Bill
Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2014
passed, as at 2014-07-17. Environment portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Environment
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2014-07-14
- second reading — 2014-07-14
- second reading — 2014-07-14
- second reading — 2014-07-14
- committee — 2014-07-14
- third reading — 2014-07-14
- introduced — 2014-07-15
- second reading — 2014-07-15
- second reading — 2014-07-15
- second reading — 2014-07-15
- committee — 2014-07-15
- committee — 2014-07-16
- committee — 2014-07-17
- third reading — 2014-07-17
- passed — 2014-07-17
- royal assent — 2014-07-17
Divisions
- Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2014 and related bills — Second Reading — Put the Greens amendment — 2014-07-14, House of Representatives: affirmative, ayes 84, noes 53
- Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2014 and related bills — Second Reading — Read a second time — 2014-07-14, House of Representatives: affirmative, ayes 85, noes 54
- Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2014 and related bills - Consideration in Detail - Put the question — 2014-07-14, House of Representatives: affirmative, ayes 83, noes 53
- This division relates to the Policy _[For a carbon price](/policies/3)_. The majority voted against [amendments](http://www.openaustralia.org/debate/?id=2014-07-14.123.1) moved by Labor MP [Mark Butler](http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/mp.php?mpn=Mark_Butler&mpc=Port%20Adelaide&house=representatives). These amendments relate to introducing an [emissions trading scheme](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emissions_trading_scheme).(Read Mr Butler's explanation of his amendments [here](http://www.openaustralia.org/debate/?id=2014-07-14.126.1). ) Because the majority voted against these amendments, they are rejected. _Background to the bills_ The [Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2014](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5311) and related bills were introduced to remove the [carbon pricing mechanism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_pricing_in_Australia), which was introduced by the Australian Labor Party while in government. The Coalition described the mechanism as a “carbon tax” and removing it was a key policy platform during the 2013 election.(You can read more about the Coalition's policy to remove the carbon price [here](http://www.liberal.org.au/scrapping-carbon-tax-and-reducing-cost-living). ) The carbon pricing mechanism commenced on 1 July 2012.(For more information on the carbon pricing mechanism and how it works, please see the Clean Energy Regulator’s [website](http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/Carbon-Pricing-Mechanism/About-the-Mechanism/Pages/default.aspx). ) It is an emissions trading scheme that puts a price on carbon emissions. It applies to “liable entities” (a group that includes companies that emit a high level of greenhouse gases). Initially the price of carbon is fixed by the mechanism but from 1 July 2015 the price will be set by the market, though the Labor Government did announce plans to bring this forward to 1 July 2014 just before they were d — 2014-07-14, House of Representatives: negative, ayes 53, noes 83
- Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2014 — Consideration in Detail — Restore funding to ARENA — 2014-07-14, House of Representatives: negative, ayes 54, noes 83
- Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2014 and related bills - Consideration in Detail - Agree to the bill as amended — 2014-07-14, House of Representatives: affirmative, ayes 83, noes 54
- Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2014 and related bills - Second Reading - Protect from climate change — 2014-07-15, Senate: negative, ayes 10, noes 59
- Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2014 and related bills - Second Reading - Read a second time — 2014-07-15, Senate: affirmative, ayes 58, noes 10
- This division relates to the Policy _[For a carbon price](/policies/3)_. The majority voted against an [amendment](http://www.openaustralia.org/senate/?id=2014-07-15.135.1) moved by Labor Senator [Lisa Singh](http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/mp.php?mpn=Lisa_Singh&mpc=Senate&house=senate), which means that it was rejected. The amendment would have introduced an [emissions trading scheme](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emissions_trading_scheme), which is a key Labor policy. _Background to the bills_ The [Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2014](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5311) and related bills were introduced to repeal the [carbon pricing mechanism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_pricing_in_Australia), which was introduced by the Australian Labor Party while in government. The Coalition described the mechanism as a “carbon tax” and removing it was a key policy platform during the 2013 election.(You can read more about the Coalition's policy to remove the carbon price [here](http://www.liberal.org.au/scrapping-carbon-tax-and-reducing-cost-living). ) The carbon pricing mechanism commenced on 1 July 2012.