Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senators, in accordance with the resolution just agreed to, the time for the consideration of various bills has expired. I will now put the questions before the chair and all remaining stages of the bills. I will first deal with the Net Zero Economy Authority Bill 2024 and the related bill, starting with the second reading amendment to the Net Zero Economy Authority Bill 2024, circulated by the opposition. The question is that the opposition's second reading amendment on sheet 2700 be agreed to.

Opposition's circulated amendment—

Omit all words after "that", substitute "the Senate:

(a) acknowledges that the Net Zero Economy Authority is a long-held union wish list item that masks itself as being an Authority for the regions and for the net zero transition, but is really another Canberra bureaucracy that:

(i) adds another level of federal government duplication by mimicking the role of the CEFC and ARENA by 'facilitating new investment in the net zero transition',

(ii) significantly overlaps with existing enterprise agreements, industrial obligations, and localised transition plans with its Energy Industry Jobs Plan,

(iii) gives unions access to the personal information of the employees of closing coal and gas-fired power stations, as well as the personal information of the employees of the businesses in commercial relationships with closing coal and gas-fired power stations, and

(iv) aims to centrally-plan employment opportunities for the employees of closing coal and gas-fired power stations without guarantees that such employment opportunities would leave employees better off than their current employment; and

(b) recognises that as coal-fired power stations close, zero-emissions nuclear technology will provide well-paid employment opportunities and economic security for generations in rural, regional, and remote communities".

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that these bills be now read a second time.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will now deal with the Committee of the Whole amendments, starting with the amendments to the Net Zero Economy Authority Bill 2024 circulated by the Australian Greens. The question is that the Australian Greens amendments on sheet 2835 be agreed to.

Australian Greens' circulated amendments—

(1) Clause 3, page 2 (lines 16 to 18), omit paragraph (3)(c), substitute:

(c) ensure Australia's regions, communities and workers are supported to manage the impacts, and share in the benefits, of Australia's transition to a net zero emissions economy.

(2) Clause 4, page 4 (line 9), omit "delegations", substitute "delegations, review of this Act".

(3) Clause 68, page 73 (after line 27), at the end of the clause, add:

(7) The Minister must cause a copy of the report of the review to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the report is given to the Minister.

(4) Clause 69, page 74 (after line 10), after the paragraph beginning "The Board and the CEO", insert:

There are to be reviews of the operation of this Act.

(5) Clause 74, page 77 (lines 6 to 11), omit the clause, substitute:

74 Annual report

The annual report prepared by the Board and given to the Minister under section 46 of the PGPA Act for a period must include:

(a) particulars of any directions given to the Board by the Minister under section 20 of this Act during the period to which the report relates; and

(b) a report on the operation of the Act in the period, including in response to the needs and circumstances of communities, regions, industries and workers that are, or will be, significantly affected by Australia's transition to a net zero emissions economy.

(6) Page 85 (after line 7), after clause 80, insert:

80A Reviews of the operation of this Act

(1) The Minister must cause an independent review to be conducted of the operation of this Act:

(a) on a recommendation of the Board under subsection (3); or

(b) if no recommendation is made by the Board within the period of 9 years after the commencement of this Act—before the end of the period of 10 years after the commencement of this Act; or

(c) if no recommendation is made by the Board within the period of 9 years after the completion of a previous review under this subsection—before the end of the period of 10 years after the completion of the previous review.

(2) The Minister must specify:

(a) terms of reference for the review, which must include a review of the operation of Part 5 of the Act; and

(b) how the review is to be conducted; and

(c) the timing of the review.

Board's recommendation

(3) The Board may, in writing, recommend to the Minister that a review be conducted of the operation of this Act. The Board must set out the reasons for the recommendation.

(4) The Board may include in a recommendation made under subsection (3) advice on the matters mentioned in subsection (2).

(5) Before making a recommendation under subsection (3), the Board must consider the changing needs or circumstances of communities, regions, industries and workers that are, or will be, significantly affected by Australia's transition to a net zero emissions economy.

(6) The Board must cause a copy of the recommendation to be published on the Authority's website.

Public consultation

(7) A review under subsection (1) must make provision for public consultation.

Report

(8) The person or persons who conduct the review must give the Minister a written report of the review.

(9) The Minister must cause a copy of:

(a) the terms of reference for the review; and

(b) a report under subsection (8) in relation to the review;

to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the review is completed.

When review is completed

(10) For the purposes of this section, a review is completed when the report of the review is given to the Minister under subsection (8).

Government response to recommendations

(11) If a report of a review sets out one or more recommendations to the Commonwealth Government:

(a) as soon as practicable after receiving the report, the Minister must cause to be prepared a statement setting out:

(i) the Commonwealth Government's response to each of those recommendations; and

(ii) if the Commonwealth Government has not accepted a recommendation—the reasons for not accepting the recommendation; and

(b) within 6 months after receiving the report, the Minister must cause copies of the statement to be tabled in each House of the Parliament.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

PRESIDENT (): I will now deal with the amendments circulated by Senator Thorpe.

Senator Thorpe's circulated amendments—

(1) Clause 21, page 23 (line 5), omit "5", substitute "6".

(2) Clause 21, page 23 (line 8), omit "6", substitute "7".

(3) Clause 23, page 24 (after line 13), after paragraph (2)(d), insert:

(da) 1 other Board member with expertise or experience, professional credibility and significant standing in any of the fields mentioned in paragraph (3)(i); and

(4) Clause 23, page 24 (line 14), omit "3", substitute "2".

(5) Clause 23, page 24 (line 17), omit "and (d)", substitute ", (d) and (da)".

(6) Clause 23, page 24 (line 32), omit "engagement,".

A division hav in g been called and the bells being rung—

The whips have asked for more time. They've got a change sheet. The question is that Senator Thorpe's amendments on sheet 2707, to the Net Zero Economy Authority Bill 2024, be agreed to.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

(In division) Madam President, I understand the whips needed more time. We're happy to wait once the doors are closed, but if the time allotted for the division has expired, the doors should be closed.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes. That was my mistake, Senator Wong.