Under the Australian constitution responsibility for land use and management rests with the States. However, since 1946 the Commonwealth and States and Territories have worked together at a national level on soil conservation. In 1992 the Australian Agricultural Council, Australian Soil Conservation Council and the Australian Water Resources Council combined to produce a new ministerial council, the Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand.

Under the Soil Conservation (Financial Assistance) Act 1985 the Commonwealth government set up a National Soil Conservation Program Fund. Under the Act, the Soil Conservation Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the federal minister on soil conservation priorities and strategies by the commonwealth and proposed agreements and funding arrangements with the states. The DSE will be able to give you information on funding projects.