CARBON CREDITS (CARBON FARMING INITIATIVE) ACT 2011

Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

[Index] [Table] [Search] [Search this Act] [Notes] [Noteup] [Download] [Help]

CARBON CREDITS (CARBON FARMING INITIATIVE) ACT 2011

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

Long Title

PART 1--PRELIMINARY

1. Short title
2. Commencement
3. Objects
4. Simplified outline
5. Definitions
6. Vacancy in the office of an Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee member
7. Electronic notice transmitted to the Regulator
7A. Extended accounting period
8. Crown to be bound
9. Extension to external Territories
9A. Extension to exclusive economic zone and continental shelf
9B. Application to foreign ships

PART 2--ISSUE--OF AUSTRALIAN CARBON CREDIT UNITS IN RESPECT OF OFFSETS PROJECTS

Division 1--Introduction

10. Simplified outline

Division 2--Issue of Australian carbon credit units in respect of offsets projects

11. Issue of Australian carbon credit units in respect of offsets projects

Division 3--Certificate of entitlement

12. Application for certificate of entitlement
13. Form of application
14. Further information
15. Issue of certificate of entitlement
15A. No double counting test
16. Unit entitlement--sequestration offsets projects
18. Unit entitlement--emissions avoidance offsets project
20. Certificate of entitlement not transferable

PART 2A--PURCHASE--OF ELIGIBLE CARBON CREDIT UNITS BY THE COMMONWEALTH

Division 1--Introduction

20A. Simplified outline of this Part

Division 2--Carbon abatement contracts

20B. Carbon abatement contracts
20C. When carbon abatement contracts may be entered into
20CA. Duration of carbon abatement contracts
20D. Regulator has powers etc. of the Commonwealth
20E. Conferral of powers on the Regulator

Division 3--Carbon abatement purchasing processes

20F. Carbon abatement purchasing process
20G. Conduct of carbon abatement purchasing processes

Division 4--Miscellaneous

20H. Legislative rules may provide for certain matters relating to purchased eligible carbon credit units etc.
20J. Certain instruments relating to Commonwealth procurement are not applicable
20K. Carbon abatement contracts are not instruments made under this Act

PART 3--ELIGIBLE--OFFSETS PROJECTS

Division 1--Introduction

21. Simplified outline

Division 2--Declaration of eligible offsets project

22. Application for declaration of eligible offsets project
23. Form of application
24. Further information
25. Withdrawal of application
26. Application may be split
27. Declaration of eligible offsets project
27A. Suspension of processing of applications for declarations of eligible offsets projects
28. Declaration may be subject to condition about obtaining regulatory approvals
28A. Declaration may be subject to condition about obtaining consents from eligible interest holders

Division 3--Variation of declaration of eligible offsets project

29. Voluntary variation of declaration of eligible offsets project in relation to the project area or project areas
30. Voluntary variation of declaration of eligible offsets project in relation to the project proponent
31. Voluntary variation of conditional declaration of eligible offsets project--condition of declaration has been met
31A. No variation of declaration of eligible offsets project as a 100 - year or 25 - year permanence period project

Division 4--Revocation of declaration of eligible offsets project

Subdivision A--Voluntary revocation of declaration of eligible offsets project

32. Voluntary revocation of declaration of eligible offsets project--units issued
33. Voluntary revocation of declaration of eligible offsets project--no units issued

Subdivision B--Unilateral revocation of declaration of eligible offsets project

34. Unilateral revocation of declaration of eligible offsets project--condition of declaration has not been met
35. Unilateral revocation of declaration of eligible offsets project--eligibility requirements not met etc.
36. Unilateral revocation of declaration of eligible offsets project--project proponent ceases to pass the fit and proper person test
37. Unilateral revocation of declaration of eligible offsets project--person responsible for carrying out project ceases to be the project proponent
38. Unilateral revocation of declaration of eligible offsets project--false or misleading information

Division 5--Entries in title registers

39. Entries in title registers--general
40. Entries in title registers--land subject to carbon maintenance obligation

Division 7--Net total number of Australian carbon credit units issued in relation to an eligible offsets project

42. Net total number of Australian carbon credit units issued in relation to an eligible offsets project

Division 8--Eligible interest in an area of land

43. Eligible interest in an area of land--applicable carbon sequestration right
44. Eligible interest in an area of land--Torrens system land
45. Eligible interest in an area of land--Crown land that is not Torrens system land
45A. Eligible interest in an area of land--native title land

Division 10--Native title land

46. Registered native title bodies corporate--deemed project proponent
47. Regulator to notify Crown lands Minister of declaration of eligible offsets project
48. Designation of special native title account
49. Issue of Australian carbon credit units to special native title account
50. Units held in special native title account
51. Regulations or legislative rules about consulting common law holders etc.

