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 is part of a package of bills amending certain aspects of the Clean Energy Future plan that I referred to in the two previous matters on notice. As announced in the 2012-13 budget, compressed natural gas (CNG) used for non-transport purposes will be now included in the carbon pricing mechanism from 1 July 2012.

This changes the originally proposed treatment of compressed natural gas, which was to be subject to the effective carbon price using the fuel tax system. This bill will amend the Customs Tariff Act 1995 to achieve the same outcome as amendments to the Excise Tariff Act 1921 made by the Clean Energy (Excise Tariff Legislation Amendment) Bill 2012 but for imported compressed natural gas. This will ensure non-transport use of compressed natural gas is exempt from customs duty.

Full details of the Clean Energy (Customs Tariff Amendment) Bill 2012 are contained in the explanatory memorandum that I have already submitted. I commend this bill also to the House.

Debate adjourned.