Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill

Final Stages

The Legislative Council agreed to the bill with the amendments indicated by the following schedule, to which amendments the Legislative Council desires the concurrence of the House of Assembly:

No. 1. Clause 2, page 3, after line 4—After subclause (3) insert:

(3a) Section 3(1)—after paragraph (b) insert:

(ba) to promote transparency in relation to the operation of this Act, including through the public reporting of information; and

No. 2. Clause 3, page 3, after line 35 [clause 3(3)]—After the definition of net greenhouse gas emissions insert:

net renewable electricity generation means the contribution of renewable electricity generated in South Australia after taking into account non-renewable electricity generated in South Australia and interconnector flows over the course of a financial year;

No. 3. Clause 4, page 5, after line 10 [clause 4(1), inserted subsection (2d)]—After paragraph (b) insert:

and

(c) consider whether zero net greenhouse gas emissions within the State can reasonably be achieved before 31 December 2050.

No. 4. Clause 4, page 5, line 16 [clause 4(4), inserted paragraph (ba)]—After 'calculating' insert:

the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the State,

No. 5. Clause 4, page 5, line 18 [clause 4(4), inserted paragraph (ba)]—After 'offsets' insert:

from outside the State

No. 6. Clause 6, page 6, lines 18 and 19 [clause 6(3)]—Delete subclause (3) and substitute:

(3) Section 7(2)(f)(i)—delete 'energy' and substitute:

and non-renewable electricity sources

No. 7. Clause 6, page 6, after line 19—After subclause (3) insert:

(4) Section 7—after subsection (2) insert:

(2a) For the purposes of subsection (2)(f)(i), information on the levels of greenhouse gas emissions must include—

(a) the level of net greenhouse gas emissions within the State; and

(b) the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the State, without taking account of any removals of greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere due to activities within the State, or any emissions offsets from outside the State.

No. 8. Clause 6, page 6, after line 19—After subclause (3) insert:

(4) Section 7—after subsection (2) insert:

(2a) For the purposes of a report under this section, without limiting the manner in which levels of greenhouse gas emissions or renewable electricity generation or use may be expressed, the report must, in providing information in relation to those matters, where relevant, express the information using an appropriate unit of measurement (and not just express the relevant information by reference to a percentage).

No. 9. New clause, page 6, after line 19—After clause 6 insert:

6A—Amendment of section 9—Premier's Climate Change Council

Section 9—after subsection (3) insert:

(3a) In making an appointment under this section (being an appointment required to fill a vacancy in the office of a member of the Council that occurs after the commencement of this subsection), the Minister must have regard to the desirability of including, within the expertise of the Council's membership, a person or persons who have an understanding of—

(a) the calculation, assessment, measurement or reporting of greenhouse gas emissions; and

(b) science related to climate change.

No. 10. Clause 9, page 8, after line 3—After subclause (4) insert:

(4a) Section 14(2)(b)—after 'emissions,' insert:

which may include consideration of a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target or targets,

No. 11. Clause 10, page 8, after line 33 [clause 10, inserted section 14A(2)]—After paragraph (a) insert:

(ab) without limiting any other matters that may be taken into consideration, should be prepared having regard to—

(i) the impacts of climate change on biodiversity; and

(ii) the impacts of climate change on water management; and

(iii) measures mitigating the effects of climate change, including measures to progress towards a circular economy; and

(iv) the impacts of the transition to lower greenhouse gas emissions; and

No. 12. Clause 11, page 11, after line 29—After subclause (3) insert:

(4) Section 16—after subsection (6) insert:

(7) A register of sector agreements under subsection (6)(a) must be kept available for public inspection, without fee, on the Department's website.

No. 13. Clause 14, page 12, line 17 [clause 14, inserted section 20A(3)(a)]—After 'section' insert:

including in relation to the reporting of the level of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the operations or activities of the agency

No. 14. New clause, page 12, after line 25—After clause 14 insert:

14A—Amendment of section 21—Review of Act

Section 21(2)—after paragraph (a) insert:

(ab) insofar as is reasonably practicable, the extent to which measures adopted by the State Government to facilitate climate change adaptation have been implemented; and

Consideration in committee.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: If it is convenient to the house, I would like to move all en bloc, please.

The CHAIR: Are members of the opposition comfortable with that—that we accept all the amendments and you can speak to them as you wish?

Mr ODENWALDER: I draw your attention to the state of the house, sir.

A quorum having been formed:

The CHAIR: Member for Heysen, I redirect my question to you: are you comfortable moving them en bloc and then speaking to them?

Mr TEAGUE: Yes.

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: I move:

That the Legislative Council's amendments be agreed to.

Motion carried.