Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

I understand. It's not so much that it's linked to but how it compares with the existing arrangements. Essentially, the bill updates the arrangements for a civil penalty that a facility would incur if its net emissions were higher than permitted. That would be described as an excess emissions situation. As you'd understand, excess emissions could impact our climate outcomes, so the penalty should be proportional both to the length of delay in meeting the requirements and, importantly, the quantity of excess emissions. Previously, the penalty for an excess emissions situation depended only on the duration, not on the relevant quantity.