(For more information on the carbon pricing mechanism and how it works, please see the Clean Energy Regulator’s [website](http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/Carbon-Pricing-Mechanism/About-the-Mechanism/Pages/default.aspx). ) It is an emissions trading scheme that puts a price on carbon emissions. It applies to “liable entities” (a group that includes companies that emit a high level of greenhouse gases). Initially the price of carbon is fixed by the mechanism but from 1 July 2015 the price will be set by the market, though the Labor Government did announce plans to bring this forward to 1 July 2014 just before they were defeated by the Coalition in the 2013 election. This is the third time that this package of bills have been introduced. The first time, they — 2014-07-17, Senate: negative, ayes 32, noes 37
- The majority voted against [amendments](http://www.openaustralia.org/senate/?gid=2014-07-17.11.1) introduced by Greens Senator [Christine Milne](http://publicwhip-rails.openaustraliafoundation.org.au/mp.php?mpn=Christine_Milne&mpc=Senate&house=senate), which means they were rejected. Senator Milne explained that these amendments related to the definition of 'electricity retailer' and would remove ambiguity about which entities are affected by the consumer protection provisions. It addresses concerns that people with solar panels or hospitals producing electricity with co-generation will be captured.(Read Senator Milne's full explanation as well as the whole debate on these amendments [here](http://www.openaustralia.org/senate/?id=2014-07-17.4.2), after 9:59 am. ) _Background to the bills_ The [Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2014](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r5311) and related bills were introduced to repeal the [carbon pricing mechanism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_pricing_in_Australia), which was introduced by the Australian Labor Party while in government. The Coalition described the mechanism as a “carbon tax” and removing it was a key policy platform during the 2013 election.(You can read more about the Coalition's policy to remove the carbon price [here](http://www.liberal.org.au/scrapping-carbon-tax-and-reducing-cost-living). ) The carbon pricing mechanism commenced on 1 July 2012.(For more information on the carbon pricing mechanism and how it works, please see the Clean Energy Regulator’s [website](http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/Carbon-Pricing-Mechanism/About-the-Mechanism/Pages/default.aspx). ) It is an emissions trading scheme that puts a price on carbon emissions. It applies to “liable entities” (a group that includes companies that emit a high level of greenhouse gases). Initially the price of carbon is fixed by the mechanism but from 1 July 2015 the pri — 2014-07-17, Senate: negative, ayes 10, noes 45
- Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2014 — In Committee — Keep schedules 2 to 4 — 2014-07-17, Senate: affirmative, ayes 38, noes 33
- Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2014 — In Committee — Funding to ARENA — 2014-07-17, Senate: affirmative, ayes 39, noes 32
- Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2014 and related bills — In Committee — Bills stand as printed — 2014-07-17, Senate: affirmative, ayes 38, noes 32
- Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2014 and related bills — Adoption of Report — Adopt the report — 2014-07-17, Senate: affirmative, ayes 38, noes 34
- Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2014 and related bills - Third Reading - Read a third time — 2014-07-17, Senate: affirmative, ayes 39, noes 33
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2014-07-14.
This bill is part of a package that repeals the carbon tax and includes new rules to stop suppliers from exploiting customers after the repeal.
The amendments would ban price exploitation on key goods like electricity and gas, and require affected businesses to explain how they have passed on cost savings from the repeal.
Maximum penalties for corporations would be 6,471 penalty units ($1,100,070), and for individuals 1,295 penalty units ($220,150), with an additional penalty of 250 per cent of any cost savings not passed through.
- Introduces a new prohibition on carbon-specific price exploitation for key goods.
- Requires electricity and natural gas retailers and bulk synthetic greenhouse gas importers to provide substantiation statements to the ACCC and customers.
- Gives the ACCC new monitoring powers over prices during the carbon tax repeal transition period.
- Creates a new penalty for failing to pass through all cost savings, equal to 250 per cent of the amount not passed on.
- Bans false or misleading representations about the effect of the carbon tax repeal on prices.
- Requires electricity and natural gas retailers to prepare customer statements within 30 days after Royal Assent.
Electricity and natural gas retailers, bulk synthetic greenhouse gas importers, and their customers, as well as the ACCC.
Sources
em
em revised
em supp
billhome
frl act