Carbon Credits (Consequential Amendments) Act 2011

Administered by Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Legislation au C2011A00102 In force Act

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Carbon Credits (Consequential Amendments) Act 2011

 

No. 102, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

An Act to deal with consequential matters arising from the enactment of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 and the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011, and for other purposes

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Schedule(s)

Schedule 1—General amendments

Part 1—Amendments

AntiMoney Laundering and CounterTerrorism Financing Act 2006

Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001

Competition and Consumer Act 2010

Corporations Act 2001

National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007

Part 2—Transitional provisions

Schedule 2—Amendments relating to reporting transfer certificates

National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007

 

 

 

Carbon Credits (Consequential Amendments) Act 2011

No. 102, 2011

 

 

 

An Act to deal with consequential matters arising from the enactment of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 and the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011, and for other purposes

[Assented to 15 September 2011]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act may be cited as the Carbon Credits (Consequential Amendments) Act 2011.

2  Commencement

 (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provision(s)

Commencement

Date/Details

1.  Sections 1 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table

The day this Act receives the Royal Assent.

15 September 2011

2.  Schedule 1

At the same time as section 3 of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 commences.

8 December 2011

3.  Schedule 2

The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent.

16 September 2011

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.

 (2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.

3  Schedule(s)

  Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.

Note: On 1 January 2011, the short title of the Trade Practices Act 1974 was changed to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 by the Trade Practices Amendment (Australian Consumer Law) Act (No. 2) 2010.


Schedule 1—General amendments

Part 1—Amendments

Anti‑Money Laundering and Counter‑Terrorism Financing Act 2006

1  Section 5

Insert:

Australian carbon credit unit has the same meaning as in the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011.

2  Section 5

Insert:

eligible international emissions unit has the same meaning as in the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011.

3  Subsection 6(2) (after paragraph (b) of the cell at table item 33, column headed “Provision of a designated service”)

Insert:

(ba) an Australian carbon credit unit; or

(bb) an eligible international emissions unit; or

4  Subsection 6(2) (paragraph (d) of the cell at table item 33, column headed “Provision of a designated service”)

After “derivatives”, insert “, Australian carbon credit units, eligible international emissions units”.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001

5  After paragraph 12BAA(7)(k)

Insert:

 (l) an Australian carbon credit unit;

 (la) an eligible international emissions unit;

6  Paragraph 12BAB(1)(g)

After “financial product”, insert “(other than an Australian carbon credit unit or an eligible international emissions unit)”.

7  At the end of subsection 127(2A)

Add:

 ; (e) the Carbon Credits Administrator.

Competition and Consumer Act 2010

8  After paragraph 155AAA(12)(l)

Insert:

 (la) the Carbon Credits Administrator;

Corporations Act 2001

9  Section 9

Insert:

Australian carbon credit unit has the same meaning as in the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011.

10  Section 9

Insert:

eligible international emissions unit has the same meaning as in the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011.

11  After paragraph 764A(1)(k)

Insert:

 (ka) an Australian carbon credit unit;

 (kb) an eligible international emissions unit;

National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007

12  Section 7

Insert:

CFI audit means:

 (a) an audit under section 214 or 215 of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011; or

 (b) an audit carried out for the purposes of preparing an audit report prescribed for the purposes of any of the following provisions of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011:

 (i) paragraph 13(1)(e);

 (ii) paragraph 23(1)(d);

 (iii) paragraph 76(4)(c).

13  Section 7

Insert:

CFI audit report means:

 (a) an audit report under section 214 or 215 of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011; or

 (b) an audit report prescribed for the purposes of any of the following provisions of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011:

 (i) paragraph 13(1)(e);

 (ii) paragraph 23(1)(d);

 (iii) paragraph 76(4)(c).

14  After subsection 26(4)

Insert:

 (4A) The Greenhouse and Energy Data Officer, or a person authorised by the Greenhouse and Energy Data Officer, may disclose greenhouse and energy information to the Carbon Credits Administrator for the purposes of, or in connection with, the performance of the functions, or the exercise of the powers, of the Carbon Credits Administrator.

15  Section 75

Repeal the section, substitute:

75  Conduct of audits

 (1) The Minister may determine, by legislative instrument, requirements to be met by registered greenhouse and energy auditors in:

 (a) preparing for and carrying out greenhouse and energy audits; and

 (b) preparing audit reports in relation to greenhouse and energy audits; and

 (c) preparing for and carrying out CFI audits; and

 (d) preparing CFI audit reports.

