Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

We've made a number of new investments to support energy, minerals and groundwater resources and to improve their understanding and development during this budget. A $124.5 million expansion for the Exploring for the Future program will improve the understanding of Australia's resources, identifying the resource potential of key regions across Australia. We understand the importance of developing our natural resources, which is why we've committed $28.3 billion for five strategic basin plans, charting a quicker pathway for their development. We also recognise the need to provide communities living in gas development regions with independent and transparent information, hence our support for the CSIRO's Gas Industry Social and Environmental Research Alliance with some $13.7 million.

As part of our commitment to emissions reduction and to meeting the targets of the Paris agreement we have provided a further $50 million towards the Carbon Capture, Use and Storage Development and Demonstration Fund. Indeed, our government, in recognising the potential for use of our resources, is of course investing in manufacturing, and— (Time expired)