❓ Dr. Thomas questions the Minister for Environment regarding the state's greenhouse gas emissions policy for major projects, particularly concerning the interplay between state and commonwealth assessment and standards. The Minister clarifies the policy's application and alignment with the federal safeguard mechanism.
AnsweredQoN 1200Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
GREENHOUSE
GAS EMISSIONS POLICY
1200. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the Minister for
Environment's statement yesterday releasing the state's
greenhouse gas emissions policy for major projects.
(1) Does the
policy of handing greenhouse gas assessment to the commonwealth apply only to
projects and proposals that qualify for the federal safeguard mechanism by
emitting over 100 000 tonnes of CO 2 equivalent annually?
(2) Will projects
expected to emit less than 100 000 tonnes of CO 2 �still
be assessed on their greenhouse gas emissions by the Western Australian Environmental
Protection Authority?
(3) How will the
standards and recommendations of the state EPA compare with the federal
safeguard mechanism assessment?
(4) Will the
minister and the government apply the same or different greenhouse gas
standards as the commonwealth and how will those standards vary?
(5) How will the
government explain and manage the circumstance of a large project with higher
emissions getting approval from the commonwealth while a smaller one gets
blocked by the state?
GAS EMISSIONS POLICY
1200. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the Minister for
Environment's statement yesterday releasing the state's
greenhouse gas emissions policy for major projects.
(1) Does the
policy of handing greenhouse gas assessment to the commonwealth apply only to
projects and proposals that qualify for the federal safeguard mechanism by
emitting over 100 000 tonnes of CO 2 equivalent annually?
(2) Will projects
expected to emit less than 100 000 tonnes of CO 2 �still
be assessed on their greenhouse gas emissions by the Western Australian Environmental
Protection Authority?
(3) How will the
standards and recommendations of the state EPA compare with the federal
safeguard mechanism assessment?
(4) Will the
minister and the government apply the same or different greenhouse gas
standards as the commonwealth and how will those standards vary?
(5) How will the
government explain and manage the circumstance of a large project with higher
emissions getting approval from the commonwealth while a smaller one gets
blocked by the state?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. On behalf of the
Minister for Environment I provide the following answer.
(1) The
government's policy applies to designated large facilities covered by
the commonwealth safeguard mechanism and ensures that these are not subject to
duplicate limits under Western Australia's Environmental Protection Act
1986.
(2) Proposals in Western
Australia with emissions lower than the threshold of 100 000 tonnes per annum have not generally been subject to regulatory
requirements for greenhouse gas emissions. This policy change has no
impact on such proposals.
(3) There are
significant similarities between greenhouse gas limits recommended by the EPA
and those set by the commonwealth under the
strengthened safeguard mechanism, which came into effect on 1 July 2023 .
The EPA generally recommends limits consistent with its objectives of deep,
substantial and sustained reductions in WA's emissions this decade,
achievement of net zero emissions no later than 2050 through a straight-line
trajectory, at a minimum, from 2030, and consideration of best practice
technologies. The commonwealth safeguard mechanism sets legislated limits on
the emissions of designated large facilities, requiring
emissions to decline predictably and gradually on a trajectory consistent with
achieving Australia's emission reduction targets of 43 per cent
below 2005 levels by 2030, and net zero by 2050. New facilities under the
safeguard mechanism are expected to be best practice.
(4) Where
proposals with significant greenhouse gas emissions are adequately dealt with
by the strengthened safeguard mechanism, those emissions should not be
regulated by the state.
(5) See (2).
thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. On behalf of the
Minister for Environment I provide the following answer.
(1) The
government's policy applies to designated large facilities covered by
the commonwealth safeguard mechanism and ensures that these are not subject to
duplicate limits under Western Australia's Environmental Protection Act
1986.
(2) Proposals in Western
Australia with emissions lower than the threshold of 100 000 tonnes per annum have not generally been subject to regulatory
requirements for greenhouse gas emissions. This policy change has no
impact on such proposals.
(3) There are
significant similarities between greenhouse gas limits recommended by the EPA
and those set by the commonwealth under the
strengthened safeguard mechanism, which came into effect on 1 July 2023 .
The EPA generally recommends limits consistent with its objectives of deep,
substantial and sustained reductions in WA's emissions this decade,
achievement of net zero emissions no later than 2050 through a straight-line
trajectory, at a minimum, from 2030, and consideration of best practice
technologies. The commonwealth safeguard mechanism sets legislated limits on
the emissions of designated large facilities, requiring
emissions to decline predictably and gradually on a trajectory consistent with
achieving Australia's emission reduction targets of 43 per cent
below 2005 levels by 2030, and net zero by 2050. New facilities under the
safeguard mechanism are expected to be best practice.
(4) Where
proposals with significant greenhouse gas emissions are adequately dealt with
by the strengthened safeguard mechanism, those emissions should not be
regulated by the state.
(5) See (2).
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