Nicolette Boele (Bradfield, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. The safeguard mechanism, the government's primary lever for achieving greenhouse gas emission reductions, is set to be reviewed in 2026-2027. In August this year, the Productivity Commission recommended reducing the threshold for facilities covered by the mechanism to those omitting 25,000 tonnes of pollution a year, down from the current 100,000 tonnes. When will the government start the review of the safeguard mechanism, and will it accept the Productivity Commission's recommendation to lower the safeguard mechanism pollution threshold?

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for her question and her interest. I will say with the greatest of respect and seriously that the honourable member answered the question in the question in many respects, because it was indicated in the explanatory memorandum to the rule which accompanied the safeguard legislation that we would review the safeguard legislation in 2026-2027. We are not yet there, so that review will begin next year.

I am pleased with the way in which the safeguard mechanism reforms are working thus far. The first year of data shows a reduction in on-site emissions from the covered facilities equivalent to one-third of Australia's domestic aviation. That is no small thing. That's a good reduction in emissions from the covered facilities. It shows the policy working well.

The Leader of the Opposition is interjecting. She might like to back up that claim with any particular facts rather than just—

An opposition member interjecting

Any facts? No. It's a good policy. We will review it very meaningful.

The honourable member correctly refers to Productivity Commission advice, but that was a report to government, not of government. It will be considered, along with a whole range of other submissions no doubt, when we begin that review next year. The honourable member will be very welcome, in all seriousness, to put in a submission to that review. We will take it and all other submissions very seriously.