Bill
Treasury Laws Amendment (Prohibiting Energy Market Misconduct) Bill 2019
passed, as at 2019-12-10. Treasury portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Treasury
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2019-09-18
- second reading — 2019-09-18
- second reading — 2019-10-22
- second reading — 2019-10-23
- second reading — 2019-10-23
- committee — 2019-10-23
- third reading — 2019-10-23
- introduced — 2019-11-11
- second reading — 2019-11-11
- second reading — 2019-11-11
- second reading — 2019-11-12
- second reading — 2019-11-12
- committee — 2019-11-12
- third reading — 2019-11-12
- other — 2019-11-25
- passed — 2019-11-25
- royal assent — 2019-12-10
Divisions
- The majority voted against an amendment to the usual second reading motion, which is that the bill be read for a [second time](https://www.peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/bills-and-laws/making-a-law-in-the-australian-parliament/) (parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill). The amendment was introduced by Rankin MP [Jim Chalmers](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/rankin/jim_chalmers) (Labor). ### Amendment text > *That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:* > > *"whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House notes that the Government has proven unable to deliver sensible national energy policy to support well-functioning electricity markets that will:* > > *(1) support new clean energy investment;* > > *(2) safeguard energy reliability and security; and* > > *(3) deliver a modern and affordable energy system for a modern Australian economy"* — 2019-10-23, House of Representatives: negative, ayes 64, noes 76
- Treasury Laws Amendment (Prohibiting Energy Market Misconduct) Bill 2019 - Second Reading - Agree with the bill's main idea — 2019-11-12, Senate: affirmative, ayes 45, noes 8
- Treasury Laws Amendment (Prohibiting Energy Market Misconduct) Bill 2019 - in Committee - Non-registered agreements — 2019-11-12, Senate: negative, ayes 31, noes 35
- Treasury Laws Amendment (Prohibiting Energy Market Misconduct) Bill 2019 - in Committee - Coal-fired power generators — 2019-11-12, Senate: negative, ayes 8, noes 42
- The majority voted against [amendments](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2019-11-12.26.1) introduced by SA Senator [Sarah Hanson-Young](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/sa/sarah_hanson-young) (Greens), which means they failed. Senator Hanson-Young [explained that](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2019-11-12.26.1) "*These amendments relate specifically to the major concern that people have in relation to this bill and the motivation of the government: that it is to make it harder for the Liddell Power Station to close.*" ### Amendments text > *(1) Schedule 1, item 1, page 21 (after line 3), at the end of subsection 153X(1), add:* > >> *Note: An order cannot be made under this section if it would have the effect of inhibiting, delaying or stopping a planned closure of a coal-fired generator: see section 153ZE.* > > *(2) Schedule 1, item 1, page 25 (after line 26), at the end of subsection 153ZB(1), add:* > >> *Note: An order cannot be made under this section if it would have the effect of inhibiting, delaying or stopping a planned closure of a coal-fired generator: see section 153ZE.* > > *(3) Schedule 1, item 1, page 28 (after line 19), at the end of Division 7, add:* > >> *153ZE No orders under this Part that would affect planned closure of coal - fired generator etc.* >> >> *Despite Divisions 5 and 6, an order must not be made in relation to a body corporate under either of those Divisions if the order would have the effect of inhibiting, delaying or stopping a planned closure of a coal-fired generator.* — 2019-11-12, Senate: negative, ayes 8, noes 57
- The majority voted against [amendments](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2019-11-12.126.2) introduced by SA Senator [Rex Patrick](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/sa/rex_patrick) (Centre Alliance), which means it failed. Senator Patrick [explained that](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2019-11-12.126.3): > *The Treasury Laws Amendment (Prohibiting Energy Market Misconduct) Bill 2019 opens up court-ordered divestitures for electricity retailers, to deal with misconduct. Once you accept the principle that it's relevant to one sector of the economy, you must then accept that it should apply to all sectors of the economy—anywhere where monopoly power or substantial market power exists and is being misused. That's what the Centre Alliance amendments do. They seek to enhance the bill to ensure that divestiture provisions apply universally across all Australian markets participating within the economy. This means that any business that engages in egregious market misconduct may be subject to having their business interests forcibly disposed of by a court.* ### What is the bill's main idea? The bill [was introduced](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1920a/20bd047) "to implement a legislative framework consisting of new prohibitions and remedies in relation to electricity retail, contract and wholesale markets." You can learn more about these new prohibitions and remedies in the [bills digest](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1920a/20bd047). — 2019-11-12, Senate: negative, ayes 11, noes 39
Plain-language summary
No machine-written summary in this export.
Sources
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billhome
frl act