Executive Summary
Secretary’s review
Over the year 2013–2014, the Department supported the delivery of major Government policy
initiatives to promote the conservation and sustainable use of Australia’s natural resources.
The Department continued to deliver a diverse ongoing work programme spanning
environmental regulation, programme delivery and scientific research. A major focus was
placed on improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department, with a strategic review
of the Department undertaken to examine its roles and functions, and to advise on the most
effective structure and operation.
Following the change of government in September 2013, the Department presented the
Incoming Government Brief to the new Minister, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, and Parliamentary
Secretary, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham. Over subsequent months, the Department
focussed on delivering the Government’s priorities of repealing the carbon tax legislation,
preparing the Emissions Reduction Fund, streamlining environmental regulation and
establishing the Green Army.
The Government introduced the carbon tax repeal legislation as its first item of legislative
business in the 44th Parliament. This package of legislation was enacted by Parliament on 17
July 2014.
Since September 2013, the Department has undertaken extensive consultation and research
to implement the Emissions Reduction Fund and other elements of the Government’s Direct
Action Plan on climate change. In April 2014, the Government released a White Paper setting
out the final design of the Emissions Reduction Fund. Through a reverse auction process, the
Emissions Reduction Fund will support projects that reduce emissions or store carbon in the
land, and will be one of the major policies that will assist Australia in meeting the unconditional
target of reducing Australia’s emissions to 5 per cent below 2000 levels by 2020. The Carbon
Farming Initiative Amendment Bill 2014, which will establish the architecture of the Emissions
Reduction Fund, was introduced to the House of Representatives on 18 June 2014.
The Department is delivering the Government’s election commitment to reduce unnecessary
duplication and administration in regulation, particularly by progressing a One-Stop Shop for
environmental approvals by the Commonwealth and the States and Territories. Following the
process outlined in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, State
and Territory environmental assessment and approval systems will be accredited under
national law to create a single approval process that meets both Commonwealth and State
environmental standards and requirements. The Department calculates that business will save
around $420 million a year from streamlined administrative processes for environmental
approvals. At 30 June 2014, negotiations for assessment and approvals bilateral agreements
were well under way with all States and Territories.
The Department has supported the Government to implement the Green Army Programme,
designed to provide opportunities for young Australians aged 17 to 24 years to gain training
and experience in environmental and heritage conservation fields and explore careers in
conservation management. The projects are intended to generate real benefits for the
environment. Green Army projects will commence in 2014–15 and will be guided by local
community needs and contribute to Australia’s national and international environmental
priorities and obligations.
Throughout 2013–14, the Department managed a wide variety of ongoing environmental
policies, programmes and operational matters. These include the reform and delivery of the
National Landcare Programme, water resource and infrastructure policy, the protection of
listed species, ecological communities and heritage sites, the regulation of hazardous
chemicals and waste, and the coordination of Australia’s operations in Antarctica.
Strengthening protection of the Great Barrier Reef has been a major focus of the Department.
The Department was active in pursuing matters of international importance to Australia.
Among other priorities, the Department participated in United Nations working group meetings
to progress negotiations on an international instrument to address marine biodiversity beyond
national jurisdictions. The Department participated in meetings under the International Whaling
Commission as part of the Australian Government’s objective to reform the commission into a
conservation-oriented body. The Department has worked with the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade to advance Australia’s interests with respect to land sector and deforestation
emissions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The Department was affected by significant machinery of government changes following the
2013 Federal election. In particular, the Department acquired responsibility for advising the
Government on domestic climate change policy. Functions relating to Indigenous policy were
transferred to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
In November 2013, the Department’s Executive Board commissioned a strategic review of the
organisation. The aim of the review was to position the Department as a strong and resilient
organisation able to deliver the Government’s agenda. The review considered the
Department’s operations and structure in the context of the incoming Government’s priorities
and the broader fiscal environment. It involved wide consultation with staff, and their views
were reflected throughout the final report.
Following the release of the final report in April 2014, the Department further strengthened its
governance and streamlined its organisational structure and internal management processes.
Departmental activities were reprioritised and the Department moved to a three group
organisational structure, including an Office of Environmental Science and Economics to
provide support to other areas of the Department in multidisciplinary analytics and bestpractice implementation and risk management. Further changes were made to strengthen the
skills and capabilities of staff, broaden span of control by reducing the numbers of senior staff
and increasing the size of work units, and devolve decision-making responsibility. These
changes leave the Department well-placed to remain within budget and to deliver the
Government’s priorities.
The review informed the Department’s engagement with the Commission of Audit which
reviewed how broader government operations could be streamlined and improved.
Outcome 1: Biodiversity and Ecosystems
Since September 2013, the Department has worked to develop and implement the Green
Army Programme, a major Government election commitment. The programme will support
teams of up to 10 people aged 17 to 24 years to undertake practical, grassroots environmental
action to support local environment and heritage conservation projects. In March 2014, the
Department released a request for tender to appoint service providers for the programme. Five
organisations were selected to deliver the programme nationwide from 2014 to 2017.
Applications for the first round of Green Army projects were open from 9 April to 9 May 2014.
A total of 210 proposals, comprising 442 individual projects, were received. A total of 250
projects are expected to commence in the 2014–15 financial year. The programme was
launched on 2 August 2014.
The Department continues to support work to maintain the health and resilience of the Great
Barrier Reef, one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. The Department is delivering the
Government’s commitment to invest $200 million towards improving the health of the Reef,
including $160 million over five years (2013 to 2018) for conservation activities (predominantly
under the National Landcare Programme) and $40 million through the Reef Trust, which will
support the long-term sustainability of the Great Barrier Reef. In addition, work started on the
development of the Reef 2050 Long-term Sustainability Plan, an over-arching framework that
will guide the protection and management of the World Heritage Area from 2015 to 2050. This
is outlined further under Outcome 5.
The Department continued to support Australia’s unique biodiversity through the system of
threat abatement planning. In 2013–14, the Department:

