Other Issues

4 May 2005

Successful community forum on gamba grass threat

Territory Government continues to underspend on environment in NT Budget

The NT Government has decreased overall spending on the environment in its 2005-06 Budget, the Environment Centre NT said today. Spending on conservation, natural resource management, the environment and heritage has declined by almost $6.8 million, which means that the environment spend has slipped from 3.8 percent to less than 3.5 percent of the overall NT Budget.

“ Whilst part of this decrease is explained in the budget papers as being due to a drop in federal funding through the National Heritage Trust, it is nevertheless highly disappointing that the Martin Government has not committed more resources to tackling major environmental threats facing the Territory such as weeds, ferals and fire”, said ECNT’s Freshwater Camapaigner, Dr Gary Scott.

“ Whilst some additional spending on cane toad initiatives and desalination works in the Mary River wetlands is welcome, most of the new spending directed at ‘Lifestyle and Environment’ has gone towards enhancing recreational facilities for tourists in national parks. The NT Government’s reluctance to face up to major environmental threats, however, will surely undermine future tourism prospects as biodiversity continues to decline”.

“ Instead of making the environment a priority, the budget surplus has unfortunately been allocated to the Waterfront development. Spending on the environment also pales in comparison to the $137 million earmarked for road construction and maintenance”.

Other deficiencies noted by the Environment Centre NT are:

“ We were hoping to see some real leadership on the environment in an election year, but unfortunately this Budget does not demonstrate that in sufficient measure”, concluded Dr Scott.

For further information contact:
Charles Roche on (08) 8941 7439
Email: ecnt@octa4.net.au

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