7th Dec 2023, 11:40 AM – Representatives Nature Repair Market (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023 - Consideration of Senate Message - Unconventional gas production or carbon sequestration

The majority voted against amendments to Senate amendment (3). These amendments were introduced by Maranoa MP David Littleproud (Nationals).

Mr Littleproud explained that:

The Senate made amendments to the Nature Repair Market Bill 2023 that addressed the EPBC and gas extraction. The Nationals and the Liberals believe that this is an opportune time to also pursue an opportunity to look at carbon capture, storage and sequestration, particularly on shore. At the moment, there is a development in my own electorate where a carbon capture and storage project will collect carbon from a coal-fired power station and inject it into the Precipice. That goes through the Great Artesian Basin, the biggest potable water source for this country. It services stock and domestic use right across the Great Artesian Basin.

Amendment text

(1) Senate amendment (3) (proposed new definition of unconventional gas development in section 528 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999), omit the definition, substitute:

unconventional gas development means any activity involving unconventional gas production or carbon sequestration that has, or is likely to have, a significant impact on water resources (including any impacts of associated salt production and/or salinity):

(a) in its own right; or

(b) when considered with other developments, whether past, present or reasonably foreseeable developments.

(2) Senate amendment (3) (proposed new definition of unconventional gas production in section 528 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999), omit the definition, substitute:

unconventional gas production or carbon sequestration means extraction, recovery, injection, or intentional release, (whether by drilling, hydraulic fracturing or other means) of methane or carbon dioxide from or into:

(a) coal seams or beds; or

(b) layers of shale rock; or

(c) tight gas reservoirs; or

(d) aquifers.