Federal Budget 2022-23: Key Portfolio Measures

29 March 2022

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Defence, Foreign Affairs, Trade, Home Affairs and Attorney-General

The Government has affirmed its commitment to a sovereign cyber security capability, with a $9.9 billion investment over 10 years under the Resilience, Effects, Defence, Space, Intelligence, Cyber and Enablers package (REDSPICE). Additionally, the Government is allocating $4.3 billion towards the development of a large-vessel dry berth in Western Australia and a new submarine base on the Australian east coast. The Government has also committed to increasing the total Defence workforce by 18,500 personnel by 2040, at a cost of $38 billion.

Key measures

  • $9.9 billion over the 10 years to 2030-31 to support the Australian Signals Directorate’s development of cyber capabilities in the Resilience, Effects, Defence, Space, Intelligence, Cyber and Enablers package (REDSPICE).
  • $4.3 billion to develop the first large-vessel dry berth in Western Australia funded through existing appropriations in the Defence Integrated Investment Program, as well as a new submarine base on the east coast.
  • $3.5 billion to support the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific in accordance with the Pacific Step-up.
  • $665.9 million over four years to support Afghan citizens with an additional 16,500 humanitarian positions available to accommodate for increasing demand.
  • $324.4 million over two years from 2022-23 to support recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 in the Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste.
  • $287.2 million over four years to confront transnational, serious and organised crime, including $170.4 million to improve operations and implement a formal Intelligence System for advanced data collection.
  • $148.4 million over five years to improve Australia’s counter terrorism efforts, including $4.7 million to tackle online extremist content.
  • $136.7 million in 2022-23 to improve Australia’s border protection as a part of Operation Sovereign Borders, including redeveloping two Bay Class vessels.
  • $76.6 million over two years from 2021-22 to continue supporting travel agents and tour arrangement services via the COVID-19 Consumer Travel Support Program.
  • $35.1 million over two years to facilitate the shift to a single Government issuing body for aviation and maritime security identification cards.

Further reading

Health, Families and Social Services

The Government has focused on supporting survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence through a $1.3 billion commitment over six years to enact the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032. The Government has continued its work to prioritise health research and development with a focus on genomics; improved access to medicines, treatment and screening; and additional funding to drive the implementation of whole-of-government health initiatives, including the National Preventive Health Strategy and the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan.

Key measures

  • $1.5 billion in 2021-22 to fund a one-off $250 economic support payment to eligible concession card holders and welfare recipients to assist with high cost of living burdens.
  • $1.3 billion over six years from 2021-22 under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 to establish and continue initiatives to combat family, domestic and sexual violence, including $290.9 million over five years from 2022-23 to extend programs and support survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence to recover.
  • $547 million over five years from 2021-22 to implement Stage 2 reforms of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan.
  • $525.3 million over four years to reduce the Safety Net thresholds of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to support families and individuals who have a high demand for prescription medicines; reduce the net cost of medicines; and reduce the quantity of scripts produced.
  • $450 million in 2021-22 towards a COVID Pandemic Disaster Leave Payment and Disaster Leave and Recovery Payments in response to the recent floods in Queensland and NSW.
  • $423.7 million over five years from 2021-22 to support the establishment of specialist research and treatment cancer facilities, including $28.1 million over four years from 2022-23 to establish the new entity Genomics Australia from 1 January 2024, which will drive the integration of genomics into the Australian healthcare system.
  • $346.1 million over five years from 2021-22 to enhance the Paid Parental Leave scheme, combining previous Dad and Partner Pay into a singular shareable and flexible 20 weeks’ leave scheme for eligible working parents.
  • $285.5 million over five years from 2021-22 to further consolidate mental health treatment initiatives, including $206.5 million over three years from 2022-23 to provide young Australians with severe mental illness with continued access to mental health resources.
  • $224.4 million over four years from 2022-23 to improve access to primary health care services in rural and remote Australia, including $99.3 million over four years from 2022-23 to fund an increase in the number of medical students undertaking placement in rural and remote medical facilities.
  • $131.3 million over five years from 2021-22 to update the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), which includes $81.2 million over four years from 2022-23 to introduce new genetic testing items for cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy, and Fragile X syndrome.
  • $30.1 million over four years from 2022-23 to implement health initiatives under the National Preventive Health Strategy 2021-2030.
  • $4 million over four years from 2022-23 to support the Teal Support Program of Ovarian Cancer Australia.

