John Williams voted moderately against carbon farming

The majority voted against an amendment introduced by Senator Simon Birmingham, which means that it was unsuccessful. The motion was:

(2) Clause 122, page 154 (after line 30), after subclause (3), insert:(3A) In the case of a project which was accredited under the Greenhouse Friendly program at the time that program was terminated—if a methodology determination is made on or before 30 June 2012, the determination may be expressed to have come into force at the start of 1 January 2008.

Senator Birmingham explained that this amendment would provide "continuity, certainty and hopefully mak[e] sure that projects that operate under Greenhouse Friendly can continue to operate under this new scheme".(Read Senator Birmingham's full explanation of his amendment and the associated debate here, after 1:21 pm. )

Background to the bill

The bill was introduced as part of a package of three related bills to establish a voluntary carbon offset scheme, to be called the Carbon Farming Initiative.(The other two related bills were the Carbon Credits (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2011 and the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Bill 2011. ) Introducing this scheme was a Government election commitment. The bills digest explains that the Initiative will be "a voluntary scheme that aims to provide incentives for the agricultural and forestry sectors to minimise carbon emissions or maximise carbon sequestration by altering their forestry and agricultural practices".

The bill's stated objectives are:

• to implement certain commitments Australia has under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol to it
• to create incentives for carbon-abatement projects
• to increase carbon abatement while still protecting Australia’s natural environment and enhancing resilience to climate change impacts.(Read more about the bill in its bills digest.)

The majority voted against amendments introduced by Senator Mathias Cormann also on behalf of Senators Simon Birmingham and Richard Colbeck. This means that it was rejected.

Senator Cormann explained that the amendments are designed to improve the legislation and rectify some of its shortcomings. They relate to the application of native title future act provisions and the consent of State or Territory minister.(See the amendments and the debate surrounding them here. )

Background to the bill

The Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Bill 2011 was introduced as part of a package of three related bills to establish a voluntary carbon offset scheme, to be called the Carbon Farming Initiative.(The other two related bills were the Carbon Credits (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2011 and the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Bill 2011. ) Introducing this scheme was a Government election commitment. The bills digest explains that the Initiative will be "a voluntary scheme that aims to provide incentives for the agricultural and forestry sectors to minimise carbon emissions or maximise carbon sequestration by altering their forestry and agricultural practices".

The bill's stated objectives are:

• to implement certain commitments Australia has under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol to it
• to create incentives for carbon-abatement projects
• to increase carbon abatement while still protecting Australia’s natural environment and enhancing resilience to climate change impacts.(Read more about the bill in its bills digest.)

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Independent Senator Nick Xenophon, which means that it was rejected. The motion would have amended the original motion "That this bill be now read a second time" with the following: At the end of the motion, add: "and further consideration of the bill be an order of the day for the first sitting day after 10 July 2011."

Background to the bill

The Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Bill 2011 was introduced as part of a package of three related bills to establish a voluntary carbon offset scheme, to be called the Carbon Farming Initiative.(The other two related bills were the Carbon Credits (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2011 and the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Bill 2011. ) Introducing this scheme was a Government election commitment. The bills digest explains that the Initiative will be "a voluntary scheme that aims to provide incentives for the agricultural and forestry sectors to minimise carbon emissions or maximise carbon sequestration by altering their forestry and agricultural practices".

The bill's stated objectives are:

• to implement certain commitments Australia has under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol to it
• to create incentives for carbon-abatement projects
• to increase carbon abatement while still protecting Australia’s natural environment and enhancing resilience to climate change impacts.(Read more about the bill in its bills digest.)

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Senator Simon Birmingham, which means it was rejected. The motion would have amended the original motion "That this bill be now read a second time" with the following: At the end of the motion, add:"and further consideration of the bill be an order of the day for 3 sitting days after a draft of the final regulations relating to the bill is laid on the table".

Background to the bill

The Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Bill 2011 was introduced as part of a package of three related bills to establish a voluntary carbon offset scheme, to be called the Carbon Farming Initiative.(The other two related bills were the Carbon Credits (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2011 and the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Bill 2011. ) Introducing this scheme was a Government election commitment. The bills digest explains that the Initiative will be "a voluntary scheme that aims to provide incentives for the agricultural and forestry sectors to minimise carbon emissions or maximise carbon sequestration by altering their forestry and agricultural practices".

The bill's stated objectives are:

• to implement certain commitments Australia has under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol to it
• to create incentives for carbon-abatement projects
• to increase carbon abatement while still protecting Australia’s natural environment and enhancing resilience to climate change impacts.(Read more about the bill in its bills digest.)