Fed: Government to cut salinity funding by $35m says Opposition

AAP General News (Australia)
04-23-2001
Fed: Government to cut salinity funding by $35m says Opposition

The opposition says the federal government is poised to cut $35 million funding from
its action plan to combat salinity.

Opposition Environment spokesman NICK BOLKUS says the proposed funding cut has been
revealed in budget decisions leaked yesterday.

Senator BOLKUS says $35m funding is planned to be cut from what he terms on the ground
funding for salinity measures in the government's National Action Plan.

He says the government also plans to cut $130m from existing Natural Heritage Trust
funds and replace the program with lower levels of funding.

Senator BOLKUS says the Howard government is in reverse on the environment.

He says it's a betrayal of the Howard government's salinity commitment.

The senator says the government's cutting back of heritage trust funds is a betrayal
to Australia's regional communities whose livelihoods depend on the health of our natural
resources.

AAP RTV sl/rsm

KEYWORD: SALINITY (ADELAIDE)

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