made a threat abatement plan for plant disease caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi, a
pathogen that causes root rot in native vegetation (January 2014)

completed three statutory reviews of threat abatement plans for competition and land
degradation by rabbits and goats, and predation by the European red fox

supported actions under threat abatement plans through funding a range of research
and other projects, including field efficacy trials for a broadscale toxic-bait system
(Curiosity™) for the control of feral cats in conservation areas.
The Department completed assessments of 23 fisheries, including the Western Australian
Pilbara Trawl Fishery, the New South Wales Ocean Trap and Line Fishery, and the
Commonwealth Southern Bluefin Tuna Fishery. All were declared as approved wildlife trade
operations under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Outcome 2: Sustainable Population and Communities
In October 2013, Australia signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a multilateral
agreement on practical actions to protect human health and the environment from the adverse
effects of mercury. The Department led Australia’s engagement in negotiations for the
convention and is leading work on the ratification process.
Following the Meeting of Australian Environment Ministers in April 2014, the Department is
working with States and Territory officials to support governments in establishing a National
Clean Air Agreement, to be in place by July 2016.
In May 2014, the Department began a review of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic
Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 and related legislation. The review aims to ensure
that Australia meets its obligations and objectives for reducing emissions of ozone-depleting
substances and to identify opportunities to streamline the operation of the Act, including
reducing regulatory compliance costs for business and the community. In March 2014, a first
set of deregulatory amendments to the Act, including exemptions for low-volume importers,
was introduced into Parliament.
The Department oversaw completion of the third independent review of the Product
Stewardship (Oil) Act 2000 and relevant provisions of customs and excise legislation. The final
report was tabled in Parliament in December 2013, and the Government’s response will be
delivered in 2014–15. The May 2014 Budget contained a measure to restore the Product
Stewardship for Oil scheme to budget neutrality by increasing the levy to 8.5 cents per litre of
oil or kilogram of grease from 1 July 2014.
The National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme (the first co-regulatory product
stewardship scheme established under the Product Stewardship Act 2011) completed its
second year, providing 635 free television and computer collection services around Australia.
In its first year the scheme almost doubled the recycling rate, and industry was on track to
recycling more than 43 000 tonnes in 2013–14.
Outcome 3: Antarctica
In 2013–14, the Department continued to support Australia’s national interests through
maintaining an active presence at the three permanent research stations of Casey, Davis and
Mawson. The Department further supported the Government’s strategic interests through the
commissioning of Dr Tony Press to prepare a 20 year strategic plan for Australia’s Antarctic
operations.
The Department began the process of procuring a new icebreaker to replace the ageing
Aurora Australis. Once built, the new icebreaker will transport personnel, cargo and fuel to
Australia’s research stations and be a platform for marine and sea-ice science. Following a
request for proposal process, two companies were selected to bid in a restricted request for
tender to design, build, operate and maintain the icebreaker. The Government announced in
the 2014–15 Budget that it would proceed with the procurement process, and the request for
tender was released on 31 July 2014.
During the 2013–14 Antarctic summer, the Department was required to manage a number of
unexpected and resource-intensive operational challenges. These included:

