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Thursday, 11 October 2012
Page: 8029

Senator LUNDY (Australian Capital Territory—Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Sport) (15:41): I present the explanatory memoranda and I move:

That these bills be now read a second time.

I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The speeches read as follows—

Clean Energy (Charges—Excise) Amendment Bill 2012

This bill is part of a package of bills that amend the Clean Energy Act 2011 and related acts.

The bill facilitates the removal of the price floor by removing the requirement for a minimum auction reserve charge from the Clean Energy (Charges—Excise) Act 2011.

Clean Energy (Charges—Customs) Amendment Bill 2012

This bill is part of a package of bills that amend the Clean Energy Act 2011 and related acts.

The bill facilitates the removal of the price floor by removing the requirement for a minimum auction reserve charge from the Clean Energy (Charges—Customs) Act 2011.

Excise Tariff Amendment (Per-Tonne Carbon Price Equivalent) Bill 2012

This bill is part of a package of bills that amend the Clean Energy Act 2011 and related acts.

At present the equivalent carbon price imposed on certain liquid fuels after 1 July 2015 is based on the average auction price of domestic carbon units.

The Clean Energy Amendment (International Emissions Trading and Other Measures) Bill 2012 introduces a ‘per-tonne carbon price equivalent’. This provides an estimate of the effective carbon price faced by liable entities when the carbon pricing mechanism links to the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme.

This bill amends the Excise Tariff Act 1921 so that the per-tonne carbon price equivalent is applied to liquid fuels, instead of the average carbon unit auction price.

Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Amendment (Per-Tonne Carbon Price Equivalent) Bill 2012

This bill is part of a package of bills that amend the Clean Energy Act 2011 and related acts.

At present the equivalent carbon price imposed on the import of synthetic greenhouse gases after 1 July 2015 is based on the benchmark average auction charge.

The Clean Energy Amendment (International Emissions Trading and Other Measures) Bill 2012 introduces a ‘per-tonne carbon price equivalent’. This provides an estimate of the effective carbon price faced by liable entities when the carbon pricing mechanism links to the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme.

This bill amends the synthetic greenhouse gas legislation so that the per-tonne carbon price equivalent is applied to the import of synthetic greenhouse gas, instead of the benchmark average auction charge.

Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment Bill 2011

This Bill is part of a package implementing the carbon pricing mechanism and related reforms.

The Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Act 1995 (the Manufacture Levy Act) together with the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 (the Ozone Act) provide the framework to apply levies to the manufacture of ozone depleting substances and synthetic greenhouse gases.

This Bill provides that the manufacture of Kyoto Protocol synthetic greenhouse gases, namely hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride, will be subject to the carbon price by way of the existing levy structure. The carbon charge will be calculated based on the carbon dioxide equivalence of the gas, multiplied by the applicable charge. The carbon price will be in addition to the existing levy imposed by the Manufacture Levy Act.

This Bill also enables the Minister to determine that a licensee is exempt from paying the levy where the Minister is satisfied that the circumstances prescribed in the Manufacture Levy Act, or circumstances prescribed in regulations made for the Manufacture Levy Act, have been met. These circumstances include the manufacture of medical equipment, or if it is impracticable to impose the levy.

Clean Energy (Unit Issue Charge—Auctions) Amendment Bill 2012

This bill is part of a package of bills that amend the Clean Energy Act 2011 and related acts.

The bill facilitates the removal of the price floor by removing the requirement for a minimum auction reserve charge from the Clean Energy (Unit Issue Charge—Auctions) Act 2011.

Debate adjourned.

Ordered that further consideration of the second reading of these bills be adjourned to the first sitting day of the next period of sittings, in accordance with standing order 111.