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Federal
Non-corporate Commonwealth Entity
Industry, Science and Innovation

Geoscience Australia

Portfolio: Industry, Science and Resources

http://www.ga.gov.au

Annual Budget

$376M

2026-27 Budget (Budget Paper No. 4)
-10.5%vs prior year ($420M)
Total Revenue

$300M

2024-25 Total Revenue
Staff

900

Headcount (2024-25)
Budget Commentary

Material downward shift in 2026-27 funding (-10.5%, $44M change). 2025-26 estimated actual $420M → 2026-27 budget $376M. Source: Budget Paper No. 4, Agency Resourcing tables.

Major Digital Projects
6

Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive (CMPTI)

Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Tier 2
DCA: Medium-High
Active

Total Budget

$28.3M

Digital Budget

$22.1M

July 2024June 2027

The CMPTI is consistent with the Critical Minerals Strategy and a key component of the Future Made in Australia Package. The project aims to establish a customer portal and associated back-end Customer Relationship Management (CRM) to facilitate the submission and assessment of CMPTI applications and subsequent reporting and compliance processes.

National Measurement Institute (NMI) Digital Transformation Program

Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Tier 2
DCA: High
Active

Total Budget

$40.2M

Digital Budget

$40.2M

July 2024June 2026

The program will address the NMI’s most urgent ICT needs, such as cyber security risks as well as critical service delivery and operational issues. The program comprises 4 key ICT work streams, which aim to remediate known vulnerabilities that pose risks to operations, uplift systems to streamline processes, enhance service delivery and improve data security.

An Australia–United States Partnership in Landsat Next

Geoscience Australia

Tier 3
Active

Total Budget

$207.4M

Digital Budget

$26.7M

July 2024June 2029

The Australia–United States partnership in Landsat Next builds on a nearly 50-year partnership, enabling collaboration to scale up over the decades to come. The project will provide Australia with assured access to data from the Landsat Next satellites, an enhanced Alice Springs Ground Station capability, next-generation data processing, quality assurance, integrity monitoring and distribution capabilities, and provide satellite-based enhanced earth imaging products to users.

An Enduring Commonwealth Function for Radioactive Waste Management

Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Tier 3
Paused (Digital Budget)

Total Budget

$275.2M

Digital Budget

$25M

July 2023June 2028

This project represents the intention of the Commonwealth to ensure safe and secure management of Australia’s radioactive waste to protect people and the environment for generations to come. The digital project, which is currently paused, aims to set up the systems required for Australian Radioactive Waste Agency to deliver an enduring function for radioactive waste management in Australia.

Questacon Digital Futures Project

Questacon

Tier 3
Active

Total Budget

$7.3M

Digital Budget

$6.3M

April 2023June 2027

Currently, Questacon’s software, hardware and network infrastructure do not provide a consistent, accessible customer experience. Current systems also do not meet core requirements for seamless digital transactions for users, efficient operations and secure transactions. This project is addressing these issues through targeted investment and uplift in key areas.

Single Business Service

Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Tier 3
Active

Total Budget

$16.4M

Digital Budget

$16.3M

July 2023Ongoing - no end date

This project will maintain the existing Single Business Service (business.gov.au and contact centre) to simplify small to medium businesses’ engagement with government. Funding will support the ongoing delivery of the business contact centre and business.gov.au including security, infrastructure and data insights capability, and ensure information and tools are up to date, so the service remains useful and usable for the Australian business community.

Ideas relevant to this department

8 tagged

Reform proposals on YourGov that name this department as a delivery partner — drawn from citizen voice, government strategy, research, international examples and gap analysis.

STRATEGY SUMMARY

To inform government, industry and community decisions on the economic, social, and environmental management of the nation’s natural resources through enabling access to geoscientific and spatial information. [AR p.15]

VISION

To be a world-leading organisation, informing evidence-based decisions through integrated Earth science to secure Australia’s future. [CP p.16]

PURPOSE

To inform government, industry and community decisions on the economic, social, and environmental management of the nation’s natural resources through enabling access to geoscientific and spatial information. [AR p.15]

Strategic priorities

· 3

1

Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity 10-year roadmap

2

Future-proofing Australia’s coastlines with space technology

3

Engaging students and educators across Australia in Earth science

Outcomes

· 1

Outcome 1: Informed government, industry and community decisions on the economic, social and environmental management of the nation’s natural resources through enabling access to geoscientific and spatial information

This outcome is achieved through the provision of trusted information and advice on Australia’s geology and geography to support faster and smarter decision-making.

