2.1
This chapter provides an overview of some of the matters raised during the committee's hearings on Budget Estimates 2022–23. The discussion follows the outcome and agency structure.
Industry, Science, Energy and Resources Portfolio
2.2
The committee examined the Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio on 31 March 2022 and 4 April 2022 by calling officers from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISER) and associated agencies.
Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
2.3
The committed commenced its examination of DISER by examining topics under Outcome 2.
Outcome 2: Reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, contribute to effective global action on climate change, and support technological innovation in clean and renewable energy, through developing and implementing a national response to climate change.
2.4
In relation to Program 2.1: Reducing Australia's greenhouse gas emissions the committee discussed the following matters:
Reduction of funding for the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC);
Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) contracts;
Clean Energy Council's Clean Energy Australian Report 2022;
Percentage of renewables in the National Electricity Market; and
Carbon Capture and Storage and Blue Hydrogen Projects.
2.5
The committee discussed the following matters in relation to Program 2.2: Developing Clean energy technology:
$22 billion spending on clean energy technologies from 2020 to 2030;
Reduced funding for Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA);
Reduction in departmental provision of staff to ARENA and increased use of consultants; and
Outcome 3: Support the affordable, reliable, secure and competitive operation of energy markets for the long term benefit of the Australian community through improving Australia’s energy supply, efficiency, quality, performance and productivity
2.6
In relation to Program 3.1: Supporting reliable, secure and affordable energy, the committee focused on the following matters:
Gas projects listed under the Underwriting New Generation Investments (UNGI) program;
Assessment and selection of projects under UNGI program;
Grid Reliability Fund unallocated funds;
Future Gas Infrastructure Investment frameworks;
Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions from gas projects;
Australian Energy Market Operator forecast for rising power prices;
National Energy Security Assessment concerning fuel security, electricity and gas;
Battery of the Nation and Marinus Link feasibility Study; and
Jobs created in Tasmania and regional Victoria through Marinus Link construction.
Snowy Hydro Limited
2.7
The committee called officers from Snowy Hydro Limited and discussed the construction of a large-scale solar facility adjacent to Snowy Hydro's Hunter Valley Project.
Clean Energy Regulator
2.8
The committee called officers from the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) and discussed the following matters:
Carbon farming and landfill gas electricity generation sites and associated disallowance motion; and
Conflicts of interest disclosure obligations for members of the CER and Electrical Regulatory Authorities Council.
Australian Renewable Energy Agency
2.9
The committee called officers from ARENA and focused on the following topics:
ARENA regulations and Senate disallowance; and
Gas-derived hydrogen technologies.
Climate Change Authority
2.10
The committee called officers from the Climate Change Authority to discuss the following matters:
Staffing levels and use of contract staff; and
Consultation on 'The Australian Way' net-zero report.
Clean Energy Finance Corporation
2.11
The committee called officers from the CEFC and discussed the following matters:
CEFC investment in grid reliability projects; and
Changes to CEFC investment guidelines.
Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio
2.12
The committee examined the Agriculture, Water and Environment portfolio on 31 March 2022 and 4 April 2022 by calling officers from the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment (DAWE) and associated agencies.
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
2.13
The committed commenced its examination of DAWE by examining topics under Outcome 1.
Outcome 1: Conserve, protect and sustainably manage Australia's biodiversity, ecosystems, environment and heritage through research, information management, supporting natural resource management, establishing and managing Commonwealth protected areas and reducing and regulating the use of pollutants and hazardous substances, and coordination of climate change adaption strategy and climate change science activities.
2.14
In relation to Program 1.1: Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and the Environment (funding), including the Office of Threatened Species Commissioner, the committee discussed matters including:
Allocation of $100 million funding under the Environment Restoration Fund;
Commitment of funds and payments made from the Environment Restoration Fund;
State Party Report on the state of conservation of Australia's Great Barrier Reef;
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) world heritage monitoring mission to the Great Barrier Reef;
Ocean Leadership funding package;
Regional plans for protection of threatened species;
Wildlife Recovery Package;
Bushfire response plan and threatened species plan for Koalas; and
Proposed revisions to the Victorian Code of Forest Practice and impacts on threatened species.