assisting in the rescue of the MV Akademik Shokalskiy after the privately chartered
vessel became trapped in sea-ice near Commonwealth Bay

responding to a helicopter accident near Davis and safely retrieving injured personnel

completing an aerial resupply of Mawson when water-based resupply was impeded by
heavy coastal sea-ice.
Throughout 2013–14, the Department continued to support world class Antarctic science. A
major scientific project to recover ice-cores from a high-altitude site, Aurora Basin North, deep
in the interior of the Antarctic continent was successfully conducted in 2013–14 due to strong
logistical cooperation between France and Australia. Scientists from 15 partner organisations
from Australia, China, Denmark, France, Germany and the United States participated in the
fieldwork. The recovered ice-core record extends to 2000 years and fills a large gap in the
array of Antarctic climate records.
Outcome 4: Water
The Department, together with the Murray–Darling Basin Authority, led the Australian
Government’s engagement on water reform in the Murray–Darling Basin. All Basin
jurisdictions have signed the Intergovernmental Agreement on Implementing Water Reform in
the Murray–Darling Basin and the associated national partnership agreement, ensuring the
cooperative implementation of these reforms.
Consistent with that agreement, jurisdictions are working collaboratively to develop an agreed
package of supply, efficiency and constraints measures for consideration under the
Sustainable Diversion Limit adjustment mechanism by mid-2016. This mechanism will provide
the Minister with the opportunity, based on the advice of the Authority, to adjust Basin Plan
Sustainable Diversion Limits within defined limits to achieve equivalent or better
environmental, social and economic outcomes. The Authority’s Constraints Management
Strategy, released on 28 November 2013, is informing governments of constraints that limit
the capacity to deliver environmental water to the Murray–Darling Basin.
In June 2014, the Department released the Water Recovery Strategy for the Murray–Darling
Basin, outlining the future approach for water recovery for the environment. The Government
is giving priority to investment in water savings infrastructure projects over purchasing as a
means of returning water to the environment. Over $2.3 billion is forecast to be spent on
infrastructure over the next four years, with $644 million allocated to buybacks.
The Water Recovery Strategy confirms the Government’s commitment to implementing the
Murray–Darling Basin Plan on time and in full, while also establishing a 1500 gigalitre cap on
surface water purchasing in the Basin. The 1500 gigalitre cap addresses community and
industry concerns over the potential adverse social and economic impacts on irrigation
dependent communities that may arise from water purchases.
The total amount of water recovered for ‘bridging the gap’ between sustainable diversion limits
and existing diversions in the Murray–Darling Basin Plan reached 1904 gigalitres.
The Department continued its work to strengthen the science underpinning regulatory
decisions on the water related impacts of coal seam gas and large coal mining developments.
This was supported through the provision of 21 pieces of advice to the Commonwealth and
State government regulators by the Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam
Gas and Large Coal Mining Development. The methodology for bioregional assessments was
published in October 2013 and the first four context statements were published in June 2014.
Outcome 5: Environmental Protection and Heritage Conservation
On 1 November 2013, the Australian Government announced that the Australian Heritage
Strategy would form one of Australia’s key heritage priorities. The Department supported this
policy by preparing the draft Australian Heritage Strategy, which was released for consultation
on 14 April 2014. The strategy is expected to be finalised in 2014–15.
In April 2014, the Macquarie Island World Heritage Area was declared free of ship rats, rabbits
and house mice following a seven-year $24 million joint Australian and Tasmanian
government project. The invasive pests were causing widespread damage to the island’s
exceptional and delicate flora and fauna and its unique geology. The success of the project
has resulted in protection of nesting seabirds and regeneration of island vegetation.
As part of its support for the Government’s efforts to better define, protect and communicate
the outstanding universal value of the Great Barrier Reef, the Department developed
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 referral guidelines for the
outstanding universal value of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
The Department has continued to support the Government to develop innovative and
collaborative approaches to the management of the Great Barrier Reef through the
development of the Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan. In December 2013, the Great
Barrier Reef Ministerial Forum agreed the scope of the Plan, which includes a vision,
outcomes framework and integrated monitoring and reporting to guide management of the
Reef for the next 35 years. Building on the work of the comprehensive strategic assessment
and the public comments received on the draft strategic assessment reports, the Department
commenced drafting the Plan with the Queensland Government and the Reef 2050 Long Term
Sustainability Plan Partnership Group, comprising senior representatives from leading nongovernment bodies, industry groups, Indigenous organisations and community groups. The
draft Plan was released for public comment in September 2014. The plan will be considered
by the World Heritage Committee in mid-2015.
The Department continued its work to identify and conserve threatened species and ecological
communities:

