30th Oct 2014, 9:14 PM – Senate Carbon Farming Initiative Amendment Bill 2014 - in Committee - Reduce public consultation on drafts of methodology determinations

The majority agreed to an amendment that either the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (created by this bill) or the Department of the Environment should publish a draft of a methodology determination and give the public at least two weeks to make submissions on that draft.

Currently, the public have at least forty days to make submissions.

Methodology determinations

Methodology determinations are detailed rules that farmers and land managers must follow to earn carbon credits for particular carbon reduction activities under the Carbon Farming Initiative.

Carbon Farming Initiative

The Carbon Farming Initiative lets farmers and land managers earn carbon credits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and storing carbon in vegetation and soils by changing their agricultural and land management practices.

Background to the bill

The Emissions Reduction Fund is a key part of the Coalition Government's Direct Action policy, which was an election commitment. It will replace the carbon price as the main part of the Australian Government's effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Australia has agreed with the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which means that Australia has agreed to reduce emissions by five per cent of 2000 levels by 2020.

Read more about the changes made by the bill in the bills digest.