Division 11--Freehold land rights land

52. Regulator to notify Crown lands Minister of declaration of eligible offsets project

Division 12--Types of projects

53. Emissions avoidance offsets projects
53A. Area - based emissions avoidance projects
54. Sequestration offsets projects
56. Excluded offsets projects

Division 13--Restructure of eligible offsets projects

57. Restructure of eligible offsets projects

PART 4--FIT--AND PROPER PERSON TEST

59. Simplified outline of this Part
60. Fit and proper person test

PART 5--CREDITING--PERIOD

68. Simplified outline of this Part
69. Crediting period--basic rule
70. Crediting period--general transitional rule
71. Crediting period--transitional rule for avoided deforestation projects

PART 6--REPORTING--AND NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Division 1--Introduction

75. Simplified outline

Division 2--Reporting requirements

76. Offsets reports
77. Declaration that offsets report requirement does not apply
77A. Offsets report may be about a part of a project etc.

Division 3--Notification requirements

78. Notification requirement--ceasing to be the project proponent for an eligible offsets project otherwise than because of death
79. Notification requirement--death of the project proponent for an eligible offsets project
80. Notification requirement--methodology determinations
81. Notification requirement--natural disturbances
82. Notification requirement--reversal of sequestration due to conduct of another person
83. Notification requirement--project becomes inconsistent with a regional natural resource management plan
84. Notification requirement--event relevant to whether a project proponent is a fit and proper person
85. Regulations or legislative rules may impose notification requirements

PART 7--REQUIREMENTS--TO RELINQUISH AUSTRALIAN CARBON CREDIT UNITS

Division 1--Introduction

86. Simplified outline
86A. Permanence period
87. 100 - year permanence period

Division 2--General relinquishment requirements

88. Requirement to relinquish--false or misleading information

Division 3--Relinquishment requirements for sequestration offsets projects

89. Requirement to relinquish--revocation of declaration of eligible offsets project
90. Requirement to relinquish--reversal of sequestration other than due to natural disturbance or conduct etc.
91. Requirement to relinquish--reversal of sequestration due to natural disturbance or conduct and no mitigation happens

PART 8--CARBON--MAINTENANCE OBLIGATION

Division 1--Introduction

96. Simplified outline

Division 2--Carbon maintenance obligation

97. Carbon maintenance obligation
98. Variation or revocation of declaration of carbon maintenance obligation
99. Revocation of declaration of carbon maintenance obligation--voluntary relinquishment of Australian carbon credit units

Division 3--Injunctions

100. Injunctions
101. Interim injunctions
102. Discharge etc. of injunctions
103. Certain limits on granting injunctions not to apply
104. Other powers of the Federal Court unaffected

PART 9--METHODOLOGY--DETERMINATIONS

Division 1--Introduction

105. Simplified outline

Division 2--Methodology determinations

Subdivision A--Making of methodology determinations

106. Methodology determinations

Subdivision B--Variation of methodology determinations

114. Variation of methodology determinations
115. When variation takes effect

Subdivision C--Duration of methodology determinations

122. Duration of methodology determinations

Subdivision D--Revocation of methodology determinations

123. Revocation of methodology determinations

Subdivision DA--Advice about making, varying or revoking methodology determinations

123A. Advice by the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee
123B. Additional matters for the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee to take into account
123C. Advice about whether methodology determination deals with eligible carbon abatement

Subdivision DB--Consultation by the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee

123D. Consultation by the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee

Subdivision E--Applicable methodology determination

124. Applicable methodology determination for a reporting period
124A. Modified meaning of crediting period for an emissions avoidance offsets project that has an extended accounting period
125. Original methodology determination continues to apply after expiry
126. Original methodology determination continues to apply after variation
127. Original methodology determination continues to apply after revocation
128. Request to approve application of methodology determination to a project with effect from the start of a reporting period
129. Further information
130. Regulator may approve application of methodology determination to a project with effect from the start of a reporting period

