| Term |
Meaning |
| Administered items |
Administered items are expenses, revenues, assets or liabilities managed by agencies on behalf of the Commonwealth. Administered expenses include grants, subsidies and benefits, and may fund the delivery of third party outputs. For example the department administers appropriations for the Australian Government's Natural Heritage Trust to provide grants. This annual report refers to appropriations for administered items as 'administered appropriations'. |
| Administrative Arrangements Orders (AAOs) |
Administrative Arrangements Orders (AAOs) formally allocate executive responsibility among ministers. They set out which matters and legislation are administered by which department or portfolio. AAOs are re-issued or amended to take into account changes in the structure of government. |
| Additional estimates |
Additional estimates is a process where the parliament may appropriate more funds to portfolios if the amounts appropriated at Budget time are insufficient. There can also be supplementary additional estimates. |
| Appropriations |
Appropriations are authorisations by the parliament to spend monies from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. Two appropriation Bills are introduced into parliament in May and comprise the Budget. Further Bills are introduced later in the financial year as part of the additional estimates. |
| Basin Plan |
The Water Act 2007 requires that the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) develops and oversees the Basin Plan for the integrated management of Basin water resources. The Basin Plan will provide for limits on the quantity of water that may be taken from the Basin water resources. |
| Basin states |
The Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council was established under the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement, Schedule 1 to the Water Act 2007. Membership of the Ministerial Council comprises the Commonwealth Water Minister, who also chairs the Ministerial Council, and one minister from each of the Basin states (and one territory) comprising Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Australian Capital Territory. The Murray-Darling Basin Authority manages the water resources of the Murray-Darling Basin in conjunction with the Basin states through a number of programs. |
| Biodiversity |
Biodiversity in essence means the variety of life. The term 'biodiversity' is a contraction of, and synonymous with, 'biological diversity'. Biological diversity is defined in Article 2 of the Convention on Biological Diversity to mean 'the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems' (a similar definition appears in the glossary to the Ramsar Convention on wetlands). This term was first defined around 1980 to include two related concepts, genetic diversity (the amount of genetic variability within species) and ecological diversity (the number of species in a community of organisms). In terms of the diversity between species, estimates of the total number of species range from three to 100 million. The contracted form 'biodiversity' was coined around 1986. |
| Bioregion |
Bioregion in essence means a geographic area characterised by a combination of physical and biological characteristics, for example, terrain, climate and ecological communities. The glossary of terms related to the Convention on Biological Diversity provides the following definition: 'a territory defined by a combination of biological, social, and geographic criteria, rather than geopolitical considerations; generally, a system of related, interconnected ecosystems'. The term 'bioregion' is a contraction of biogeographic region and is usually synonymous with that term. The glossary to the Ramsar Convention on wetlands provides the following definition of 'biogeographic region' in relation to wetland management: 'a scientifically rigorous determination of regions as established using biological and physical parameters such as climate, soil type, vegetation cover, etc'. Bioregions are a useful way to analyse patterns of biodiversity. The definition of a particular bioregion depends on the scale at which its characteristic features are measured. |
| Biota |
In ecology, the plant and animal life of a region. |
| Commonwealth Heritage List |
The Commonwealth Heritage List under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 comprises places which are owned or controlled by the Australian Government, and that have natural, Indigenous and/or historic heritage values. These include places connected to defence, communications, customs and other government activities that also reflect Australia's development as a nation. |
| Corporate governance |
Corporate governance is the process by which agencies are directed, controlled and held to account. It is generally understood to encompass authority, accountability, stewardship, leadership, direction and control. |
| Cryosphere |
The cryosphere refers collectively to the portions of the Earth where water is in solid form. It includes snow cover, floating ice, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, seasonally frozen ground and perennially frozen ground (permafrost). |
| Dendroglyphs |
Dendroglyphs are carved burial and initiation trees. |
| Departmental items |
Departmental items are assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses that are controlled by agencies in providing their outputs. Departmental items would generally include computers, plant and equipment assets used by agencies in providing goods and services, and most employee expenses, supplier costs and other administrative expenses incurred. This annual report refers to appropriations for departmental items as 'departmental appropriations'. |
| Discretionary grants |
