Senator Allison asked the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, upon notice, on 19 April 2004:

(1) For each of the financial years 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2002-03, how much was spent on advertising and marketing under the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT).

(2) For the 2003-04 financial year to date, how much has been spent on advertising and marketing under the NHT.

(3) (a) For each of the financial years 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2002-03, how much did the Commonwealth spend on advertising and marketing in relation to the NHT; (b) for the 2003-04 financial year to date, how much has the Commonwealth spent on advertising and marketing in relation to the NHT; and (c) for the 2004-05 financial year, how much has the Commonwealth budgeted for advertising and marketing under the NHT.

(4) How much of each State and Territory's matching investments in the NHT in the financial years 2002-03 and 2003-04 has been for advertising and marketing purposes (including advertising and marketing components included in in-kind contributions).

Senator Ian Macdonald (Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) —The Minister for the Environment and Heritage has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) The advertising and marketing component of the Natural Heritage Trust (`the Trust') commenced in 1998. The States and Territories have not contributed financially towards the Trust's advertising and marketing costs. The Australian Government has spent the following on advertising and marketing costs for the Trust:

(2) As of 4 May 2004, the Australian Government had spent $168,835 in the 2003-04 financial year on advertising and marketing costs for the Trust.

(3) (a) Please see the response to Part 1 of this question.

(b) Please see the response to Part 2 of this question.

(c) As of 4 May 2004, the advertising and marketing budget for the Trust for 2004-05 had not been approved.

(4) The States and Territories have not nominated advertising and marketing activities as part of their matching arrangements under the Trust.