Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

On 16 August Senator Milne asked me some questions in the context of my role representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. I have some additional information in relation to that question which I seek leave to incorporate into Hansard.

Leave granted.

The answer read as follows—

The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency commissioned George Wilkenfeld and Associates to conduct an independent analysis of data obtained under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System to produce upstream (scope 3) emission factors for natural gas by state and territory. The natural gas scope 3 emission factor includes both coal seam methane and other natural gas.

These factors incorporate the indirect emissions attributable to fuel combustion and fugitive emissions associated with the extraction, production, processing and transport of natural gas and coal seam methane.

These factors are published in the National Greenhouse Accounts Factors workbook on the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency website.

In relation to Senator Milne's second question, the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency has not commissioned any research into the life-cycle emissions from coal seam gas (CSG) projects from external sources.

In the context of assessing the potential impacts of the Jobs and Competitiveness Program on liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects, the Department has undertaken research internally based on a range of data sources to assess the magnitude of emissions associated with CSG versus other LNG projects as well as the material sources of these emissions.

These sources of information included the forecasted total project emissions estimated by LNG proponents in their Environment Impact Statements and in their estimates submitted to the Department.