Australian Greens Dissenting Report

The Australian Greens strongly support policy initiatives that foster energy efficiency but regret that this legislation is a lost opportunity since the aim of the legislation is only to require mandatory assessment of energy efficiency opportunities and to report on them. There is no obligation to implement the identified opportunities as is the case with legislation in Victoria.

Regrettably, the bill does not set a mandatory national energy efficiency target.

Whilst the Australian Greens support Recommendation (i) of the chair's report, we do not support recommendations (ii), (iii) or (iv). The issue of compliance and enforcement is critical to the success of the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Bill and the penalties are consistent with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and are appropriate.

In relation to Recommendation (iii), we regard the requirement of the Chair of the Board to sign the company report as being critical to raising awareness of energy efficiency at the highest level.

In relation to Recommendation (iv), we think the bill provides sufficient protection for commercially sensitive and confidential information. It has been the practice of some corporations to avoid scrutiny by citing these considerations. Retaining these provisions in the bill is in the best interests of transparency.

Senator Christine Milne
Australian Greens Senator for Tasmania

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