Question Without Notice No. 798 asked in the Legislative Council on 7 November 2017 by Hon Tim Clifford
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
TRADING SCHEME — RENEWABLE ENERGY COMMITMENTS
798. Hon TIM CLIFFORD to the minister representing the Minister for Energy:
I refer to an article published in GovernmentNews on 5 November 2017, in which Piers Verstegen, the director of the Conservation Council of Western Australia, stated —
Professor Garnaut's recommended ETS is an example of policy that could be adopted now by the WA Government to drive the transition to affordable renewable energy, and make our state a leader in the global clean energy economy of the future.
(1) Will the government adopt an emission intensity scheme, or a renewable energy target, or RET?
(2) If no to (1), what strategies will the minister put in place to provide instruments or mechanisms to ensure that Western Australia will contribute to lowering carbon emissions?
(3) If yes to (1), when will the scheme or target be put in place?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) The McGowan government considers that a national approach is the most efficient and effective way to deliver on Australia's international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Western Australian government will work with other Australian jurisdictions to achieve this outcome as part of the work of the Energy Council of the Council of Australian Governments. The scheme currently under consideration is envisaged to apply through the National Electricity Rules, to which Western Australia is not a party. However, Western Australia will consider whether it will apply the same or similar scheme. In the absence of a national approach, the McGowan government will explore suitable alternative options for Western Australia.