Anne McEwen (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Carr, and also on behalf of Senators Rhiannon, Xenophon, Madigan, Lazarus and Lambie, I move:

That the following matters be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by the last sitting day in June 2016:

(a) the future sustainability of Australia's strategically vital steel industry and its supply chain; and

(b) any other related matters.

Question agreed to.

Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Economics References Committee for inquiry and report by 22 June 2016:

Disclosure and reporting on carbon risk, in regard to:

(a) current and emerging international carbon risk disclosure frameworks;

(b) current carbon risk disclosure practices within corporate Australia;

(c) the role of carbon risk disclosure within existing Australian corporate governance and financial reporting framework and barriers to carbon accounting;

(d) implications of a global agreement to limit global warming to 2 degrees or stabilise at 1.5 degrees for Australia's financial system stability;

(e) Australian involvement in the G20 Financial Stability Board discussions on carbon risk impacts for financial stability;

(f) current regulatory and policy oversight of carbon risk disclosure across government agencies; and

(g) any other related matters.

Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party, Assistant Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Leave granted.

The government does not support adding additional red tape to businesses in an area where Australia is already providing very significant information. Businesses should be focused on creating new investment and jobs. Australia's National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System is world renowned as best practice in terms of reporting on greenhouse gas emissions. Information is publicly available on Australia's National Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Australia's emissions projections on the Department of the Environment and Clean Energy Regulator websites. Many Australian companies voluntarily provide information through the Carbon Disclosure Project and participate in the National Carbon Offset Standard. The government will shortly release a National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Strategy to outline how Australia is managing its climate risks for the benefit of the community, economy and environment, now and into the future.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that business of the Senate notice of motion No. 4 be agreed to.