(1) The Regulator may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, conduct one or more carbon abatement purchasing processes.
(2) In exercising the power conferred by subsection (1), the Regulator must have regard to:
(a) the principles set out in subsection (3); and
(b) such other matters (if any) as are specified in the legislative rules.
(2A) Without limiting paragraph (2)(b), the legislative rules may provide that the Regulator must exclude from one or more carbon abatement purchasing processes carbon abatement that results, or is to result, from the carrying out of an offsets project of a specified kind.
Principles for conduct of carbon abatement purchasing processes
(3) The principles for conducting a carbon abatement purchasing process are that the process should:
(a) facilitate the Commonwealth purchasing carbon abatement at the least cost; and
(b) maximise the amount of carbon abatement that the Commonwealth can purchase; and
(c) be conducted in a manner that ensures that administrative costs are reasonable; and
(d) be conducted in a manner that ensures the integrity of the process; and
(e) encourage competition; and
(f) provide for fair and ethical treatment of all participants in the process.
(4) To avoid doubt, the mere fact that a person is a project proponent for an eligible offsets project does not automatically entitle the person to participate in a carbon abatement purchasing process.