Federation Funding Agreement on Marine Parks

Question

At the 2022 election, Labor committed to 'provide $4 million to states and territory governments, like the Northern Territory (NT), to address existing capacity shortcomings in managing state marine parks. The Northern Territory has a large and valuable marine estate, yet with only two marine parks in its waters, and with marine sanctuary zoning yet to be implemented in these marine parks. The NT coasts are facing growing pressures - from industrial development, climate impacts, pollution, fishing pressure - and are showing signs of decline. Top End coasts contribute $2 billion to the Territory economy each year and support more than 6,000 jobs. With coasts being a powerful drawcard for visitors, marine and coastal tourism contributes the greatest amount at $691million/yr and support over 5,500 jobs. In December 2022, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy announced $2.8mil for the Federal Funding for marine parks in the waters off the Northern Territory. $2.27million was allocated in the Federation Funding Agreement schedule. 1. Can the government provide a breakdown of: a) The $4 million election commitment and where it has been delivered. b) The $2.8 committed by Senator McCarthy and what programs and activities this has delivered. c) The $2.27 outlined in the Federation Funding Agreement schedule. 2. Can the Government outline what elements of the Federation Funding Agreement schedule the NT government has and has not met? 3. Can the Government confi rm that the NT government has delivered its requirements regarding the next marine park in Northern Territory waters?

Answer

Please see the attached answer.

Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• SQ26-000708.pdf (opens in a new tab)