Further reading

Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities

The Government has committed an additional $17.9 billion to infrastructure projects in every state and territory, increasing the 10-year infrastructure pipeline to a total of $120 billion. The Government also launched a $7.1 billion program to grow the economies of four key regions in regional Australia.

Key measures

  • $6.9 billion over five years for nationally significant water infrastructure, including $5.4 billion for the Hells Gates Dam in North Queensland, subject to the final stage of the business case being completed.
  • $7.1 billion over 11 years to support existing programs and grow the economies of four priority regions – the Northern Territory, North and Central Queensland, the Pilbara (WA), and the Hunter (NSW).
  • $3.4 billion for road, rail and freight infrastructure in Victoria from 2021-22, including $3.14 billion for the Melbourne Intermodal Terminal Package (Beveridge and Truganina) and $109.5 million for the Mickleham Road upgrade.
  • $3.3 billion for road and rail infrastructure in Queensland from 2021-22, including $1.6 billion for the Beerwah-Maroochydore rail extension and $1.12 billion for the Kuraby-Beenleigh Faster Rail Upgrade.
  • $3.3 billion for road and rail infrastructure in NSW from 2021-22, including $1 billion for the Tuggerah-Wyong faster rail upgrade; $352 million for Milton Ulladulla bypass; and $336 million for upgrades to the Pacific Highway in Wyong.
  • $2.8 billion for road infrastructure in South Australia from 2021-22, including $2.26 billion for the existing North South Corridor (Darlington to Anzac Highway) and $200 million for the new Marion Road (Anzac Highway to Cross Road) upgrade.
  • $2 billion over five years for the Regional Accelerator Program to grow productivity and the economy of regional areas.
  • $1.7 billion for road, rail and freight infrastructure in Western Australia from 2021-22, including $441.2 million for METRONET; $320 million for the Bunbury Outer Ring Road; and $200 million for Stage 3 of the Tonkin Highway extension.
  • $639.9 million for new road and freight projects in Tasmania from 2022-23, including $336 million for Stage 2 of the Northern Roads package and $96 million for the Tasmanian Freight Rail revitalisation program.
  • $237 million for projects in the Northern Territory from 2022-23, including $132 million for the new Central Australian Tourism roads project and $124 million for the existing outback way project.

Further reading

Communications and the Arts and Education, Skills and Small Business

The Government has focused on providing funding for education and skills training to stimulate workforce participation among young people and jobseekers from disadvantaged backgrounds, while prioritising improvements to communication infrastructure in regional areas.

Key measures

  • $4.3 billion over three years to support Australia’s Public Broadcasters, divided between the ABC ($3.3 billion) and the SBS ($959 million).
  • $3.7 billion over five years for states and territories to collaborate on a plan – the National Skills Agreement – for investing in skills development for Australia’s workforce.
  • $954 million over five years to support employers and apprentices in essential occupations by establishing an Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System from 1 July 2022.
  • $811.8 million over five years for the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications to expand access to stable mobile coverage across regional Australia.
  • $505.2 million over five years for Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) grants, targeted at helping research projects that align with the National Manufacturing Priorities become commercially viable.
  • $480 million to improve the NBN fixed wireless network coverage range and deliver higher speed services in regional, remote, and peri-urban areas.
  • $365.3 million for the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements and Completing Apprenticeship Commencements packages, to incentivise the hiring of new apprentices by offering another three months of wage subsidies.
  • $228.5 million over five years from 2021-22 to advance recommendations from the Next Steps: Report of the Quality Initial Teacher Education Review, including $62.4 million over two years to expand the National Schools Reform Fund and Non-Government Support Reform Fund and $29.4 million over four years to support Indigenous students through the Indigenous Boarding Schools Grants program.
  • $52.8 million over five years to deliver ReBoot, a new program that aims to help 5,000 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds access employment opportunities.
  • $49.5 million over two years through the JobTrainer Fund to subsidise another 15,000 low and fee-free training places in aged care courses.
  • $20 million for another round of the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund to support the arts sector’s COVID-19 recovery.

