APPENDIX 3
Terms of reference: Multi-Party Climate Change Committee
1. The
Multi-Party Climate Change Committee (‘the Committee’) is established to:
1.1. Consult,
negotiate, and report to the Cabinet, through the Minister for Climate Change
and Energy Efficiency, on agreed options for the implementation of a carbon
price in Australia; and
1.2. Provide
advice on, and participate in, building community consensus for action on
climate change.
2. The Committee
decisions will be reached by consensus or, if there are differences that remain
after good faith discussions, these will be presented to the Cabinet, but with
every effort made to produce workable options.
3. The
Committee is established on the basis that a carbon price is an economic reform
that is required to reduce carbon pollution, to encourage investment in low
emissions technologies and complement other measures including renewable energy
and energy efficiency.
4. The
Committee will consider mechanisms for introducing a carbon price (including a
broad-based emissions trading scheme, a broad-based carbon levy, a hybrid of
both, and economy-wide and sector-based approaches) and will consider issues
such as coverage, international linking, implementation issues, assistance
measures for households and businesses (including emissions-intensive
trade-exposed businesses) and review provisions.
5. From
time to time the Committee, by agreement, may discuss other aspects of climate
change policy that would benefit from multi-party consideration and discussion.
However, the Committee's deliberations will be broadly limited to the issue of
a carbon price.
6. The
Committee will be informed by, and responsible for, measures including but not
limited to:
6.1. Inviting
Professor Ross Garnaut to update the Garnaut Climate Change Review and to provide
advice on pricing carbon;
6.2. Consider
the findings of an expert body, which will be tasked with calculating the
carbon price equivalent of measures taken by other countries;
6.3. Inviting
experts to conduct a public forum in Parliament House on the economic,
environmental and social impacts of climate change;
6.4. Receiving
up-to-date date assessments of the science (from the Climate Change Commission,
Australian Academy of Science, the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO, and eminent
scientists);
6.5. Considering
whether a Citizens’ Assembly on Climate Change should be established and, if
so, its objectives, format and timeframes; and
6.6. Considering
the objectives, functions, form and membership of the Climate Change
Commission.
7. The
Committee will establish a work program that addresses these terms of
reference.
8. The
Committee will ensure its deliberations and papers remain confidential to the
Committee and the Cabinet until a final position is agreed or all parties to
the Committee agree otherwise. At its initial meeting the Committee will
determine the mechanism by which it will provide updates of its work.
8.1. As
part of building community consensus around the need for action on climate
change and a carbon price, the Committee may choose to make some of its
materials available to the public.
8.1.1. Committee
members may not act unilaterally in this regard.
8.1.2. Committee
members will be mindful of the need to balance public participation against effective
and genuine negotiation.
9. The
Committee will meet regularly, usually monthly, until the end of 2011, at which
time the ongoing need for the Committee will be considered.
10. In making its recommendations, the
Committee shall have regard to:
10.1. The
Copenhagen Accord;
10.2. Australia’s
national economic, social and environmental interests;
10.3. The
views and ideas of the Australian people as determined through consultation and
public forums;
10.4. The
views and ideas of experts, and key stakeholders;
10.5. International
trends, including action taken by other countries;
10.6. Commonwealth,
state and territory climate change policies; and
10.7. The
impacts of, and interactions between, proposed carbon price mechanisms and
complementary measures.
11. The Committee will be supported
by:
11.1. Up
to four permanent expert advisers appointed by the Government to regularly
advise the Committee on their areas of expertise.
11.2. A
Secretaries’ Group, comprising Secretaries of the Departments of Prime Minister
and Cabinet, the Treasury, Finance and Deregulation, Resources, Energy and
Tourism, Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (chair), Agriculture, Fisheries
and Forestry, Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs,
Foreign Affairs and Trade, Infrastructure and Transport, Innovation, Industry,
Science and Research, Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and
Communities, with others participating as required;
11.3. The
Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (in relation to most policy
matters), and the Treasury (in relation to modelling, macroeconomic impacts,
budgetary impacts and any changes to the tax and transfer systems to compensate
certain households for price impacts of any scheme).
12. The Committee would generally meet
in the Cabinet room. The Cabinet Division of the Department of Prime Minister
and Cabinet will be responsible for minute-taking.
Source: http://www.climatechange.gov.au/en/government/initiatives/multi-party-committee/terms-of-reference.aspx (accessed 16 August 2011)
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