The Treasurer last night handed down the 2017-18 Federal Budget. The Coalition Government has underlined the importance of Landcare by investing more than $1 billion in the National Landcare Program (NLP).
It provides $1.1 billion over 7 years for Landcare, including the extra $100 million which was announced late last year. This is welcome news and we look forward to seeing the detail. The challenge is to ensure the funds reach the grassroots.
The NLP is jointly administered by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Department of the Environment and Energy.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce, and Minister for the Environment and Energy, Josh Frydenberg, said the program continues to focus on practical, on-the-ground ways to improve issues like soil health, erosion management and water quality, making the program relevant to all land managers but especially farmers.
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