Four communities were added to the national list of threatened ecological communities:
a eucalyptus woodland on the Eyre Peninsula, a mallee woodland on Kangaroo Island,
a shrubland on the south coast of Western Australia, and subtropical and temperate
coastal saltmarsh across Australia.

Eleven recovery plans were made or adopted for 25 listed threatened species and two
listed threatened ecological communities. These include a recovery plan for 10
nationally threatened plant species on Kangaroo Island, a multi-species recovery plan
covering four threatened species of rock wallaby, and a revised recovery plan for the
Great White Shark.

The Department continued to participate in the orange-bellied parrot recovery
programme. Implementation of the programme’s actions have increased the number of
birds in the wild and improved the quality of the captive insurance population. These
results are believed to have significantly reduced the likelihood of extinction of the
species, which was in critical decline
in 2010.
From November 2013 the Department began accepting applications for trade in native and
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora specimens
through a new online permitting system. The system acts as a single point for wildlife trade
permits, capturing and storing applicant information electronically and allowing for online
payments. This results in administrative efficiencies for both the Department and applicants.
Following the Meeting of Environment Ministers in April 2014, the Department started work
with officials from State and Territory governments to streamline processes for the listing of
threatened species in Australia.
Outcome 6: Commonwealth Environmental Water
During 2013–14:

the total volume of Commonwealth environmental water in Commonwealth accounts
was 1449 gigalitres of registered entitlements

a total of 982 gigalitres of Commonwealth environmental water was delivered

after correcting for evaporation, a total of 450 gigalitres of water was carried over into
2014–15

Commonwealth environmental water contributed to 36 watering actions in 16
catchments in the Murray–Darling Basin.
Improving the health of rivers is a long-term process and the full results of the use of
Commonwealth environment water will take some years to emerge, but early monitoring is
already indicating positive impacts on the Basin environment. These include evidence of:

improved health of native fish populations, including the breeding of Golden Perch in
Victoria’s Goulburn River for the first time in ten years, and supporting Murray Cod
breeding in Gunbower Creek

improved lake levels and water quality, including improved salinity in the Lower Lakes
and Coorong in South Australia

increased environmental resilience, such as in the Murrumbidgee river in New South
Wales where heavy rainfall during March-April 2012 diluted blackwater and provided
freshwater refuge for fish populations.
In 2013–14, the Murray–Darling Basin Authority published the first set of Basin annual
environmental watering priorities. Commonwealth environmental water contributed to eight of
ten priority outcomes.
Other achievements were:

the release of the water trading framework and the first two trades of Commonwealth
environmental water

finalising long-term monitoring arrangements that will operate from 2014–15 to 2018–
19

increased engagement with Indigenous communities to identify how Commonwealth
environmental water can support mutual environmental and cultural outcomes

