The Hon Josh Frydenberg MP Federal Member for Kooyong
Treasurer of Australia
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party

Protecting our environment

As custodians of this wonderful country, we all have a shared responsibility to protect our environment. I am proud to be part of a government and a community that is committed to taking effective action to reduce emissions and safeguard our biodiversity.

REDUCING EMISSIONS

  • We are on track to beat our Paris commitment to reduce emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2030. Already, our emissions are over 16% lower than in 2005.
  • Our technology led plan includes investing in next generation technologies to cut emissions in agriculture, manufacturing, industry and transport.
  • This focus on technology complements other policies, including the $2 billion Climate Solutions Fund, which supports farmers, landholders and Indigenous communities with practical projects, like capturing methane from landfills and storing carbon in forests and soils.

INVESTING IN RENEWABLE ENERGY

  • Australia is a world leader in renewable energy investment.
  • We have the world’s highest (per capita) uptake of rooftop solar and are working to ensure renewables are more reliable.
  • We are boosting the capacity of Snowy 2.0 to power 500,000 homes, investing in further interstate energy transmission projects, and strengthening the grid to enable electricity to be shifted and shared across Australia, making it more accessible and affordable.

MORE RECYCLING & LESS WASTE

  • Australians create around 67 million tonnes of waste each year.
  • We have committed $250 million to modernise our recycling infrastructure, stop more than 600,000 tonnes of waste ending up in landfill. This will also help to create a further 10,000 jobs.
  • The Australian Recycling Investment Plan will increase Australia’s recycling rates, tackle plastic waste and litter, accelerate work on a new battery recycling scheme and halve food waste by 2030.

PROTECTING THE BARRIER REEF

  • The Great Barrier Reef is a global tourism icon, a wonder of the natural world, and critically important to the Queensland and national economies. We are committed to protecting it.
  • We are investing $1.9 billion in our Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan to improve water quality, fight crown of thorns starfish and conduct research into restoration and adaptation.

PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT

We are making significant investments to support and enhance our landscapes, waterways and communities:

  • $233 million for our Commonwealth National Parks, to upgrade facilities in Uluru, Kakadu, Christmas Island and Booderee National Park.
  • Around $1 billion for the next phase of the National Landcare Program, including to restore our globally-important wetlands and support recovery efforts for threatened species.
  • $100 million Environment Restoration Fund, to support practical action on waste and recycling, and protect our rivers, waterways and coasts.
  • Over $22 million for a new Communities Environment Program, with each federal electorate receiving up to $150,000 this year for projects such as restoring waterways, protecting native animals, reducing waste and litter, and greening local parks and urban areas.

PROTECTING THREATENED SPECIES

  • Since 2014, the Government has invested in over 1,300 projects supporting threatened species.
  • Our Threatened Species Strategy outlines targets to improve outcomes for priority birds, mammals, and plants. It also commits to culling two million feral cats and creating feral cat-free islands and mainland wildlife enclosures.
  • We are also backing initiatives to protect koalas, black cockatoos, Eastern Quolls, and Kangaroo Island’s threatened dunnart.

IMPORTANT LOCAL PROJECTS

Locally I am proud to support a number of  environmental initiatives including:

  • $900,000 in greening and revegetation programs throughout Kooyong including at Chandler Reserve, Willsmere Park, Yarra Flats, Fairview Park, South Surrey Park, Koonung Creek Reserve, Winfield Park, Maranoa Gardens, Beckett Park and throughout the Yarra River and Koonung Creek corridors.
  • Helping local community organisations become energy sustainable with grants for solar panels.
  • $2 million to protect and restore the Yarra River including $500,000 for the Yarra Riverkeeper.
December 2020