Ian Macfarlane (Groom, Liberal Party, Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources) Share this | Hansard source

in reply—I thank those members who have contributed to the debate on the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Amendment Bill 2006. The bill makes amendments to the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Act 2006 to correct a small number of technical anomalies. These amendments will properly align the act with the original policy intent and improve its administration.

The Energy Efficiency Opportunities program is a significant achievement flowing from the government’s 2004 energy policy statement Securing Australia’s energy future. It requires Australia’s largest energy using businesses to undertake energy efficiency opportunities assessments and publicly report on their business responses. This applies to an estimated 250 corporations that use more than half a petajoule of energy per year, covering around 40 per cent of Australia’s total energy use.

I note that the member for Batman in his contribution moved a second reading amendment and sought a response from the government to some issues that he raised. I respond by saying that there are six companies currently registered in compliance with the act and we expect that about 250 companies will be registered by the due date of 31 March 2007. We also expect that most companies will register late but still within the allowed period, and we expect them all to meet the deadline.

The government, through its Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources, is currently running workshops in capital cities to inform companies of their obligations. It is also writing to the chief executives of those companies to ensure that they are aware of their obligations to register by 31 March 2007. We are also, through the department, sending out regular newsletters and email reminders to the target companies so that they know their obligations and we are also making sure that they plan to register by the deadline. I also reject the amendment proposed by the member for Batman.

I say in closing that the bill amends the act which took effect on 1 July 2006 to clarify that corporations do not need to register if they are already registered. It makes clear that the period allowed for the program participants to submit their assessment plans and the consequential timing of the five-year assessment cycle start immediately after the end of the energy use trigger year and, for efficient administration, the powers and responsibilities of the secretary of the department may be delegated to acting senior executive service employees.

These amendments are consistent with the explanatory memorandum to the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Act 2006 and the obligations as set out in the Energy Efficiencies Opportunities Regulation 2006 and the energy efficiency opportunities industry guide. Enabling the Energy Efficiency Opportunities program to be delivered as originally intended will ensure that stakeholders are not confused by the discrepancies currently evident in the act and will improve the ability of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources to effectively administer the act.

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