Department of Environment and Science

Queensland Budget 2022-23 · Palaszczuk Government

Minister
Meaghan Scanlon MP
Department head
Director-General Jamie Merrick

As at budget day (2022-06-21)

$749.8M
Total expenses
$54.9M
Capital program
$72M
4 tracked measures
2,863
FTE staff

Key service areas

Environmental Programs and Regulation ServicesParks, Wildlife and Conservation ServicesScience ServicesHeritage Protection ServicesYouth Engagement

Budget initiatives

Resource Recovery Sector Transformation$47.3MNewAnnounced

$964.2 million over five years as part of the 10-year $2.1 billion Waste Package to support councils and industry to invest in resource recovery infrastructure, reduce waste, meet recovery targets and reduce the household impact of the waste levy.

Councils and recyclers get funding to build resource recovery infrastructure and reduce waste going to landfill, while household waste levy costs are buffered.

2021-22: $672.4M2022-23: $47.3M2023-24: $105.5M2024-25: $75.4M2025-26: $63.6M

General Government operating, $964.2 million over 5 years (includes $672.4 million in 2021-22 for council payments to reduce the household waste levy impact, plus $291.8 million over 4 years for resource recovery programs). $47.3M is the 2022-23 expense line.

Protected Area Strategy 2020-2030$3.1MContinuingAnnounced

$262.5 million over four years to continue delivering Queensland's Protected Area Strategy 2020-2030, acquiring land of high conservation value, upgrading national park infrastructure and supporting better management of protected areas including the Great Barrier Reef.

Queensland's national parks and protected areas, including the Great Barrier Reef, receive continued investment in land acquisition and management.

2022-23: $3.1M2023-24: $3.1M2024-25: $3.1M2025-26: $3.1M

General Government operating, $262.5 million over 4 years (including $250 million held centrally for land acquisitions and capital works). The $3.137 million 2022-23 figure is the directly disclosed Protected Area Investment and Management expense line; most of the program is held centrally.

Saving Queensland's Koalas and Threatened Species$12.4MExpandedAnnounced

Almost $40 million to protect threatened species, including $24.6 million for the South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy 2020-2025 to boost koala numbers and restore key habitats.

Funding supports koala habitat restoration and protection of other threatened native species across South East Queensland.

2022-23: $12.4M2023-24: $22.9M2024-25: $2M2025-26: $2M

General Government operating. $12.4M in 2022-23 combines the Saving Queensland's Koalas ($7.432 million) and Saving Queensland's Threatened Species ($4.968 million) expense lines. Total threatened species investment is almost $40 million.

Accelerating Climate Action$9.5MExpandedAnnounced

Increased funding to accelerate Queensland's climate action, supporting emissions reduction and adaptation programs across government.

Programs to cut emissions and help Queensland adapt to climate change receive additional funding.

2022-23: $9.5M2023-24: $13.7M2024-25: $4.7M2025-26: $4.7M

General Government operating. Accelerating Climate Action expense line: $9.487 million in 2022-23, totalling approximately $32.6 million across the forward estimates to 2025-26.

Forward estimates

Year-by-year allocations for 4 measures with published forward profiles.

Measure2021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26Total
Resource Recovery Sector Transformation$672.4M$47.3M$105.5M$75.4M$63.6M$964.2M
Protected Area Strategy 2020-2030$3.1M$3.1M$3.1M$3.1M$12.5M
Saving Queensland's Koalas and Threatened Species$12.4M$22.9M$2M$2M$39.3M
Accelerating Climate Action$9.5M$13.7M$4.7M$4.7M$32.6M
Total$672.4M$72.4M$145.2M$85.2M$73.5M$1.05B

Performance metrics

Service standards from the Service Delivery Statement. Targets and actuals as published.

MetricPrior targetActualTarget
2024-252024-252025-26
Percentage of matters finalised with a conviction or a successful application85%90%85%
Percentage of briefs of evidence reviewed and decision made on whether charges can be laid, within 12 weeks of receipt90%95%90%
Percentage of the prescribed Protection Zone fuel management treatment achieved on QPWS managed areas to protect life and property90%90%90%
Percentage of Queensland's land area that is protected8.27%8.21%8.3%
Percentage of customers from government agencies satisfied with the natural resource and environmental science services and information provided (overall satisfaction)≥90%92%≥90%
Percentage of departmental heritage recommendations, for inclusion in or removal from the Heritage Register, accepted by the Queensland Heritage Council90%100%90%

Source: Service Delivery Statement. Prior target and actual are for 2024-25; target is for 2025-26.

Source document

Service Delivery Statement — Department of Environment and Science (PDF)

Last updated: 2026-06-21. Factual information from published budget documents.