Kylea Tink (North Sydney, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I move the amendment to the Climate Change Bill 2022 circulated in my name:

(1) Clause 14, page 9 (lines 4 and 5), omit "must publish a copy of that advice on its website.", substitute:

must:

(a) publish a copy of that advice on its website; and

(b) cause a copy of that advice to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after giving the advice to the Minister.

The amendment I am moving today relates to part 4 of the bill, which outlines the advisory functions of the Climate Change Authority. The Climate Change Authority is charged with giving the minister advice that relates to the minister's preparation of an annual climate change statement. By amending clause 14, page 9, of the Climate Change Bill 2022 I am seeking to strengthen the parliamentary transparency over this advice. The amendment would have the effect of causing the written advice the Climate Change Authority prepares to the minister to be tabled within 15 sitting days, rather than simply being put on a website somewhere at an unspecified time, or, worse still, potentially being lost in a minister's tray.

The initial draft that was shared with me as a member of the crossbench some weeks ago relied heavily on putting parliamentary and public trust in the climate change minister to do the right thing. As I said earlier in the debate, the truth is that while that may work, in this current situation it's not good enough when it comes to legislating for sustainable, positive change. I'm very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with the minister and his team to increase the role of the parliament—all members of parliament—to increase transparency and enable greater insight into what advice has been received from where and when. This amendment is one which will help ensure our climate policy will be kept on track, regardless of which major party may be in government.

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