Page 1805 - Week 05 - Thursday, 16 May 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
The bill will help to provide a clearer summary of progress against the renewable energy targets under the act in the minister’s annual report, separating them from the reporting requirements around the greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. The act as it currently stands provides specific reporting requirements. However, these are tailored around the greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets and do not provide appropriate accountability of delivery against the renewable energy target.
The bill will address this by introducing a requirement for the minister to determine a method for measuring progress toward the renewable electricity target. With the passage of this bill I will publish a methodology which will clarify how ACT energy consumption will be measured, what sources of renewable electricity will be included in meeting the target and how these sources are to be measured.
The bill will also introduce a requirement to report on possible reasons for changes in the amount or percentage of renewable energy used in or generated for the ACT from previous years. This is similar to the existing requirement that applies to greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. This will add an additional level of accountability and provide the ACT community with the information required to observe progress towards the target.
The bill amends the act to use more clear language around the distinction between a renewable energy target and a renewable electricity target. This improves the readability of the act and does not reflect any policy or substantive legislative change. Currently, the act refers, in some cases, to generation in the ACT. The ACT is part of the national electricity market, and the ACT government has taken advantage of this connection to secure renewable electricity generation within the national electricity market for the ACT, although only a fraction of this energy is generated in the ACT.
This has helped to minimise the costs of renewable electricity generation and allows the market to decide on the most appropriate location for new renewable electricity generation. The bill aligns the act with the ACT government policy of sourcing renewable electricity generation for, rather than in, the ACT.
In summary, the bill will establish a target for the ACT to continue to deliver 100 per cent renewable electricity in perpetuity. It will provide additional certainty for industry and consumers by setting this target directly within the act. The bill also will improve reporting and accountability of the target to ensure that ACT consumers are given the information required to observe progress towards the targets under the act. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mrs Jones) adjourned to the next sitting.
Animal Welfare Legislation Amendment Bill 2019
Mr Steel, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.
Title read by Clerk.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video