Division 3--Offsets integrity standards

133. Offsets integrity standards

PART 10--MULTIPLE--PROJECT PROPONENTS

Division 1--Introduction

134. Simplified outline

Division 2--References to project proponents

135. References to project proponents

Division 3--Nominee of multiple project proponents

136. Nomination of nominee by multiple project proponents
137. Service of documents on nominee
138. Eligible voluntary action taken by nominee
139. Unilateral revocation of declaration of eligible offsets project--failure of multiple project proponents to nominate a nominee
140. Designation of nominee account
141. Issue of Australian carbon credit units to nominee account
142. Units held in nominee account
143. Instructions in relation to nominee account
144. Updating nominee account details on change of nominee

Division 4--Obligations of multiple project proponents

145. Obligations of multiple project proponents

PART 11--AUSTRALIAN--CARBON CREDIT UNITS

Division 1--Introduction

146. Simplified outline

Division 2--Issue of Australian carbon credit units

147. Issue of Australian carbon credit units
148. How Australian carbon credit units are to be issued
149. Circumstances in which Australian carbon credit units may be issued

Division 3--Property in, and transfer of, Australian carbon credit units

150. An Australian carbon credit unit is personal property
150A. Ownership of Australian carbon credit unit
151. Transfer of Australian carbon credit units
152. Transmission of Australian carbon credit units by assignment
153. Transmission of Australian carbon credit units by operation of law etc.
154. Outgoing international transfers of Australian carbon credit units
155. Restrictions on outgoing international transfers of Australian carbon credit units
156. Transfer of Australian carbon credit units to another Registry account held by the transferor
157A. Registration of equitable interests in relation to an Australian carbon credit unit
158. Equitable interests in relation to an Australian carbon credit unit

PART 12--PUBLICATION--OF INFORMATION

Division 1--Introduction

159. Simplified outline

Division 2--Information about units

160. Information about issue of Australian carbon credit units
161. Quarterly reports about issue of Australian carbon credit units
162. Publication of concise description of the characteristics of Australian carbon credit units

Division 3--Information about units purchased by the Commonwealth

163. Information about carbon abatement purchasing processes
163A. Annual reports about purchases of eligible carbon credit units

Division 4--Information about relinquishment requirements

164. Information about relinquishment requirements
165. Information about unpaid administrative penalties
166. Information about number of relinquished units

Division 4A--Information about Australia's international obligations

166A. Information about Australia's international obligations

Division 5--Emissions Reduction Fund Register

167. Emissions Reduction Fund Register
168. Entries in the Register

PART 13--FRAUDULENT--CONDUCT

170. Simplified outline
171. Units issued as a result of fraudulent conduct--court may order relinquishment

PART 15--RELINQUISHMENT--OF AUSTRALIAN CARBON CREDIT UNITS

Division 1--Introduction

174. Simplified outline

Division 2--How Australian carbon credit units are relinquished

175. How Australian carbon credit units are relinquished
176. Deemed relinquishment

Division 3--Compliance with relinquishment requirements

179. Compliance with relinquishment requirements
180. Late payment penalty
181. Recovery of penalties
182. Set - off
183. Refund of overpayments

PART 16--INFORMATION---GATHERING POWERS

184. Simplified outline
185. Regulator may obtain information or documents
186. Copying documents--compensation
187. Copies of documents
188. Regulator may retain documents
189. Self - incrimination

PART 17--RECORD---KEEPING AND PROJECT MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

Division 1--Introduction

190. Simplified outline

Division 2--Record-keeping requirements

191. Record - keeping requirements--general
192. Record - keeping requirements--preparation of offsets report
193. Record - keeping requirements--methodology determinations

Division 3--Project monitoring requirements

194. Project monitoring requirements--methodology determinations

PART 18--MONITORING--POWERS

Division 1--Simplified outline

195. Simplified outline

Division 2--Appointment of inspectors and issue of identity cards

196. Appointment of inspectors
197. Identity cards

Division 3--Powers of inspectors

Subdivision A--Monitoring powers

198. Inspector may enter premises by consent or under a warrant
199. Monitoring powers of inspectors
200. Persons assisting inspectors

Subdivision B--Powers of inspectors to ask questions and seek production of documents

