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CANBERRA - This is the year that Prime Minister John Howard really discovered the environment.
While there have been significant moves by his conservative coalition Government over recent years, Howard was a late convert to climate change and a reluctant advocate of any emission limits or renewable energy
sources that might impact on Australia's resources-dependent economy, and coalmining in particular.
If nothing else, opinion polls showing the degree of concern among voters at the implications of climate change, and at the poor management of crucial water supplies highlighted by one of the worst droughts in recorded history, have helped to turn Howard green.
Tuesday night's Budget showed clearly that - with tax cuts, education, childcare and other sweeteners - the Government has recognised the political significance of good environmental management.
This is, after all, an election year and even with Howard closing the gap in the odds internet betting agency Centrebet is offering on the outcome, formal polling continues to give Labor a clear lead.
One of his early moves was to promote rising star Malcolm Turnbull to the environment and water portfolio, matching Labor's shadow minister, former rock star and prominent conservationist Peter Garrett.
On Tuesday night, announcing the detail of his Budget allocation, Turnbull unveiled A$4.3 billion ($4.8 billion) in funding to address climate change, water security and natural resource management.
"Over the past 11 years the Government has provided almost A$20 billion in funding to restore and protect our natural environment," he said.
"As the nation faces severe water shortages and the impacts of climate change, the Government's sound and responsible economic management ensures that we can direct support to where it is most needed."
Turnbull's package includes the establishment of a centre for climate change adaptation, increased funding for the state science agency CSIRO to research climate change, renewable and new low-emission energy sources, and sustainable agriculture.
More than A$18 million will be spent over five years to reduce methane emissions from underground coalmines, while rebates for solar panels on homes will be doubled in arange of measures to encourage solar power.
New tax breaks will be introduced to promote the establishment of forests specifically as carbon sinks to absorb carbon dioxide from the air.
Farmers will be paid to help to preserve and restore the land, more than A$100 million will be spent to continue the Landcare programme, and almost A$400 million will be handed to the Natural Heritage Trust in the next five years to attack a broad range of environmental problems, including salinity and water pollution.
A massive A$10 billion will also be spent over the next decade under a national plan for water security that will "revolutionise" irrigation and end the over-allocation of water from the Murray Darling Basin that has helped to cripple the nation's most important water supply.
"We have a suite of measures here," Treasurer Peter Costello said.
"We have measures in relation to [low gas emissions].
"We have measures in relation to water.
"We have measures in relation to solar panels on houses.
"You know, practical stuff, real stuff."
Many were not convinced.
Engineers Australia chief executive Peter Taylor said that compared with other big-ticket Budget items, funding for climate change initiatives was minimal and spread too thinly, suggesting that the Government should have instead focused on a smaller number of key initiatives.
The Australian Conservation Foundation welcomed "some useful funding" but criticised the lackof a greenhouse gas reduction com-mitment and strong laws to enforceit.
"Avoiding dangerous climate change is going to take more than modest funding for isolated programmes," executive director Don Henry said. "It requires leadership and structural change."
Greenpeace said the Budget measures did not come close to tackling climate change.
And Greens leader Senator Bob Brown said: "There is no recognition in this Budget that the economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment."
