Discontinue the Australian Human Rights framework

The framework was to raise human rights awareness in the community and the public sector through
targeted education initiatives, increased parliamentary scrutiny, consolidated anti-discrimination laws
and a National Action Plan on Human Rights. The Coalition does not believe this campaign is an
effective use of taxpayer funds.

Enterprise Connect – Amalgamation with AusIndustry

Within the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, there are four divisions working
directly yet separately on small business issues. Enterprise Connect provides another illustration the
problem with its labyrinth of centres, business advisers and partner organisations – including six
manufacturing centres and another six innovation centres. The Coalition will reduce the assortment of
bodies and programs administered by Enterprise Connect and consolidate them in a centralised set of
services through an amalgamation with AusIndustry.

Discontinue Funding for Africa Law and Justice Frameworks

This funding is provided to assist African countries to develop effective law and justice frameworks.
This funding was part of the Rudd Government’s political campaign for greater influence at the UN.

Discontinue Funding for the United Nations Security Council Candidacy

The 2009-10 Budget provided $11.2 million over two years to continue Australia’s bid for a two year
term on the UN Security Council. The Coalition does not support this bid.

Discontinue Funding for Community Cabinets

Community Cabinet meetings involve holding meetings of the Cabinet Ministers outside of Canberra.
These meetings are used by Labor as a public relations exercise in marginal electorates and
also duplicate a function which should be carried out by loca l MPs. Since Labor announced this
measure in the 2008-09 Budget, there has been a 400 per cent blow out in costs from $2.5
million per annum to $10 million per annum.

Discontinue Funding for the Centre for International Finance and Regulation
This funding is for the establishment of a Centre for International Finance and Regulation. The
purpose is to deliver education and training for financial regulators from Australia and the Asia Pacific
region and to provide opportunities for research into the global financial sector and regulation. This is
primarily another form of foreign aid. The Coalition does not support the case for a specialist
educational centre on financial regulation.

Discontinue Funding for the MySkills Website

The MySkills website is intended to provide information to users of the vocational education and
training system. The Coalition does not believe this website is an effective way to support skills
development or vocational education and training.

Discontinue the Green Building Fund

Evidence from Senate Estimates confirms that many of the projects being funded through this
programme would still have been undertaken even without grants provided. (Senate, Economics
Legislation Committee, Budget Estimates (Hansard), 31 May 2010, p.E84-88). Labor has spent
almost all of the $90 million allocated to the five-year Fund in the space of only two years, but the
Coalition will remove any money that is still uncommitted and re-invest it in other initiatives.

Discontinue the Retooling for Climate Change Initiative

Originally a $75 million initiative, Retooling for Climate Change (the stated intent of which is to help
small and medium sized Australian manufacturers improve the energy and/or water efficiency of their
production processes) is another poorly-targeted Labor program.

Discontinue Additional Funding for the State Infrastructure Fund

The additional contribution of $400m to the state infrastructure fund – topping it up to $6bn – was
referenced to “Decisions taken but not yet announced”. The money was provided for in the Budget
but not separately identified. This spending was linked to the RSPT and MRRT. The Coalition will
oppose the tax in opposition and rescind it in government.

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Recover the full costs of industrial elections from the unions
The Coalition will require trade unions to pay to the AEC the full cost of conducting their elections,
rather than relying on taxpayers to subsidise them, delivering savings of $24.1 million over the
forward estimates.

Abolish the post of the Petrol Commissioner

The Petrol Commissioner has done nothing to reduce petrol prices for motorists and has failed to take
any action to reform the wholesale market, as suggested as long ago as December 2007 by the
ACCC in its report on unleaded petrol prices

Discontinue Funding for USO Co.

One of the elements involved in establishing the NBN is to establish a new entity, USO Co with
Commonwealth funding of $50 million in 2012-13 and 2013-14, increasing to $100 million per annum
thereafter. The remaining funding that USO Co requires is to be contributed by industry, as it is now
with final arrangements subject to industry and stakeholder consultation. The Coalition will not
proceed with Labor’s NBN and the USO Co is not required.

Discontinue Funds towards the Retraining and Redeployment of Telstra Staff

One of the elements involved in establishing Labor’s NBN is the provision of $100 million to Telstra to
assist in the retraining and redeployment of Telstra staff that will be affected by the change to the
structure of the telecommunications industry. The Coalition will not proceed with Labor’s NBN and this
funding is therefore not required.

Abolish funding for the RET counsellor to India

Establishing a counsellor to India was an attempt to placate the Indian Government following the
Labor Government’s decision to refuse to sell India uranium for civil purposes. The Coalition will
abolish this position.

Abolish the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute

The Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute (GCCSI) was established by Labor in April 2009 to
accelerate the commercial deployment of carbon capture and storage projects. Funding for the
Institute is $100 million per year. No other countries fund the Institute and an office in Paris has just
been established. There is significant overlap between this initiative and the National Low Emissions
Coal Initiative (NLECI) which has been set up by the Australian Government to accelerate the
development and deployment of technologies that will reduce emissions from coal use at a domestic
level.

Reduce COAG meetings to two per year and to be held in Canberra

In line with the Coalition’s commitment to a renewed and tightened COAG agenda, the number of
COAG meetings will be reduced from four to two per year and the meetings will be held at Parliament
House.