Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for the question, and I thank the minister for infrastructure for quite rightly referring it to me. In this government we have one minister for energy who is responsible for these matters!

In relation to the honourable member's question: our safeguard reforms, which I acknowledge the honourable member supported, make it clear that scope 1 emissions from any shale gas extraction must be net zero; that's reflected in the safeguard rules I brought down. In addition, in relation to Beetaloo, this government is 100 per cent committed to recommendation 9.8 of the Pepper review; I indicated that as late as last week on Darwin radio, which I think is what the honourable member is indicating. We remain committed to that recommendation. I would've thought that's a very sensible thing to do because it was an important recommendation. I have indicated that that has cross-jurisdictional implications because there are substantial emissions involved. To properly ensure that that obligation is met, it is appropriate for the climate and energy ministers council to consider the cross-border ramifications as to where the gas is sent, where it is emitted and how it should be offset, and I've referred to the ministerial council for further consideration.

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