All changes made to the description and title of this
division.
View division
|
Edit description
| Change |
Division |
|
senate vote 2014-10-30#8
Edited by
mackay staff
on
2014-11-05 16:42:22
|
Title
Bills — Carbon Farming Initiative Amendment Bill 2014; in Committee- Carbon Farming Initiative Amendment Bill 2014 - in Committee - Reduce public consultation on drafts of methodology determinations
Description
<p class="speaker">Mathias Cormann</p><p>I table a supplementary explanatory memorandum relating to the government amendments to be moved to this bill and seek leave to move the government amendments (1) to (7) together.</p><p>Leave not granted.</p>- The majority agreed to an [amendment](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=CHAMBER;id=chamber%2Fhansards%2Fe89a1618-fea8-466d-ab43-821cf296f483%2F0222;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansards%2Fe89a1618-fea8-466d-ab43-821cf296f483%2F0000%22) that either the [Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1415a/15bd023) (created by this bill) or the [Department of the Environment](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_the_Environment_%28Australia%29) should publish a draft of a [methodology determination](http://www.climatechange.gov.au/reducing-carbon/carbon-farming-initiative/methodologies) 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](http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/ANREU/Concise-description-of-units/Australian-carbon-credit-units/Pages/default.aspx) for particular carbon reduction activities under the [Carbon Farming Initiative](http://www.daff.gov.au/climatechange/cfi).
- ###Carbon Farming Initiative
- The [Carbon Farming Initiative](http://www.daff.gov.au/climatechange/cfi) lets farmers and land managers earn [carbon credits](http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/ANREU/Concise-description-of-units/Australian-carbon-credit-units/Pages/default.aspx) by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and [storing carbon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_sequestration) 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](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-20/coalition-climate-change-direct-action-policy-explained/5067188), which was an [election commitment](https://www.liberal.org.au/our-plan/environment). It will replace the [carbon price](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_pricing_in_Australia) as the main part of the Australian Government's effort to reduce [greenhouse gas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenhouse_gas) emissions.
- Australia has agreed with the [Kyoto Protocol](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocol) to the [United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1415a/15bd023).
<p>I move amendments—</p><p>The CHAIRMAN: One at a time.</p><p>(5), (6) and (7) on sheet HV130 as minor technical amendments which will ensure the smooth and efficient implementation of the Emissions Reduction Fund. The amendments ensure consultation processes are not duplicated, while, at the same time, maintaining the important role of the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee to undertake an assessment of the emissions reduction methods. The amendments will allow projects to go in quickly and participate in the Emissions Reduction Fund.</p><p>The CHAIRMAN: Before I put that, Senator Milne was on her feet. On a point of order, Senator Milne?</p> <p class="speaker">Christine Milne</p><p>No. I am seeking to ask some general questions before we go into specific amendments.</p><p>The CHAIRMAN: Can you take me to which amendment you moved, Minister.</p> <p class="speaker">Mathias Cormann</p><p>Amendment (5).</p><p>The CHAIRMAN: I am not clear which amendment you are talking about.</p><p>It would have been helpful to move amendments (1) to (7) on sheet HV130 together to assist the chamber; however, given that leave was not granted, I move amendment (5) on sheet HV130:</p><p class="italic">(3) The Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee:</p><p class="italic">  (a) is not required to comply with section 123D in relation to the requested advice; and</p><p class="italic">  (b) must not advise the Minister to make the methodology determination unless the Committee has considered any submissions mentioned in subparagraph (1)(c)(ii) of this item that were received within the time limit mentioned in that subparagraph; and</p><p class="italic">  (c) must publish on the Department's website any submissions received within that time limit.</p><p>This is as a minor technical amendment which is part of a series of amendments which will help ensure the smooth and efficient implementation of the Emissions Reduction Fund.</p> <p class="speaker">Nick Xenophon</p><p>Chairman, can I get clarification from you. Because of the haste in which—and it is not a criticism of you, of course—we have proceeded, I have a number of questions for the committee as a whole on some preliminary matters. I believe Senator Milne may have some preliminary questions to raise. I wonder whether we could deal with those before we deal with the amendments, because that may have some bearing on the consideration of the amendments. Would the minister be prepared to facilitate that?</p><p>The CHAIRMAN: If the minister wishes to indulge the chamber, otherwise we will deal with amendment (5). But before I call on other amendments to be moved, we will deal with some general questions. Let us deal with amendment (5) first.</p><p>The CHAIRMAN: The question is that government amendment (5) on sheet HV130 be agreed to.</p>
|