Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

(South Australia) (12:28): by leave—I move amendments (1) and (2) on sheet 7118:

(1)   Clause 41, page 60 (line 3), after "Act", insert "and subject to subsection (1A)".

[additionality test]

(2)   Clause 41, page 60 (after line 7), after subclause (1), insert:

(1A)   Notwithstanding subsection (1), if a project is determined by the Minister, on the advice of the Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee, to have a beneficial impact on:

  (a)   the availability of water; or

  (b)   land and resource access for agricultural production;

the project is deemed to pass the additionality test.

(1B)   A determination under subsection (1A) is a disallowable instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

[additionality test]

These amendments relate to the positive list. It states that projects based on advice by the Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee that have a beneficial impact on the availability of water or on agricultural production should be on the positive list. Projects which offset carbon which improve the availability of water and which aids Australia's food production should be supported. This amendment allows for that. That is why I am seeking the support of the Senate in relation to this. I think it is important that there be a positive encouragement of projects that assist food production or water security. I will be moving amendments in relation to the negative list which will make it clearer that if a project has a negative impact on food security or on water security those matters ought to be considered. But this is where a project is shown to have a beneficial effect on food production or on water security and those projects ought to be encouraged by getting a tick.