 (2) The determination may set out different requirements for:

 (a) different types of audits; and

 (b) different types of audit reports.

 (3) A registered greenhouse and energy auditor must comply with requirements determined under subsection (1).

16  At the end of subsection 75A(1)

Add “and the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011”.


Part 2—Transitional provisions

17  Transitional—Registry accounts

Scope

(1) This item applies to an account held by a person within the register:

 (a) known as the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units; and

 (b) that was in existence under the executive power of the Commonwealth immediately before the commencement of this item.

Continuation of account

(2) The account continues in existence as a Registry account under the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011.

18  Transitional—Commonwealth Registry accounts

Scope

(1) This item applies to an account held by the Commonwealth within the register:

 (a) known as the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units; and

 (b) that was in existence under the executive power of the Commonwealth immediately before the commencement of this item.

Designation of account

(2) If, immediately before the commencement of this item, the account was described as a Commonwealth holding account, the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011 has effect as if the account had been designated by the Carbon Credits Administrator as a Commonwealth holding account.

(3) If, immediately before the commencement of this item, the account was described as the retirement account for the first commitment period, the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011 has effect as if the account had been designated by the Carbon Credits Administrator as the retirement account for the first commitment period.

(4) If, immediately before the commencement of this item, the account was described as the net source cancellation account for the first commitment period, the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011 has effect as if the account had been designated by the Carbon Credits Administrator as the net source cancellation account for the first commitment period.

(5) If, immediately before the commencement of this item, a Commonwealth Registry account was described as the noncompliance cancellation account for the first commitment period, the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011 has effect as if the account had been designated by the Carbon Credits Administrator as the noncompliance cancellation account for the first commitment period.

(6) If, immediately before the commencement of this item, the account was described as the voluntary cancellation account for the first commitment period, the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011 has effect as if the account had been designated by the Carbon Credits Administrator as the voluntary cancellation account for the first commitment period.

(7) If, immediately before the commencement of this item, the account was described as the mandatory cancellation account for the first commitment period, the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011 has effect as if the account had been designated by the Carbon Credits Administrator as the mandatory cancellation account for the first commitment period.

(8) If, immediately before the commencement of this item, a Commonwealth Registry account was described as the temporary certified emission reduction replacement (expiry) account for the first commitment period, the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011 has effect as if the account had been designated by the Carbon Credits Administrator as the temporary certified emission reduction replacement (expiry) account for the first commitment period.

(9) If, immediately before the commencement of this item, the account was described as the longterm certified emission reduction replacement (expiry) account for the first commitment period, the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011 has effect as if the account had been designated by the Carbon Credits Administrator as the longterm certified emission reduction replacement (expiry) account for the first commitment period.

(10) If, immediately before the commencement of this item, the account was described as the longterm certified emission reduction replacement (storage reversal) account for the first commitment period, the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011 has effect as if the account had been designated by the Carbon Credits Administrator as the longterm certified emission reduction replacement (storage reversal) account for the first commitment period.

(11) If, immediately before the commencement of this item, the account was described as the longterm certified emission reduction replacement (noncertification) account for the first commitment period, the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011 has effect as if the account had been designated by the Carbon Credits Administrator as the longterm certified emission reduction replacement (noncertification) account for the first commitment period.

19  Transitional—section 75 of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007

(1) This item applies to a determination if:

 (a) the determination was made for the purpose of section 75 of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007; and

 (b) the determination was in force immediately before the commencement of this item.

(2) The determination has effect, after the commencement of this item, as if it had been made under section 75 of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 as amended by this Act.


Schedule 2—Amendments relating to reporting transfer certificates

 

National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007

1  Section 7 (definition of interim financial year)

Repeal the definition.

2  Subsection 13(3)

Omit “in an interim financial year”.

3  Subsection 19(5A)

Omit “in an interim financial year”.

4  Subsection 22G(1)

Omit “an interim financial year”, substitute “a financial year”.

5  Subsection 22G(1)

Omit “that interim financial year”, substitute “that financial year”.

6  Paragraph 22G(2)(d)

Omit “interim financial year”, substitute “financial year”.

7  Subsection 22G(4)

Omit “an interim financial year”, substitute “a financial year”.

8  Subsection 22H(1)

Omit “an interim financial year”, substitute “a financial year”.

