Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move Australian Greens amendments (8) and (14) on sheet 5816 revised, together:

(8)    Schedule 1, item 6, page 8 (lines 1 to 3), omit subsection 23B(3), substitute:

        (3)    However, the regulations may provide for a number of certificates to be multiplied only if the certificates relate to:

             (a)    in the case of a small generation unit whose energy source is hydro—the first 10kW of the rated power output of the unit;

             (b)    in the case of a small generation unit whose energy source is wind—the first 10kW of the rated power output of the unit;

             (c)    in the case of a small generation unit whose energy source is solar (photovoltaic)—the total rated power output of the unit.

(14)  Schedule 1, page 10 (before line 1), after item 8, insert:

8AA  After section 40

Insert:

40A  Required GWh of renewable source electricity for 2011 to 2016

        (1)    The required GWh of renewable source electricity in section 40 for the years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 must be increased as specified in a declaration made under subsection (3).

        (2)    The Regulator must, by the 30 September next after each period specified in column 1 in subsection 23B(2) (a relevant column 1 period), calculate the number of certificates created in accordance with the regulations as mentioned in subsection 23B(2) and publish the result of that calculation on the Internet.

        (3)    The Regulator must, within 15 days of complying with subsection (2), make a declaration increasing the required GWh of renewable source electricity in section 40 for the following year to offset the certificates created in accordance with the regulations as mentioned in subsection 23B(2) for the relevant column 1 period.

        (4)    A declaration made under subsection (3) is not a legislative instrument.

The purpose of this is to remove the 1.5-kilowatt cap and replace it with a 10-kilowatt cap. The reason for that is, for example, if you have a remote community who are not connected to the grid and want to build a facility of more than 1.5 kilowatts, they are not going to get the benefit under this system for the whole of their scheme. The cap should be lifted to 10 kilowatts so that, by inadvertence, the government and opposition do not legislate such very worthy communities out of the full benefit of this legislation.