Further reading

Resources, Energy and Industry

The Government has made a commitment to energy security and reliability as the conflict in Ukraine continues to put pressure on energy and fuel prices. To build Australia’s resource capability, the Government is providing $200 million over five years for the Critical Mineral Accelerator Initiative to support strategically significant critical mineral projects. In addition, the Government has moved to reduce energy prices with commitments to boost grid reliability, the domestic hydrogen industry and priority gas infrastructure.

Key measures

  • $250.5 million over five years for the Critical Minerals Strategy. This includes $200 million to the Critical Minerals Accelerator Initiative to support strategically significant projects and an additional $50.5 million for the virtual National Critical Minerals Research and Development Centre.
  • $250 million over two years to extend the Modern Manufacturing Initiative, supporting National Manufacturing Priority businesses delivering high-impact projects and projects that address supply chain issues.
  • $148.6 million over five years from 2022-23 to support more investment in affordable and reliable power, including the development of community microgrid projects in regional and rural Australia.
  • $60.4 million over four years to boost Australia’s plastics recycling capabilities under the Recycling Modernisation Fund and a further $4.4 million over two years to support the delivery of the Government’s waste export ban by reducing licence assessment timeframes and helping industry meet regulatory requirements.
  • $50.3 million over two years for seven natural gas and key carbon capture storage infrastructure projects under the Future Gas Infrastructure Investment Framework, including the Southwest pipeline expansion project in Victoria; Gas Infrastructure Hub in the Bowen Basin in Queensland; and the East Coast Gas Grid Expansion Stage 2.
  • $11.6 million over five years to expand North Queensland Water Infrastructure Authority.
  • $3 million to extend on the International Space Investment initiative to strengthen and support strategic projects and relationships with international space agencies. This funding builds on the initial $1.3 billion commitment announced in 2021-22.

Further reading

Agriculture and Environment

The Government has committed funding to protect the environment and biodiversity, including conservation of the Great Barrier Reef and Australia’s national parks. The Budget also focuses on developing environmental capabilities and facing new agricultural challenges, such as improving capabilities in biosecurity and water outcomes in the Murray-Darling Basin. The Government will also look to strengthen its presence in Antarctica to justify its claim over 42 per cent of the continent. Please note a number of the items below include funding already committed by the Government.

Key measures

  • $1 billion across nine years from 2021-22 to strengthen leadership and stewardship in protecting the Great Barrier Reef. This will include $579.9 million across the same period towards enhancing the water quality of the Reef.
  • $839.9 million towards strengthening Australia’s capabilities and presence in Antarctica, including $364.5 million across five years beginning 2021-22 towards international collaboration and scientific leadership in Antarctica.
  • $139.9 million across three years beginning 2021-22 to improve river health, enhance environmental water outcomes and stimulate economic activity in the Murray-Darling Basin.
  • $139.6 million across four years towards environmental assessment reforms, including establishing bioregional plans under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 for priority areas and $11 million for the modernisation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural protections.
  • $135.6 million over five years beginning 2021-22 to support the Agriculture 2030 initiative which aims to grow Australian agriculture into a $100 billion industry by 2030. This incorporates $61.6 million over four years towards biosecurity capabilities, infrastructure and risk management in Northern Australia.
  • $114.6 million from 2021-22 for five years to ensure the future sustainability of the forestry and fishing industries, including $86.2 million in assistance to the states and territories for new plantations to ensure future wood supply.
  • $100 million over three years for the Environment Restoration Fund to support environmental restoration community programs.
  • $84.5 million over four years from the Future Drought Fund to improve readiness and resilience for Australian farmers and communities experiencing droughts.
  • $83.1 million over five years for Australia’s waste and recycling sector, including the ongoing development of a more circular waste economy.
  • $26.8 million over five years from 2021-22 to support the functions of Commonwealth National Parks.

Further reading

 

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