Discretionary grants are payments made to particular applicants, either organisations or individuals, at the discretion of the portfolio minister or the paying agency. The definition of discretionary grants does not include service agreements, which are treated as contracts rather than grants; intra-Australian Government agency funding; payments to states and other government agencies (specific purpose payments) and inter-government transfers; payments to overseas aid organisations; government income support programs; emergency payment programs; grants under commercial industry development programs (including to increase research and development, and assist exporters); grant programs specifically for educational institutions and medical research institutions; grants approved by Australian Government bodies outside the general government sector; or payments of a specific sum of money or a fixed percentage of shared funding to an organisation or individual that are made according to a Cabinet decision, a letter from the Prime Minister, or a determination of a ministerial council. From 1 January 2009 annual reports must contain a list of all grant programs - not just discretionary grant programs - administered by the department. |
| Ecologically sustainable |
Ecologically sustainable is used to describe activities that meet present needs without compromising the ability to meet future needs because of damage to the environment. For example, the National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development defines ecologically sustainable development as 'using, conserving and enhancing the community's resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained, and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased'. The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 defines ecologically sustainable use of natural resources as 'use of the natural resources within their capacity to sustain natural processes while maintaining the life-support systems of nature and ensuring that the benefit of the use to the present generation does not diminish the potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations'. |
| Ecological communities |
Ecological communities are any naturally occurring group of species inhabiting a common environment, interacting with each other especially through food relationships and relatively independent of other groups. Ecological communities may vary in size, and larger ones may contain smaller ones. In the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 they are defined as assemblages of native species that inhabit particular areas in nature. |
| Ecotoxicology |
Ecotoxicology seeks to understand how toxic chemicals (toxicants) affect the structure and function of natural ecological systems (populations, communities and ecosystems). The ERISS ecotoxicology program investigates the risks and impacts of pollutants (toxicants) to the highly valued wetland ecosystems of northern Australia. |
| Endemic species |
An endemic species is an animal or plant species whose habitat is restricted to a particular area or space on the globe. This general term is used for a range of creatures including mammal species, reptile species, bird species and insect species. Details on an endemic species may be different depending on what kind of animal or plant is being referenced. Generally, an endemic species is a focus point for helping to protect biodiversity in a given environment. |
| Environmental flow |
Environmental flow is water provided for the environment to sustain, and where necessary, restore ecological processes and biodiversity of water dependent ecosystems. |
| Expense |
Expense is the total value of all of the resources consumed in producing goods and services. |
| Financial results |
Financial results are the results shown in the financial statements of an agency. |
| Gigalitre (GL) |
One gigalitre is equal to 1,000 megalitres and one megalitre is equal to one million litres. |
| Geographic information system (GIS) |
A geographic information system (GIS) is an information system for capturing, storing, analysing, managing and presenting data that are spatially referenced (linked to location). GIS applications are tools that allow users to create interactive queries (user created searches), analyse spatial information, edit data, maps, and present the results of all these operations. |
| Greenhouse gases |
Greenhouse gases are heat-trapping gases that are a natural part of the atmosphere. They maintain higher temperatures at the earth's surface than would otherwise be possible. This phenomenon is called the greenhouse effect. Water vapour is the most abundant greenhouse gas. Its concentration is highly variable and human activities have little direct impact on its amount in the atmosphere. Humans have most impact on carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Various artificial chemicals such as halocarbons also make a small contribution to climate change. The earth's climate is warming. Scientists agree that some of this warming is due to human activities-particularly burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) and land clearing-increasing the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. |
| La Niña |
The term "La Niña" has recently become the conventional meteorological label for the opposite of the better known El Niño. The term La Niña refers to the extensive cooling of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. |
| Machinery of government (MOG) changes |
The term machinery of government (MOG) changes describes a variety of organisational or functional changes affecting the Commonwealth. Some common examples of MOG changes are:
- changes to the Administrative Arrangements Order (AAO) following a Prime Ministerial decision to abolish or create a department or to move functions/responsibilities between departments/agencies
- creation of a new statutory agency or executive agency, or abolition of such agencies
- movement of functions into, or out of, the APS.
|
| Matters of national environmental significance (NES) |
The matters of national environmental significance protected under national environment law include:
- listed threatened species and communities
- listed migratory species
- Ramsar wetlands of international importance
- Commonwealth marine environment
- world heritage properties
- national heritage places
- the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
- nuclear actions.
