The House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy is holding public hearings for its inquiry into climate change bills on Friday 29 January and Monday 1 February 2021.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 28 January 2021

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy  is holding public hearings for its inquiry into climate change bills on Friday 29 January and Monday 1 February 2021.   The two private members’ Bills were introduced in Parliament by Zali Steggall MP on 9 November 2020, and referred to the Committee for review.  The Bills seek to alter Australia’s current climate change management and establish a new Climate Change Commission to replace the current Climate Change Authority.  Committee Chair Mr Ted O’Brien said: “The Committee will consider the Bills carefully and we’re looking forward to hearing the views of a range of interested parties.” Acknowledging a high level of interest in the inquiry, Mr O’Brien noted the Committee’s experience in managing inquiries on issues of important public policy. “We have recently managed inquiries into nuclear energy, bushfires, Scope 3 emissions and feral cats, and so the Committee is well placed to now deliberate on the proposed climate change bills.    “As a Committee, we’ll do what we always do,” said Mr O’Brien. “We won’t draw any conclusions prematurely, but rather assess the information with dispassionate independence.”   The Committee will commence its hearing on Friday with the key Australian Government agencies managing Australia’s current climate change framework.  The hearing will then consider views from the health, science, technical, environmental, infrastructure, energy, planning, business and investment sectors.  On Monday, the Committee will hear from some state and local government bodies and others including grassroots community groups, policy development organisations, academics and legal experts.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, committee hearings are not presently open for physical attendance by members of the public. Proceedings will be available to watch live or later on the Parliament’s website at aph.gov.au/live. Public hearing details Date: Friday 29 January 2021 Time: 9.30 am to 4.45 pm Location: Via video and teleconference  Date: Monday 1 February 2021 Time: 11.00 am to 5.00 pm Location: Via video and teleconference Media inquiries Mr Ted O’Brien MP (Fairfax, QLD), Committee Chair Media Advisor, 0401 257 064 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4580 environment.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website at www.aph.gov.au/environment. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy has today called for submissions for an inquiry into two climate change Bills, sponsored by Ms Zali Steggall OAM MP.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 12 November 2020

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment and Energy has today called for submissions for an inquiry into two climate change Bills, sponsored by Ms Zali Steggall OAM MP. Chair of the Committee Mr Ted O’Brien MP noted that the Bills propose a change in how Australia manages climate change and the Committee looks forward to considering all views on this important subject. Over the last 12 months, the Committee has managed parliamentary inquiries into nuclear energy, bushfires and feral cats, and it has also inquired into a Bill on Scope 3 emissions proposed by Mr Andrew Wilkie MP. “As always, the Committee will assess the information presented with dispassionate independence before drawing conclusions,” said Mr O’Brien. The Bills were referred to the Committee by the House of Representatives on 11 November 2020 for its inquiry and report. The Bills are the Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) Bill 2020 and the related Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2020. The substantive Bill sets out a framework of national climate change risk assessments, national plans for adaptation, an emissions reduction target and emissions budgets. The Bill would establish an independent Climate Change Commission to advise the Government on these, and to monitor and report on progress. The consequential Bill seeks to amend a number of other Commonwealth laws to reflect the changes made by the substantive Bill. If you would like to contribute to the inquiry, you can make a submission. Submissions to the inquiry will be accepted until 27 November 2020. Submissions must be relevant to the terms of the Bill. Details about the Bill and how to make a submission are available on the inquiry website at aph.gov.au/ClimateChangeBills2020. The preferred method of receiving submissions is by electronic format lodged online using a My Parliament account. The Committee intends to hold public hearings which will be announced in due course on the inquiry website. Media enquiries Mr Ted O’Brien MP (Fairfax, QLD), Committee Chair Media Advisor, 0401 257 064 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4580 environment.reps@aph.gov.au