Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt has introduced legislation to establish the Green Army.
The Green Army is a voluntary program to encourage hands-on, practical, grassroots action to support local environment and heritage conservation projects across Australia.
Mr Hunt said it was an opportunity for young Australians aged 17-24 to gain training and experience in environmental and heritage conservation fields and explore careers in conservation management.
Local councils, community groups and natural resources management organisations will have the chance to develop and submit Green Army project proposals for consideration. Applications will open shortly.
Already 150 projects have been committed and these will be delivered in the initial rollout from July 2014.
The Federal Government will soon be undertaking a tender process for service providers to engage the Green Army teams, manage activities to ensure projects are completed and report regularly on progress.
The Federal Government states that it will abolish the equivalent carbon price on synthetic greenhouse gases from 1 July 2014.