KEY ACTIVITIES

  • provide geoscientific and spatial information services

Values

· 4

integrity

collaboration

excellence

innovation

Performance measures

· 3

CodeMeasureTarget 2025-26Latest resultStatus

CCE01

National Earthquake Alerts Centre (NEAC) provision of time-critical information services to government of significant earthquakes within agreed timeframes

100% response within the allocated timeframe

Substantially achieved

Annual Report 2024-25 · p.25
Substantially achieved

AMSIS01

Number of users to the Australian Marine Spatial Information System (AMSIS) portal

15,000 users

12,702 users

Annual Report 2024-25 · p.27
Achieved

AUSSEABED01

Number of users of the AusSeabed data portal

8,000 users

5,660 users

Annual Report 2024-25 · p.28
Substantially achieved

Ideas distilled from this entity's strategy & evidence

· 8

Data & Performance

Streamline Digital Earth Australia data updates

Automate the updating process for Digital Earth Australia data to ensure timeliness and accuracy.

Impact: Medium
Effort: Medium
Small

2024-25.pdf

Data & Performance

Enhance AusSeabed data portal

Improve the user interface and expand data accessibility for the AusSeabed data portal.

Impact: High
Effort: High
Small

2024-25.pdf

Risk & Assurance

Optimise National Earthquake Alerts Centre operations

Optimise the operational efficiency of the National Earthquake Alerts Centre to reduce response times.

Impact: High
Effort: High
Medium

2024-25.pdf

Strategy & Reform

Expand Australian Marine Spatial Information System

Expand the scope and coverage of the Australian Marine Spatial Information System to include more regions and data types.

Impact: Very High
Effort: High
Large

2024-25.pdf

Citizen Services

Boost downloads on critical minerals portal

Implement targeted marketing campaigns to increase downloads from the critical minerals portal.

Impact: Medium
Effort: Medium
Small

2024-25.pdf

Citizen Participation

Expand educator engagement program

Expand the educator engagement program to include more interactive and online modules.

Impact: High
Effort: High
Medium

2024-25.pdf

Regulation & Policy

Strengthen international boundary representation

Strengthen Geoscience Australia’s role in representing Australian interests in international boundary disputes.

Impact: High
Effort: High
Large

2024-25.pdf

Regulation & Policy

Adopt international geospatial data standards

Adopt international geospatial data standards to improve interoperability and data sharing.

Impact: Very High
Effort: High
Large

2024-25.pdf

Data & Performance

Streamline Digital Earth Australia data updates

Automate the updating process for Digital Earth Australia data to ensure timeliness and accuracy.

Impact: Medium
Effort: Medium
Small

2024-25.pdf

Data & Performance

Enhance AusSeabed data portal

Improve the user interface and expand data accessibility for the AusSeabed data portal.

Impact: High
Effort: High
Small

2024-25.pdf

Risk & Assurance

Optimise National Earthquake Alerts Centre operations

Optimise the operational efficiency of the National Earthquake Alerts Centre to reduce response times.

Impact: High
Effort: High
Medium

2024-25.pdf

Strategy & Reform

Expand Australian Marine Spatial Information System

Expand the scope and coverage of the Australian Marine Spatial Information System to include more regions and data types.

Impact: Very High
Effort: High
Large

2024-25.pdf

Citizen Services

Boost downloads on critical minerals portal

Implement targeted marketing campaigns to increase downloads from the critical minerals portal.

Impact: Medium
Effort: Medium
Small

2024-25.pdf

Citizen Participation

Expand educator engagement program

Expand the educator engagement program to include more interactive and online modules.

Impact: High
Effort: High
Medium

2024-25.pdf

Regulation & Policy

Strengthen international boundary representation

Strengthen Geoscience Australia’s role in representing Australian interests in international boundary disputes.

Impact: High
Effort: High
Large

2024-25.pdf

Regulation & Policy

Adopt international geospatial data standards

Adopt international geospatial data standards to improve interoperability and data sharing.

Impact: Very High
Effort: High
Large

2024-25.pdf

Legislation administered

· 6

Act

2006

Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006

Geoscience Australia administers this Act to manage offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities.

Act

1999

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Geoscience Australia supports the implementation and compliance of this Act for environmental protection and biodiversity conservation.

Instrument

2025

Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity 10-year Roadmap

Geoscience Australia contributes to the strategic direction and implementation of this roadmap for resource management.

Instrument

2021

National Hydrogen Strategy

Geoscience Australia supports the development and implementation of this strategy for hydrogen and carbon storage.

Instrument

2021

Critical Minerals Strategy

Geoscience Australia provides data and research to support this strategy for critical minerals.

Instrument

2024

AusSeabed

Geoscience Australia manages the AusSeabed data portal for seabed mapping.

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