Greg Combet (Charlton, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

This bill imposes the charge payable, under the carbon pricing mechanism, by a person to the Commonwealth for a unit shortfall as a tax within the meaning of section 55 of the Constitution.

The bill imposes the charge, but only to the extent the charge is neither a duty of customs nor a duty of excise.

A liable entity is under no obligation to pay a unit shortfall charge if it can surrender sufficient units to meet its liability under the mechanism. I commend the bill to the House.

Debate adjourned.