2.15
In relation to Program 1.2: Environmental Information and Research, the committee discussed matters including:
State of the Environment Report release date; and
Australian National Audit Office (ANAO)'s Management of threatened species and ecological communities report.
2.16
In relation to Program 1.4: Conservation of Australia's Heritage and Environment (regulation), the committee discussed the following topics:
Endangered species recovery plan for Koalas;
Endangered species recovery plans for Tasmanian Giant Kelp forests;
Leadbeater's Possum Action Plan;
Fisheries habitat restoration;
Funding to modernise Indigenous cultural heritage protections under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act;
Regional Forestry Agreements (33–34);
Threat Abatement Plans (p. 39); and
Locations for Regional Environmental Plans.
2.17
In relation to Program 1.5: Environmental Regulation, the committee discussed the Urannah Dam and Hells Gate Dam proposals.
2.18
In relation to Program 1.6: Management of Hazardous Wastes, Substances and Pollutants, the committee discussed the following matters:
Advanced technologies funded under the Recycling Modernisation Fund;
Remade in Australia recycling initiative and recycled content certification and advertising campaign;
Recycling Modernisation Fund;
Compostable component of the packaging target;
Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence; and
Additional resourcing to achieve reduced times for applications for waste export licences.
Outcome 2: Advance Australia's strategic, scientific, environmental and economic interests in the Antarctic region by protecting, administering and researching the region.
2.19
In relation to Program 2.1: Antarctica: Science, Policy and Presence, the committee called the Australian Antarctic Division and discussed the following matters:
Hobart City Deal and Antarctic Science Precinct; and
Plans and costings for relocation of the Australian Antarctic Division.
Bureau of Meteorology
2.20
The committee called officers from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and discussed the extreme weather events that have occurred recently. Dr Andrew Johnson, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Meteorology described the record-breaking events:
…seven–day rainfall records were broken right along the NSW coast. In my own hometown of Brisbane, records were broken. Brisbane, I think, has only eight times since records have been kept, from the mid–1840s, had more than 200 millimetres in a day, and in this event we had 200 millimetres for three days in a row. There were 33 rainfall stations in the Brisbane area that had over a metre of rain in those three days. That's phenomenal rain. That's certainly record–breaking rain. As I said before, in New South Wales, the rainfall rates along the coast—seven–day rainfall totals in the Northern Rivers broke records. As we've seen in parts of the Northern Rivers, particularly in the Wilsons catchment in Lismore and then in the Richmond River system further downstream at Woodburn, we had floods there that were the highest in recorded history: a bit over two metres for a record in Lismore and a 1.8–metre record at Woodburn.
But we keep records on all weather phenomena. For example, in January the temperature record was equalled at Onslow—a 60–odd–year record that was equalled with Oodnadatta—50.7 degrees. Whatever the phenomenon is, such as wind speed, temperature—late last year the hail record was broken at Mackay with a 16-centimetre piece of hail.
2.21
Other matters discussed by the committee included:
Gaps in weather radar coverage;
Improving accuracy of heavy rain and floor predictions;
Effects of climate change on cyclone intensity and location; and
Warming temperatures in the East Australian Current.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
2.22
The committee called officers from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and discussed the following matters:
Great Barrier Reef coral bleaching; and
UNESCO World Heritage monitoring mission to the Great Barrier Reef.
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio
2.23
The committee examined the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio on 31 March 2022 and 5 April 2022 by calling officers from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications (DITRDC) and associated agencies.
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications
2.24
The committed commenced its examination of DITRDC by asking general questions. The topics discussed throughout general questions were as follows:
Online safety initiatives; and
One–year extension of the PacificAus TV Initiative.
