A regular CE Daily update on what to look out for over the next few weeks – including legislative changes and policy proposals.
Federal:
If you haven't marked next Monday in your diary, you should do it now. Although the carbon price scheme won't start until July 1, the body that will administer it – and do much else besides – officially opens for business on April 2.
The Clean Energy Regulator will administer the carbon price scheme, NGERS, the Renewable Energy Target and the Carbon Farming Initiative (see related article).
Also on April 2, comment closes on two draft 'clean energy' regulations. One of the regulations deals with issues including transferring carbon price liabilities and the other ensures the NGERS reporting scheme captures all entities covered by the carbon price regime (see related article).
There are several other regulations still to emerge, including those dealing with the application of a de facto carbon price to synthetic greenhouse gases imported for refrigeration and other purposes.
Meanwhile, a bill to overhaul the nation's main environmental assessment law will likely emerge soon. Last October, a senior departmental official said it was hoped to introduce to Parliament by April a bill to amend the EPBC Act, with the aim of passage through Parliament by year's end (see related article).
In a separate move, the Government has cautiously floated the prospect of a new Wildlife Corridors Act that would link biodiverse areas at risk due to climate change or other environmental threats. Comments on the proposal close on April 20 (see related article).
Remember the Montara oil spill disaster of 2009? As part of its response, the Federal Government is reviewing environmental regulations under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act. Submissions on draft terms of reference for the review close on April 12.
Also not too far off is a bill to establish the $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation. Prime Minister Julia Gillard has said the legislation will be dealt with by Parliament in the winter sittings in May and June (see related article).
Meanwhile, comment closed on March 13 on proposals to expand the Energy Efficiency Opportunities scheme and the Government must announce the final arrangements before July 1.
Queensland:
The next few months should result in greater clarity on when and how climate change programs will be abolished by the new Newman Government and whether any will be retained in a modified form.
The new administration will also need to shed some light on how it will implement its commitment to wind back the Bligh Government's landfill levy.
NSW:
On March 31, new requirements for licence-holders to publish monitoring results come into force, with guidelines on how to comply due to be released in the next few days.
Licence-holders have until July 1 to start complying with the requirement to disclose monitoring data.
Submissions close on April 13 to the independent review into the state's waste levy (see related article).
In early May, the independent panel reviewing the state's planning system will release a green paper on reform.
An array of NSW policies and documents intended to balance farming and mining interests (see related article) are open for public comment until May 3.
Consultation on draft planning guidelines for wind farms closed on March 14 and the Department of Planning and Infrastructure is now working through them. The proposed guidelines would ban turbines within 2km of residences unless there is written agreement from relevant landowners or the project is specially permitted.
Submissions close on Friday for a Legislative Assembly public accounts committee inquiry into the economics of energy generation.
ACT:
Legislation to establish a scheme requiring electricity providers to support energy efficiency improvements in homes and small to medium sized businesses is now being considered by the ACT Legislative Assembly.
The scheme won't involve tradable energy efficiency certificates, of the kind created under equivalent NSW and Victorian schemes, but will instead be based on the approach taken by South Australia (see related article).
Meanwhile, proponents of medium-sized solar power plants have until April 10 to submit their bids to the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate by April 10 (see related article).
Victoria:
This week the Victorian Government announced it would make major changes to the Climate Change Act 2010, introduced by the former Brumby Labor Government, in line with recommendations of an independent review.
The review is likely to be influential on other state governments, given it is the first formal examination of the role of state governments in the context of an operational national carbon price.
Meanwhile, submissions close on May 3 for the State Government's comprehensive review of waste policy, with engagement forums currently taking place around the state.
EPA Victoria likely to release very soon a discussion paper on a revised contaminated sites strategy, with the prospect of mandatory reporting of site contamination likely to be one of the issues raised (see related article).
Northern Territory:
Comment closed earlier this month on proposed legislative reforms that will remove the protection against self-incrimination available to corporations and introduce a new offence of unauthorised pollution. (see related article).
Western Australia:
Construction and demolition waste comprises almost half the waste going to WA landfills and the WA Waste Authority will in August submit a draft report on its management to Environment Minister Bill Marmion (see related article).
Meanwhile, the WA EPA is seeking comments by Friday on a discussion paper on how it assesses impacts on subterranean fauna.
