LANDS — CARBON
FARMING APPROVALS
1461. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the minister representing the
Minister for Lands:
I refer to the minister's
answer to question without notice 1422, answered on 14 November 2023.
(1) How many
pastoralists of the 18 carbon farming proposals that are yet to be approved are
on pastoral stations?
(2) Are proposals being delayed on
account of conflicting proposals for hydrogen production?
(3) Is the state
still supporting human-induced regeneration on pastoral leases where a diversification
lease is not being sought?
(4) Is the
minister aware that some proposals in the Gascoyne region have been waiting for
approval for over 12 months?
(5) Is the
minister aware that delays are putting the projects at risk, given the Clean
Energy Regulator imposes a deadline by which all consents must be provided or a
project is deregistered?
Hon
JACKIE JARVIS replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Minister for Lands.
(1)–(5) The state will only consider eligible interest
holder consent for human-induced regeneration carbon projects that are
on pastoral leases. All active and proposed land uses, including hydrogen
projects, if applicable, are considered when assessing proposals. The
Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage encourages carbon proponents to seek
the state's eligible interest holder consent at the earliest possible
stage. The human-induced regeneration method, under the federal Australian
carbon credit units scheme, concluded in October 2023. No new projects can be
registered under this method; however, projects already conditionally
registered on pastoral leases seeking the state's eligible interest
holder consent are still being considered.