Outcome 5: Promote and innovate and competitive communications sector, through policy development, advise and program delivery, so all Australians can realise the full potential of digital technologies and communications services.
2.25
In relation to Program 5.1: Digital Technologies and Communications Services, the committee discussed the following matters:
Upgraded coverage under the Mobile Black Spot Program;
Funding for Viewer Access Satellite Television;
Funding for the Australian 5G innovation initiative;
Regional Connectivity Plan;
Public Interest News Gathering Program;
Regional journalism cadets funding;
Funding for regional newspapers;
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) international broadcasting;
Ministerial requests for digital platforms to block Russian media platforms;
Online safety advertising campaign costs, target audiences and public awareness;
ANAO review of online safety advertising campaigns;
Absence of whistle-blower protections in non-consensual image sharing legislation;
Government response to the 2021 Regional Telecommunications Review;
Affordability and access of telecommunication services and devices in regional Australia;
Departmental staff attendance at Mobile World Congress 2022 in Barcelona; and
Indigenous Digital Inclusion Plan.
Outcome 6: Participation in, and access to, Australia's arts and culture through developing and supporting cultural expression.
2.26
In relation to Program 6.1: Arts and Cultural Development, the committee discussed the following matters:
Funding support for the arts and creative industry;
Creative Economy Taskforce; and
Support for the arts and creative industry in response to the COVID–19 pandemic;
Termination of the Supporting Cinemas' Retention Endurance and Enhancement of Neighbourhoods Fund;
Winding up of the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand Fund;
Digital Games Tax Offset.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
2.27
Mr Craig McMurtrie, Editorial Director of the ABC, gave an update on the progress of the ABC's independent complaints-handling review:
The independent complaints review is in process. It's with the board. We expect it will be discussed at the next board meeting, which is next month.
…[T]he ABC and the independent reviewers have committed to a transparent process, as you know. The terms of reference were released. There was an issues paper released. Public submissions were sought. It's our expectation that it will continue to be a transparent process.
2.28
Other matters discussed by the committee included:
Ms Julia Zemiro's employment status;
ABC Four Corners program 'The Great Awakening: a family divided by QAnon’.
Australian Communications and Media Authority
2.29
The committee called officers from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and discussed the following matters:
Preparations for federal election and caretaker period; and
ACMA's powers to oversee misinformation and disinformation (p. 100).
NBN Co
2.30
The committee called officers of NBN Co. In his opening statement, Mr Stephen Rue, Chief Executive Officer, provided an update on the increased internet demand in regional areas and NBN Co's response to ease the demand:
The Committee has heard me say many times before that access to fast and reliable broadband plays a vital role in the lives of people across Australia and is critical for the Australian economy. Regional and rural Australia is no exception.
Broadband demand in regional and remote Australia has been growing rapidly in recent years .… That is why NBN Co welcomes the $480 million investment in the nbn Fixed Wireless network announced by the Federal Government. This contribution from the Government comes in addition to $270 million that will be invested by NBN Co, as well as ongoing investment in the Fixed Wireless network.
Customers on the Fixed Wireless network are expected to see considerable increases in their broadband speeds, more than one hundred thousand premises currently in the Satellite footprint will be capable of being moved across to Fixed Wireless, and those customers who stay on the Satellite network will see an uplift in their data allowances on Sky Muster, and a longer off-peak period and more unmetered data on Sky Muster Plus.
This is a gamechanger for nbn customers in rural and regional Australia.
2.31
Other matters discussed by the committee included:
Government relations and media relations staffing;
Upgrades in regional Australia.
Australia Post
2.32
The committee called officers from Australia Post and discussed the following matters:
Election preparation; and
Conclusion of alternate day mail delivery.
Office of the eSafety Commissioner
2.33
The committee called officers from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner and discussed the following matters:
Online safety grants for community groups;
Online safety training for schools and cyberbullying campaigns; and
eSafety Memorandum of Understanding and liaison with law enforcement agencies.
Senator Andrew Bragg
Chair