|
| Not controlled action-particular manner |
Under the EPBC Act, in a not controlled action-particular manner decision there is no approval required but the action must be undertaken in the particular manner specified in the referral. This provision may be used when there is clear evidence that a particular mitigation or avoidance measure will avoid significant impacts. Penalties apply to breaches of 'particular manner' decisions. |
| Operation Sunlight |
The Australian Government's reform agenda to improve the openness and transparency of public sector budgetary and financial management and to promote good financial governance practices. |
| Outcomes |
Government outcomes are the intended results, impacts or consequences of actions by the government on the Australian community. They are listed in agencies' portfolio budget statements and portfolio additional estimates statements. |
| Ozone-depleting substances (ODS) |
Ozone-depleting substances are substances that deplete the earth's protective ozone layer. They are widely used in refrigerators, air conditioners, fire extinguishers, in dry cleaning, as solvents for cleaning, electronic equipment and as agricultural fumigants. Ozone-depleting substances include chlorofluorocarbons, halon, hydrochlorofluorocarbons and methyl bromide. Countries have agreed to phase out ozone-depleting substances through the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Some industries that use ozone-depleting substances are replacing those substances with synthetic greenhouse gases. |
| Persistent organic pollutants |
Persistent organic pollutants are hazardous and environmentally persistent substances, which can be transported between countries by the earth's oceans and atmosphere. The substances bioaccumulate and have been traced in the fatty tissues of humans and other animals. Persistent organic pollutants include dieldrin, polychlorinated byphenyls, DDT, dioxins and furans. Countries have agreed to control the manufacture and trade of persistent organic pollutants through the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. |
| Phytophthora |
Phytophthora (from Greek phytón, "plant" and phthorá, "destruction"; "the plant-destroyer") is a genus of plant-damaging Oomycetes (water moulds), whose member species are capable of causing enormous economic losses to crops worldwide, as well as environmental damage in natural ecosystems. The genus was first described by Heinrich Anton de Bary in 1875. |
| PM10 |
PM10: Particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 micrometres. |
| Procurement |
Procurement encompasses the whole process of acquiring property and services. It begins when the department has identified a need and decided on its procurement requirement. Procurement continues through the processes of developing a business case, including risk assessment, identifying and evaluating alternative solutions, approaching the market, assessing tenders or quotes, contract award, delivery of and payment for the property and services and, where relevant, the ongoing management of a contract and consideration of options related to the contract. Procurement also extends to the ultimate disposal of property at the end of its useful life. |
| Product stewardship |
Product stewardship means recognising that manufacturers, importers and other people who benefit from making and selling a product share some responsibility for the environmental impacts of that product. |
| Programs |
From the 2009-10 Budget, all General Government Sector (GGS) entities report to the parliament on a program basis. Agencies deliver programs which are the government actions taken to deliver the stated outcomes. Agencies are required to identify the programs which contribute to government outcomes over the budget and forward years. |
| Revenue |
Revenue is the total value of resources earned or received to cover the production of goods and services. |
| Ramsar listing |
A Ramsar listing denotes the inclusion of a wetland area on the List of Wetlands of International Importance - an inventory prescribed by the Convention on Wetlands (more commonly known as the Ramsar Convention, which was signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971). As one of the original contracting parties to the Convention, Australia has designated 65 sites for this list. |
| Riparian |
Riparian vegetation is situated on the banks of watercourses. In central Australia, where watercourses are usually dry, riparian communities often extend across the bed of the creek or river. The major threats to riparian communities are introduced weeds and fire. |
| Sclerophyll |
Sclerophyll forests are a typically Australian vegetation type having plants with hard, short and often spiky leaves. They occur in a band around Australia from southern Queensland to the south-west of Western Australia. Sclerophyll is a Greek word meaning "hard-leaved" (sclero = hard; phyllon = leaf). The hardness in the leaves comes from lignin and prevents the leaves from wilting in dry conditions. However, Australian sclerophyllous plants evolved in response to low levels of soil phosphorus, not to low levels of moisture. |
| Special appropriations |
Special appropriations are monies appropriated by the parliament in an Act separate to an annual Appropriation Act, where the payment is for a specified amount. For example, the department receives special appropriations under laws that require industry to pay a levy on the import of ozone-depleting substances. Special appropriations are not subject to annual budget control by the parliament, unlike the annual appropriations. |
| Synthetic greenhouse gases (SGGs) |
Synthetic greenhouse gases are greenhouse gases that are either used in industrial applications or emitted as a by-product of industrial activity. They include hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. Some industries that use ozone-depleting substances are replacing those substances with synthetic greenhouse gases. |