201. Inspector may ask questions and seek production of documents
202. Self - incrimination

Division 4--Obligations and incidental powers of inspectors

203. Consent
204. Announcement before entry under warrant
205. Inspector to be in possession of warrant
206. Details of warrant etc. to be given to occupier
207. Expert assistance to operate electronic equipment
208. Compensation for damage to electronic equipment

Division 5--Occupier's rights and responsibilities

209. Occupier entitled to observe execution of warrant
210. Occupier to provide inspector with facilities and assistance

Division 6--Monitoring warrants

211. Monitoring warrants

Division 7--Powers of magistrates

212. Powers of magistrates

PART 19--AUDITS

Division 1--Introduction

213. Simplified outline

Division 2--Audits

214. Compliance audits
215. Other audits

PART 20--LIABILITY--OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF BODIES CORPORATE

216. Simplified outline
217. Civil penalties for executive officers of bodies corporate
218. Reasonable steps to prevent contravention

PART 21--CIVIL--PENALTY ORDERS

219. Simplified outline
220. References to Court
221. Civil penalty orders
222. Who may apply for a civil penalty order
223. Two or more proceedings may be heard together
224. Time limit for application for an order
225. Civil evidence and procedure rules for civil penalty orders
226. Civil proceedings after criminal proceedings
227. Criminal proceedings during civil proceedings
228. Criminal proceedings after civil proceedings
229. Evidence given in proceedings for a civil penalty order not admissible in criminal proceedings
230. Mistake of fact
231. State of mind
232. Continuing contraventions

PART 22--OFFENCES--RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES

233. Simplified outline
234. Scheme to avoid existing liability to pay administrative penalty
235. Scheme to avoid future liability to pay administrative penalty

PART 23--ENFORCEABLE--UNDERTAKINGS

236. Simplified outline
237. Acceptance of undertakings
238. Enforcement of undertakings

PART 24--REVIEW--OF DECISIONS

Division 1--Introduction

239. Simplified outline

Division 2--Decisions of the Regulator

240. Reviewable decisions
241. Applications for reconsideration of decisions made by delegates of the Regulator
242. Reconsideration by the Regulator
243. Deadline for reconsideration
244. Review by the Administrative Review Tribunal
245. Stay of proceedings for the recovery of an administrative penalty

PART 26--EMISSIONS--REDUCTION ASSURANCE COMMITTEE

Division 1--Establishment and functions of the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee

254. Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee
255. Functions of the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee
255AA. Request for review of methodology determinations
255A. Crediting period extension reviews

Division 2--Membership of the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee

256. Membership of the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee
257. Appointment of Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee members
258. Period for appointment for Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee members
259. Acting Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee members
260. Procedures
261. Disclosure of interests to the Minister
262. Disclosure of interests to Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee
263. Outside employment
264. Remuneration and allowances
265. Leave of absence
266. Resignation
267. Termination of appointment
268. Other terms and conditions
269. Assistance to Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee

PART 27--SECRECY

270. Secrecy
271. Disclosure or use for the purposes of this Act or a legislative instrument under this Act
272. Disclosure to the Minister
273. Disclosure to the Secretary etc.
275. Disclosure to a Royal Commission
276. Disclosure to certain persons and bodies
277. Disclosure to certain financial bodies
278. Disclosure with consent
279. Disclosure to reduce threat to life or health
280. Disclosure of publicly available information
281. Disclosure of summaries or statistics
282. Disclosure for purposes of law enforcement--protected audit information
283. Disclosure for purposes of law enforcement--protected ERAC information
284. Disclosure for purposes of review of Act

PART 28--MISCELLANEOUS

286. Miscellaneous functions of the Regulator
287. Computerised decision - making
288. Regulator's power to require further information
289. Information previously given to the Regulator
290. Actions may be taken by an agent of a project proponent
291. Delegation by the Minister
292. Delegation by a State Minister or a Territory Minister
293. Delegation by the Secretary
294. Concurrent operation of State and Territory laws
295. Law relating to legal professional privilege not affected
296. Arrangements with States and Territories
297. Liability for damages
298. Executive power of the Commonwealth
299. Notional payments by the Commonwealth
300. Compensation for acquisition of property
301. Native title rights not affected
302. Racial Discrimination Act not affected
303. Alternative constitutional basis
304. Prescribing matters by reference to other instruments
305. Administrative decisions under the regulations
305A. Administrative decisions under the legislative rules
306. Periodic reviews of operation of this Act etc.
307. Regulations
308. Legislative rules

AustLII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback