Martin Ferguson (Batman, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Resources and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

I thank members for their contributions to the debate on the establishment of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, ARENA, to which this bill relates. This will complement the principle establishing ARENA by ensuring that the transfer of administration of existing projects and programs to ARENA is managed with minimal disruption to the renewable energy sector and allowing existing projects to largely carry on with business as usual.

The measures in this bill will allow for the ARENA board to promptly commence operation on 1 July 2012 and to quickly determine its strategy and forward work plan. Timely and seamless transfer of existing programs and projects supporting renewable energy and related technology funding is important to sustaining momentum in the renewable energy technology sector and to ensuring that ARENA is able to carry on with all the good work done so far by the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, the Australian Solar Institute and the Australian Centre for Renewable Energy. I commend the bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Ordered that this bill be reported to the House without amendment.

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