Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration) Share this | Hansard source

One of the reasons we do not support the amendments is that there is already a requirement for companies to complete their first site assessments by the end of the coming financial year, with public reporting to start next year. So company boards, their shareholders and the public will have the opportunity both to scrutinise and to judge companies on their performance. We see that as being an effective way to ensure that the public, companies and those involved are aware of the opportunities, and also some of the smaller companies may be able to take up the improvements that are brought into place. As I think we have all agreed, there will be an increase in the cost of energy as time goes on, which will provide a further incentive for industries generally to become more energy efficient and therefore cost effective. We see that there are already adequate measures in the bill to cover this issue.