9  Subparagraphs 22L(3)(c)(i), (ii) and (iii)

Omit “an interim financial year”, substitute “a financial year”.

10  Subsections 22M(3) and (4)

Repeal the subsections, substitute:

 (3) A reporting transfer certificate remains in force until:

 (a) a surrender of the certificate takes effect under section 22N; or

 (b) the certificate is cancelled under section 22P.

11  Subsection 24(1AD)

Omit “an interim financial year”, substitute “a financial year”.

12  Subsection 24(1AD)

Omit “the interim financial year”, substitute “the financial year”.

 

 

 

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 24 March 2011

Senate on 20 June 2011]

(42/11)

 

Overview

The Carbon Credits (Consequential Amendments) Act 2011, enacted on 15 September 2011 by the Parliament of Australia, addresses the consequential amendments required by the enactment of two other significant pieces of legislation: the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 and the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011. This Act aims to integrate and harmonise various existing laws to accommodate the new regulatory framework for carbon credits and emissions trading introduced by these Acts. The Parliament intended this legislation to ensure that the broader legal and regulatory environment supports the effective implementation of Australia's carbon credit schemes, including the Carbon Farming Initiative and the national registry for emissions units. The Carbon Credits (Consequential Amendments) Act 2011 makes several amendments to existing Acts to align them with the new carbon credit regime. These amendments cover a range of legislative areas, including anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing, securities and investments, competition and consumer protection, corporations, and greenhouse gas reporting. By updating these laws, the Act aims to provide clarity and consistency in the regulatory treatment of carbon credits and emissions units across different sectors, thereby facilitating smoother operation and enforcement of the new carbon credit system.

Scope and Application

The Carbon Credits (Consequential Amendments) Act 2011 is a Commonwealth Act designed to address the consequential amendments necessary following the enactment of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 and the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011. This Act applies to a range of legislative instruments, including the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006, Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001, Competition and Consumer Act 2010, Corporations Act 2001, and National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007. The amendments introduced by this Act include the insertion of definitions and references to Australian carbon credit units and eligible international emissions units, the modification of the scope of certain activities, and adjustments to the roles and functions of various entities such as the Carbon Credits Administrator and the Greenhouse and Energy Data Officer. The Act also includes provisions for the continuation of existing accounts within the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units under the new legislative framework. The commencement of the Act's provisions is staggered, with some provisions coming into effect on the date of Royal Assent, and others on later specified dates, ensuring a smooth transition as the new carbon credits regime is established.

Key Provisions

The Carbon Credits (Consequential Amendments) Act 2011 (Cth) makes amendments to various existing pieces of legislation to address matters arising from the enactment of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 (Cth) and the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011 (Cth). Section 1 of the Act provides for its citation, while section 2 details the commencement dates of various provisions. The Act’s Schedules detail the specific amendments made to existing laws. Sections 1 to 3 and any other unspecified provisions of the Act commenced on 15 September 2011, the day it received Royal Assent (Schedule, column 2). Schedule 1, which contains general amendments, commenced on 8 December 2011, the same day as section 3 of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 (Schedule, column 2). Schedule 2, which pertains to amendments relating to reporting transfer certificates, commenced on 16 September 2011, the day after the Act received Royal Assent (Schedule, column 2). The Act imposes several obligations on parties and entities governed by the amended Acts. For instance, under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth), financial institutions must now include Australian carbon credit units and eligible international emissions units in their record-keeping obligations (Schedule 1, items 1-4). Similarly, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth) requires the Commission to consider these units when exercising its powers or performing its functions (Schedule 1, items 5-7). The Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) also incorporate definitions and obligations related to Australian carbon credit units and eligible international emissions units (Schedule 1, items 8-11). The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 (Cth) is amended to allow the disclosure of greenhouse and energy information to the Carbon Credits Administrator (Schedule 1, item 14). Additionally, it introduces new provisions for the conduct of audits, including greenhouse and energy audits and Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) audits (Schedule 1, items 12-16). There are no explicit offences, penalties, or consequences for breach detailed in the Act itself. However, the amended Acts, such as the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth), and the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), contain their own provisions for offences and penalties. For example, failure to comply with record-keeping requirements under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth) can result in criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment. Similarly, breaches of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth) may lead to civil penalties, including substantial fines. It is important for entities and individuals to be aware of these potential consequences under the amended Acts.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.