2010-2011

 

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

 

 

 

As passed by both Houses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Australian Renewable Energy Agency Bill 2011

 

No.      , 2011

 

 

 

 

 

A Bill for an Act to establish the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, and for related purposes

   

   

   

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary                                                                                                              1

1............ Short title............................................................................................. 1

2............ Commencement................................................................................... 2

3............ Object.................................................................................................. 2

4............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 2

5............ Extension to external Territories.......................................................... 3

6............ Extra-territorial application.................................................................. 3

Part 2—Australian Renewable Energy Agency                                                   4

7............ Establishment...................................................................................... 4

8............ ARENA’s functions........................................................................... 4

9............ General rules about performance of functions..................................... 5

10.......... Provision of financial assistance to be in accordance with general funding strategy 6

11.......... Minister may request ARENA to consider funding for specified projects               6

12.......... Ministerial approval where grants exceed $50 million........................ 6

13.......... Minister may direct ARENA to provide advice.................................. 6

14.......... Constitutional limits............................................................................ 6

15.......... ARENA’s powers.............................................................................. 8

16.......... ARENA does not have privileges and immunities of the Crown........ 8

Part 3—Board of ARENA                                                                                                9

Division 1—Establishment and functions                                                            9

17.......... Establishment...................................................................................... 9

18.......... Functions of the Board........................................................................ 9

Division 2—General funding strategy, guidelines and work plans     10

Subdivision A—General funding strategy                                                          10

19.......... General funding strategy................................................................... 10

20.......... Approval of general funding strategy................................................ 10

21.......... When a general funding strategy for a year is in force...................... 11

22.......... Variation of general funding strategy................................................ 11

23.......... General funding strategy to be published on ARENA’s website...... 11

Subdivision B—Guidelines                                                                                     12

24.......... Guidelines......................................................................................... 12

25.......... Approval of guidelines for financial assistance in excess of $15 million  12

26.......... Guidelines to be published on ARENA’s website............................ 13

Subdivision C—Work plans                                                                                   13

27.......... Work plan......................................................................................... 13

28 .......... Work plan to be taken into account................................................... 14

Division 3—Board Members                                                                                   15

29.......... Membership...................................................................................... 15

30.......... Appointment of Board members....................................................... 15

31.......... Chair................................................................................................. 15

32.......... Term of appointment......................................................................... 15

33.......... Acting appointments......................................................................... 16

34.......... Remuneration.................................................................................... 16

35.......... Leave of absence............................................................................... 17

36.......... Disclosure of interests to the Minister............................................... 17

37.......... Resignation of appointed members................................................... 17

38.......... Termination of appointment of appointed members.......................... 18

39.......... Other terms and conditions of appointed members........................... 18

Division 4—Meetings of the Board                                                                      19

40.......... Convening meetings.......................................................................... 19

41.......... Secretary may nominate alternate to attend Board meetings.............. 19

42.......... Presiding at meetings........................................................................ 19

43.......... Quorum............................................................................................. 20

44.......... Voting at meetings............................................................................ 20

45.......... Conduct of meetings......................................................................... 20

46.......... Minutes............................................................................................. 20

47.......... Decisions without meetings.............................................................. 20

Division 5—Committees                                                                                            22

48.......... Committees....................................................................................... 22

49.......... Remuneration and allowances........................................................... 22

Part 4—Chief Executive Officer, staff and consultants                                23

Division 1—Chief Executive Officer of ARENA                                          23

50.......... Establishment.................................................................................... 23

51.......... Role................................................................................................... 23

52.......... Appointment..................................................................................... 23

53.......... Acting appointments......................................................................... 24

54.......... Outside employment......................................................................... 24

55.......... Remuneration.................................................................................... 24

56.......... Leave................................................................................................. 24

57.......... Disclosure of interests....................................................................... 25

58.......... Resignation....................................................................................... 25

59.......... Termination of appointment.............................................................. 25

60.......... Other terms and conditions............................................................... 26

Division 2—Staff and consultants                                                                         27

61.......... Chief Financial Officer...................................................................... 27

62.......... Other staff......................................................................................... 27

63.......... Consultants....................................................................................... 27

Part 5—Finance                                                                                                                     28

64.......... Amounts available for payment to ARENA...................................... 28

65.......... Payment of up to balance of specified amounts on request by ARENA.. 29

66.......... Appropriation.................................................................................... 30

67.......... Application of ARENA’s money...................................................... 30

68.......... ARENA’s money not public money................................................. 31

69.......... Taxation............................................................................................ 31

Part 6—Miscellaneous                                                                                                        32

70.......... Extra matters to be included in annual report..................................... 32

71.......... Delegation by ARENA..................................................................... 32

72.......... Delegation by Board......................................................................... 33

73.......... Subdelegation by CEO...................................................................... 33

74.......... Regulations....................................................................................... 34

 

A Bill for an Act to establish the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, and for related purposes

The Parliament of Australia enacts: