New South Wales	7 189 050
Northern Territory	1 053 200
Queensland	5 346 366
South Australia	2 053 793
Tasmania	664 488
Victoria	3 322 927
Western Australia	3 128 696
Total	22 802 520

In addition, agreements were approved under Section 6 of the Act covering payments from the Natural Resource Management Reserve. During 2002-03 a total of $3.75 million was spent on these agreements. Significant projects included $1.12 million for Landcare Australia Limited and $0.28 million for the National Landcare Facilitator. The Natural Resources Management Fund also contributed $0.53 million to meet expenses associated with the Australian Landcare Council and $0.36 million in relation to administering the Act, including project assessment, communications projects, project monitoring and evaluation and sponsorship. Funds were approved for an industry partnership project with the dairy industry, to help implement the industry’s NRM strategy Dairying for Tomorrow. Reserve account funds were supplemented by a transfer of $1.73 million to the Natural Resources Management Fund from the Payments to States component to support priority national projects. 

ABARE undertook two reviews during the year that will help assess program outcomes, particularly to determine the extent of the landcare movement, the engagement of farmers and other landholders in the movement and the link between landcare membership and improved NRM on-farm.