Budget lifeline for at-risk animals, habitats

A $100 million fund to protect threatened species and their habitats has been established.

Australian Environment Minister Melissa Price. Picture: AAP

A $100 million fund to protect threatened species and their habitats has been established as part of a $3.8 billion climate change and environment package.

The Environment Restoration Fund will provide grants for projects to restore and protect habitats with threatened species.

It will also fund projects with broader environmental benefits, such as cleaning waterways and recycling schemes.

Yesterday’s announcement is on top of grants of $150,000 to every federal electorate to invest in environmental projects, costing $28.3m.

The budget included previously flagged emission reduction investments as Scott Morrison ­attempts to arrest perceptions that the Coalition does not take climate change seriously.

Environment Minister Melissa Price said the centrepiece of the package was the $2bn Climate ­Solutions Fund, a rebranding of Tony Abbott’s direct action ­policies.

“(It) is expected to deliver more than 100 million tonnes of emissions reduction, over and above the almost 200 million tonnes being delivered through the successful Emissions Reduction Fund,” Ms Price said.

There is also $56m for Tasmania’s “battery of the nation” renewable energy project; $61.2m to encourage households and businesses to improve energy ­efficiency; and $400,000 for the development of an electric car strategy.

Ms Price said the package would help Australia meet its Paris emissions reduction target.

“At a time when Australia is seeing record levels of investment in renewable energy, with $25bn committed across 18,800 megawatts of new wind and solar projects, the 2019-20 budget assists our transition towards a low-­carbon economy and provides practical environmental solutions that will benefit future gener­ations,” she said.

Other environmental initi­atives in the budget include $34m to improve agricultural land ­management practices and $32m to bolster the Bureau of Meteorology’s rain monitoring ­capabilities.

There is also $25m for a coasts, environment and climate research centre in Victoria, and $21.4m for upgrades of heritage sites around Sydney Harbour.