4th Jun 2024, 5:40 PM – Representatives Net Zero Economy Authority Bill 2024 - Consideration in Detail - Housekeeping and renewable energy zones

The majority voted against amendments introduced by Indi MP Helen Haines (Independent), which means they failed.

What do these amendments do?

Dr Haines explained that:

These amendments really should be noncontroversial. These amendments are housekeeping, actually. They require the authority to undertake an annual work plan. [...] These amendments require a long-term budget for the authority. [...] These amendments would also ensure that the authority supports communities in renewable energy zones. [...] My amendments add a provision which ensures that the minister's directions to the authority must not contradict the objects of the bill.

Amendment text

(9) Clause 16, page 18 (lines 3 to 6), omit subclause (2), substitute:

(2) In performing the Authority's functions, the Authority should prioritise communities, regions, industries and workers that are or will be:

(a) in areas recognised by the Australian Energy Market Operator as renewable energy zones; or

(b) otherwise significantly affected by Australia's transition to a net zero emissions economy.

(10) Page 21 (after line 28), after clause 19, insert:

19A Board must prepare annual work plan

(1) The Board must prepare and give to the Minister a work plan, in writing, for each financial year beginning on or after the commencement of this Act.

(2) The work plan for a financial year must set out:

(a) the main activities proposed to be undertaken by the Authority and the Board for the financial year and for the following 2 financial years, including activities relating to:

(i) the scheme prescribed for the purposes of section 68AD (the developer rating scheme); and

(ii) local energy hubs (see Part 5B); and

(iii) community benefit plans (see Part 5C);

(b) how those activities are proposed to be undertaken.

Note: For example, the work plan could include the following activities relating to Australia's transition to a net zero emissions economy:

(a) capacity building in regions to guide future economic development;

(b) working with State-based regional transition authorities on particular activities;

(c) funding and facilitating the development and delivery of regional strategies to improve economic diversification.

Consultation on a draft work plan

(3) Before giving the Minister a work plan for a financial year, the Board must:

(a) prepare a draft of the work plan and give it to the Minister, the States, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory; and

(b) cause the draft work plan to be published on the Department's website; and

(c) invite all interested bodies or persons to give the Authority written comments on the draft work plan within:

(i) 90 days after the invitation is given; or

(ii) such longer period as advised by the Authority.

The Board may also consult with any other person that the Board considers appropriate about the draft work plan.

(4) In preparing a work plan for a financial year, the Board must have regard to any comments given under paragraph (3)(c) in relation to the draft of the work plan.

Tabling and publishing a work plan

(5) The Minister must table each work plan in each House of the Parliament within 7 sitting days of that House after receiving the work plan under subsection (1).

(6) The Board must cause each work plan to be published on the Department's website as soon as practicable after giving it to the Minister.

(7) A work plan prepared under subsection (1) is not a legislative instrument.

(11) Clause 20, page 22 (after line 16), at the end of the clause, add:

(5) A direction under subsection (1) must be consistent with this Act (including the object of this Act), with the Board's functions and with the Authority's functions.

(16) Clause 69, page 68 (line 5), after "including", insert "the Authority's budget".

(17) Page 69 (before line 2), before clause 70, insert:

69A Minimum 10-year budget for the Authority

(1) If, by the end of the 6-month period beginning on the day this Act commences, no Commonwealth law sets out a budget for the Authority for each of the first 10 financial years starting on or after that commencement, the Minister must cause to be prepared a written report explaining the reasons why.

(2) The Minister must table the report in each House of the Parliament within 7 sitting days of that House after the end of that 6-month period.