Criminal Offence and Civil Penalties for Actions with Significant Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Climate Trigger) Bill 2022
Private Member's Bill1st House
2nd House
Law
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
People cannot take actions likely to produce 25 kilotonnes or more of greenhouse gas emissions without approval; doing so can lead to a 7-year prison term or heavy fines.
Individuals face civil penalties of 5,000 penalty units for these emissions; bodies corporate face 50,000 penalty units.
The Minister cannot approve any action likely to produce 100 kilotonnes or more of greenhouse gas emissions.
The Minister must consider the national carbon budget and international climate goals when deciding whether to approve an action.
The Minister must warn agencies and employees if an action is likely to have a prohibited impact on emissions.
The Climate Change Authority must set a recommended greenhouse gas emissions budget for Australia for the period 2023 to 2050.