working with the Murray–Darling Basin Authority, state agencies and local communities
on water use planning documents for the 10 regions of the Basin.
Outcome 7: Climate Change
The Department prepared the carbon tax repeal legislation, which the Government introduced
as its first item of legislative business in the 44th Parliament. The carbon tax repeal bills were
enacted by Parliament on 17 July 2014.
In April 2014, the Government released the Emissions Reduction Fund White Paper, which
presents the final design of the Emissions Reduction Fund. The White Paper reflects extensive
feedback from the community and business. On 17 June 2014, the Minister introduced the
Emissions Reduction Fund legislation into the House of Representatives.
Ensuring that methodologies are available to enable different kinds of emissions reduction and
sequestration projects to participate in the Emissions Reduction Fund is critical to the success
of the Government’s Direct Action Plan. To this end the Department worked closely with
experts from business, the land sector and the scientific community to refine these
methodologies.
The Department provided an initial methodology for sequestering carbon in soil in grazing
systems to the Minister for approval in June 2014. This methodology establishes agreed
approaches which will be built on to develop subsequent soil carbon sequestration
methodologies for other land use types.
Corporate outcome: Organisational effectiveness
In 2013–14, the Department implemented a revised governance structure that is more
streamlined and more closely aligned with operational requirements. To achieve greater
organisational effectiveness, it focused on strengthening governance and accountability
systems and practices in areas including project and risk management, financial management,
coordination of cross-cutting issues, workforce management, policy and technical advice, and
knowledge management.
The Department’s Strategic Plan 2013–2017 was reviewed during this reporting period and a
revised Strategic Plan 2014–2018 was finalised in June 2014. The Strategic Plan outlines the
strategic priorities for the next four years.
The Department reviewed and improved the risk management framework. Changes included
adding a risk appetite statement to the risk policy, setting requirements and time frames for
reporting, and increasing the focus on fraud risk as part of general risk assessment. Risk
management tools were updated to support the revised framework, and training and
awareness-raising measures were implemented.
In 2013–14, the Department increased its project management support capability to ensure
that programmes and projects are managed professionally to meet their time, budget and
quality expectations. This included improving the intranet-based support framework and tools
available to staff, comprehensive programme management training for 105 staff, and specialist
guidance to 20 priority programmes and projects.
In October 2013, the Department launched its new website, which is the product of extensive
user testing and helps make information consistent and easier to find. It also began using
Citizen Space, an online engagement platform for internal and external consultations, to
engage with business, community groups and individuals.
The Department’s considerable achievements for 2013–14 would not have been possible
without the professionalism, commitment and hard work of officers at all levels, across all
divisions and locations.
The Department’s outcomes were consolidated from seven to four in the 2014–15 Budget.
This will be reflected in next year’s Annual Report.
Secretary
Gordon de Brouwer
Department overview
Outcome and programme structure
Outcomes
Programmes
Outcome 1: Biodiversity and Ecosystems
Programme 1.1: Sustainable
Management of Natural
Resources and the Environment.
The conservation and protection of Australia’s terrestrial
and marine biodiversity and ecosystems through
supporting research, developing information, supporting
natural resource management, and establishing and
managing Commonwealth protected areas.
Outcome 2: Sustainable Population and Communities
Improved sustainability of Australia’s population,
communities and environment through coordination and
development of sustainable population and communities
policies, and the reduction and regulation of waste,
pollutants and hazardous substances.
Outcome 3: Antarctica
Advancement of Australia’s strategic, scientific,
environmental and economic interests in the Antarctic by
protecting, administering and researching the region.
Outcome 4: Sustainable Water
Programme 1.2: Environmental
Information and Research.
Programme 1.3: Carbon
Pollution Reduction—Land
Sector Initiatives.
Programme 2.1: Management of
Hazardous Wastes, Substances
and Pollutants.
Programme 2.2: Sustainable
Communities.
Programme 3.1: Antarctica:
Science, Policy and Presence.
Programme 4.1: Water Reform.
