2023-2024 Federal Budget - Regional Communities

Regional Communities

Powering the Regions Fund - final design

The Government will allocate $1.3 billion over 5 years from 2022-23 from $1.9 billion provided in the 2022-23 October Budget to support the decarbonisation of existing industries, develop new clean energy industries and support sovereign manufacturing capacity essential to the energy transition including:

• $450.3 million over 4 years from 2023-24 (and a further $149.7 million over 3 years from 2027-28) to establish the Safeguard Transformation Stream to support decarbonisation investments at trade-exposed industrial facilities covered by the Safeguard Mechanism
• $400.0 million over 4 years from 2023-24 to establish the Industrial Transformation Stream to support reduction of direct and indirect emissions at existing industrial facilities, or clean energy development, in regional Australia
• $400.0 million over 3 years from 2023-24 to establish the Critical Inputs to Clean Energy Industries Stream to support the sovereign manufacturing capability of industries that produce inputs (primary steel production, cement and lime, alumina and aluminium) that are essential to the development of Australia's clean energy industries
• $14.5 million over 4 years from 2023-24 to accelerate the development of the offshore renewable energy industry growth strategy and regulatory compliance activities
• $8.6 million over 4 years from 2023-24 to support implementation and review of the Safeguard Mechanism reforms
• $3.9 million over two years from 2023-24 for a review of policy options to reduce carbon leakage, including of an Australian carbon border adjustment mechanism.

Funding of $89.0 million has also been provided through the Powering the Regions Fund to support energy transition investments important to regional Australia, including the 2023-24 Budget measures titled Capacity Investment Scheme and Ensuring the Supply of Reliable, Secure and Affordable Energy.

Budget Overview p 33
Budget Paper No 2 p 78
Regional Ministerial Budget Statement p 23
Building a clean energy future Fact Sheet
Media Release

Building a Better Future Through Considered Infrastructure Investment

The Government will provide $1.8 billion over 10 years from 2023-24 for infrastructure priorities to support productivity and jobs. Funding includes:

• $1.1 billion in 2032-33 to continue existing road maintenance and safety programs, with:
  • $500.0 million for the Roads to Recovery Program
  • $350.0 million for national road network maintenance
  • $110.0 million for the Black Spot Program
  • $85.0 million for the Bridges Renewal Program
  • $65.0 million for the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program
  • $18.9 million for transport research organisations and innovation projects
• $361.9 million over 8 years from 2023-24 for infrastructure projects in New South Wales, including safety upgrades on the Bells Line of Road and Nowra Bypass planning
• $200.0 million over two years from 2023-24 for the Major Projects Business Case Fund to support the planning of land transport infrastructure projects
• $60.0 million over 3 years from 2023-24 to continue supplementary local road funding in South Australia

Budget Paper No 2 p 172
Media Release
Regional Ministerial Budget Statement p 12

Targeting entrenched community disadvantage

The Government will provide $199.8 million over 6 years from 2023-24 to address entrenched community disadvantage, including through place-based approaches, engaging with philanthropy and promoting social impact investment. Funding includes:

• $100.0 million over 5 years from 2024-25 to establish a social impact investment Outcomes Fund to make contractual payments to states, territories and service providers based on delivering agreed, measurable outcomes through specific projects, with funding to be provisioned in the Contingency Reserve pending the outcome of a co-design process with stakeholders, including states and territories
• $64.0 million over 6 years from 2023-24 to extend the Stronger Places, Stronger People program to deliver place-based initiatives in partnership with 10 local communities and state and territory governments to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children and their families, and to enhance place-based initiatives in 6 of these communities

Budget Paper No 2 p 206
Budget Overview p 49
Regional Ministerial Budget Statement p 82
Social Services Portfolio Budget Statement p 16

Disaster support

The Government will provide funding to improve Australia's resilience to natural disasters and support the recovery of impacted communities including:

• $125.7 million over 5 years from 2022-23 (and $28.3 million per year ongoing) to uplift the capacity of the National Emergency Management Agency to support Australians during and following a disaster. Funding from 2024-25 will be held in the Contingency Reserve, pending a review of the agency's funding requirements.

Budget Paper No 2 p 157
Budget Overview p 34
Media Release

Better, Safer Future for Central Australia Plan

As part of a $250 million investment, the Government will provide funding of $155.9 million over 5 years from 2022-23 to support the Better, Safer Future for Central Australia Plan. Funding includes:

• $40.4 million over two years from 2023-24 to schools in Central Australia to improve school attendance and education outcomes. This measure will prioritise community engagement and locally driven responses in partnership with local community organisations

Budget Paper No 2 p 83
Budget Overview p 52
Regional Ministerial Budget Statement p 74
Media Release

Strengthened and sustainably funded biosecurity system

The Government will provide an additional $1.0 billion over 4 years from 2023-24 (and $268.1 million per year ongoing) to meet its election commitment to strengthen Australia's biosecurity system. Funding includes:

• $40.6 million over 4 years from 2023-24 (and $12.0 million per year ongoing) to continue the Indigenous Ranger Biosecurity Program to reduce biosecurity risks in Northern Australia and provide social and economic benefits to First Nations, rural and remote communities.

Budget Paper No 2 p 57
Media Release

Future-proofing the Murray-Darling Basin

The Government will provide $148.6 million over 4 years from 2023-24 towards the sustainability of the Murray-Darling Basin (Basin). Funding includes:

• $103.7 million for the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to prepare for and undertake the first statutory review of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan 2012, with updated science to enable the Basin to adapt to the impacts of climate change
• $44.9 million for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water to provide advice and work with Basin states and affected communities on the Basin Plan.

This measure builds on the 2022-23 October Budget measures titled Murray-Darling Basin Plan - compliance and science and Murray-Darling Basin - delivering on water commitments.

Budget Overview p 34
Budget Paper No 2 p 69
Regional Ministerial Budget Statement p 27
Media Release

Viewer Access Satellite Television

The Government will provide funding over 8 years from 2023-24 to extend the Viewer Access Satellite Television program to ensure that Australian viewers who are currently unable to receive terrestrial digital broadcasting services can continue to access free-to-air television services.

Budget Paper No 2 p 186
Regional Ministerial Budget Statement p 71
Media Release