Estimate of environmental expenditure 2025/26: Method and results
The Estimate of environmental expenditure 2025/26: Method and results shows a $1 billion, or approximately 25%, reduction in central government spending for the year ahead – from $3.55 billion last year to approximately $2.65 billion for 2025/26.
Environmental spending for 2025/26 equates to 1.4% of total government budgeted expenditure, down from approximately 2% in each of the previous two years.
The estimate breaks down the spending of 22 central government agencies against six enduring environmental outcomes. It is intended to provide Members of Parliament with information to help them scrutinise public spending on the environment.
The Sankey diagram (click to enlarge) shows environmental expenditure budgeted for 2025/26 by government agencies, attributed to enduring environmental outcomes. The top of the figure provides a sense of the total environmental spend, the bottom shows where that spending is focused and the flows capture the contributions of individual agencies.
This year, the estimate of environmental expenditure’s focus area examines the impact of the Jobs for Nature programme. The programme received $1.185 billion of funding over five years from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund intended to achieve economic and environmental outcomes.
This examination reflects themes the Commissioner has previously raised, in particular the need for consistent and sustainable funding if environmental issues are to be managed effectively.
The data supplied by agencies that underpins this estimate of environmental spending can be downloaded here.