12 May 2010
DAFF10/437B

The 2010-11 Budget allocates $36 million in funding to support Landcare community groups and volunteers across Australia – a $1 million increase on last year’s funding.

Last year, the Rudd Government committed $35 million to Landcare. In 2011-12 funding is projected to increase again to $39 million.

Overall funding for Caring for our Country also increases in the 2010-11 Budget by $15 million to $423 million.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke said the boost to Landcare funding in the 2010-11 Budget was not as high as projected last year, but was nevertheless an increase.

He said the increased funding reflected the Government’s strong support for Landcare and the 100,000 volunteers carrying out vital work in communities across the nation.

Where possible, the reduction in the boost in funding to Landcare and Caring for our Country will be accounted for within the Departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts.

• Funding for Landcare facilitators will not change –$8.4 million will be invested in 2010-11
• Funding for Community Action Grants will continue
• Regional base level funding for Australia’s resource management organisations will not change – another $138 million will be invested in 2010-11

Tony Burke, Queensland Rural Press Club post-Budget address, Wednesday 12 May 2010

“I would ask people to look at the budget figures and the continued increase to get a good sense of the Government’s commitment to Landcare.”

Mr Burke said the Rudd Government has so far invested $81.6 million in 630 Landcare projects with a second round of Community Action Grants to be announced soon.

The Government remains committed to delivering on its the election commitments through Caring for our Country, including: Reef Rescue, saving the Tasmanian Devil and employing Indigenous rangers to work on country.

The Rudd Government has taken measures to responsibly bring the budget back into black in three years – three years earlier than expected.