Adaptation to climate change, wise water use, secure
water supplies and improved health of rivers, waterways
and freshwater ecosystems by supporting research, and
reforming the management and use of water resources.
Outcome 5: Environmental Protection
and Heritage Conservation
Increased protection, awareness and appreciation of
Australia’s environment and heritage through regulating
matters of national environmental significance and the
identification, conservation and celebration of natural,
Indigenous and historic places of national and World
Heritage significance.
Outcome 6: Commonwealth Environmental Water
Protection and restoration of environmental assets through
the management and use of Commonwealth environmental
water.
Programme 5.1: Conservation of
Australia’s Heritage and
Environment.
Programme 5.2: Environmental
Regulation.
Programme 6.1: Commonwealth
Environmental Water.
Outcome 7: Climate Change
Reduction of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions,
adaptation to the impacts of climate change, and
contribution towards the negotiation of an effective global
solution to climate change, through the development and
implementation of a national response to climate change.
Corporate Outcome: Organisational Effectiveness
Programme 7.1: Reducing
Australia’s Greenhouse Gas
Emissions.
Programme 7.2: Adapting to
Climate Change.
Improve the effectiveness and
efficiency of our Department.
Portfolio overview
Environment portfolio as at 30 June 2014
The Hon Greg Hunt MP
Minister for the Environment
Senator The Hon Simon Birmingham
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment
Department of the Environment
Gordon de Brouwer—Secretary
Malcolm Thompson
Deputy Secretary
Kimberley Dripps
Deputy Secretary
David Parker
Deputy Secretary
Steven Kennedy
Deputy Secretary
Corporate Outcome:
Organisational
Effectiveness
Portfolio statutory
authorities/positions
Environment Quality
Division
Environment
Assessment and
Compliance Division
Australian Antarctic
Division
Emissions Reduction
Fund
Corporate Strategies
Division
Bureau of Meteorology
First Assistant
Secretary:
Tony Fleming
First Assistant
Secretary:
Trevor Power (Acting)
First Assistant
Secretary:
Dianne Carlos
Commonwealth
Environmental Water
Office
International and
Land Division
Policy and
Communications
Division
Great Barrier Reef
Marine
Park Authority
First Assistant
Secretary:
Mary Wiley-Smith
(Acting)
Chief Executive
Officer:
Russell Reichelt
First Assistant
Secretary:
Diana Wright
First Assistant
Secretary:
Dean Knudson
Sustainability, Policy
and Analysis Division
Supervising Scientist
Division
First Assistant
Secretary:
Benedikte Jensen
First Assistant
Secretary:
Richard McAllister
(Acting)
First Assistant
Secretary:
David Papps
First Assistant
Secretary:
Shayleen Thompson
Director:
Rob Vertessy
Biodiversity
Conservation Division
Wildlife, Heritage and
Marine Division
Water Efficiency
Division
Renewables and
Projections Division
Sydney Harbour
Federation Trust
First Assistant
Secretary:
Sean Sullivan
First Assistant
Secretary:
Stephen Oxley
First Assistant
Secretary:
Richard McLoughlin
(Acting)
First Assistant
Secretary:
Lyndall Hoitink
(Acting)
Executive Director:
Geoff Bailey
Water Reform Division
Adaptation and
Science Division
Murray–Darling Basin
Authority
First Assistant
Secretary:
Lyndall Hoitink
(Acting)
Chief Executive:
Rhondda Dickson
Parks Australia
Division
Director of National
Parks:
Sally Barnes
International Executive:
Donna Petrachenko
First Assistant
Secretary:
Tony Slatyer
Office of Water
Science
National Water
Commission
First Assistant
Secretary:
Tony Slatyer
Chief Executive
Officer:
Kerry Olsson (Acting)
Clean Energy
Regulator
Chief Executive
Officer:
Chloe Munro
Climate Change
Authority
Chief Executive
Officer:
Anthea Harris
Summary of financial performance
During the 2013–14 financial year the Department reported a departmental comprehensive
loss of $96.64 million. This was primarily due to non-cash provisions for restoration obligations
(make good) for the Australian Antarctic regions.
Expenditure on activities administered by the Department on behalf of the Government totalled
$795.19 million during 2013–14. This expenditure related to grants, suppliers, and the write
down and impairment of water assets (non cash). A comprehensive list of the grant
expenditure by programme is provided in the Department’s 2013–14 financial statements at
Note 19B.
The Department managed administered assets on behalf of the Government of $3.22 billion.
This is largely comprised of water entitlement assets of $2.11 billion, investments in two other
portfolio entities of $546.77 million and a share of land and buildings, other property, plant and
equipment in the River Murray Operations joint operation of $516.02 million.
The Australian National Audit Office has issued an unmodified audit opinion for the
Department’s 2013–14 financial statements.