Page 2108 - Week 06 - Thursday, 8 June 2017
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section 28C of the Energy Efficiency (Cost of Living Improvement) Act 2012. Section 28C provides the power for the administrator of the energy efficiency improvement scheme to share compliance information with agencies running similar schemes in other jurisdictions. The energy efficiency improvement scheme, or EEIS, is an important means of reducing both energy costs and greenhouse gas pollution.
The ability to share compliance information relating to similar schemes between jurisdictions is an important power. It helps administrators of these schemes ensure compliance with the rules and that there is no double-counting of energy efficiency or greenhouse gas abatement measures in different jurisdictions. The amendment is necessary to ensure the integrity of both the EEIS and schemes in other jurisdictions. If the greenhouse gas abatement achieved by an activity is claimed under the two schemes then it does not represent additional abatement and the targets are not truly being met.
The act already contains the power for the administrator to share this compliance information. The amendment removes the restriction on the information sharing power to give full effect to the purpose of the provision which is to ensure that compliance information is able to be shared with relevant agencies in other jurisdictions.
The amendment in clause 12 changes the way in which compliance information can be shared with other jurisdictions with similar energy efficiency and greenhouse gas abatement schemes. This appropriately and proportionately broadens the number of agencies with which information can be shared. An example of this is the commonwealth carbon farming initiative. This scheme is administered by the commonwealth government and under the current drafting of the provision information cannot be shared. This opens up the possibility for double counting of activities under the EEIS and the commonwealth scheme, with no mechanism to undertake audit activities or ensure compliance. The amendment will ensure that the administrator of the EEIS will be able to share compliance information with the commonwealth to maintain the integrity of both schemes.
The next amendment I would like to discuss is in clause 15 of the bill. Clause 15 amends the time frame for reporting about Ramsar wetland management plans in relation to section 203 of the Nature Conservation Act 2014. Ramsar wetlands are wetlands of international significance which are important natural areas that warrant conservation and protection. Currently in the ACT there is one Ramsar wetland, being the Ginini Flats wetland complex. To conserve and protect such areas it is important that there are effective laws and processes that underpin their management.
The Nature Conservation Act establishes the processes and requirements for making Ramsar wetland management plans. This includes a requirement for the Conservator of Flora and Fauna to report to the minister about each management plan every five years. The bill amends this requirement to instead require that this reporting occur once every seven years. This amendment is made to align territory legislation with the requirement to review plans every seven years under the commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
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