Transfer of Civil Liability from Net Zero Commission Staff to the Crown
Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023
Legislative Council
Legislative Assembly
Assent
Topics
climate change environmental policy government accountability greenhouse gas emissions net zero
Introduced by: The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
James Griffin LIB
“I make a contribution to debate on the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023. In 2023, we do not really need to go into much detail about the rationale for legislation that seeks to deal with climate change. The issue is well understood, our communities expect outcomes and our children rely on us to take courageous action.”
Trish Doyle ALP
“I am pleased to speak in support of the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023. The bill is a significant step forward for New South Wales. Tackling the climate emergency and decarbonising our economy to ensure New South Wales remains resilient and liveable is an enormous challenge. But it is also an unparalleled and a once‑in‑a‑generation economic opportunity.”
Kellie Sloane LIB
“As the shadow Minister for Environment I contribute to debate on the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023. I am also the proud member for Vaucluse, and a parent who wants to create a better world for her children and for their children.”
Tim Crakanthorp ALP
“Tonight I am very proud to support the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023. This legislation is incredibly important. It holds in it the future of our State, our country and our planet. Last weekend thousands of climate activists rallied to block Newcastle Harbour.”
Roy Butler IND
“I thank the Hon. Penny Sharpe and the Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government—particularly the Minister for the very genuine way he goes about his business in this place. I foreshadow that I will move amendments to the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023.”
Kobi Shetty GRN
“On behalf of The Greens, I contribute to debate on the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023. Our community deserves a safe and liveable planet. We deserve a government that is willing to take ambitious action to urgently tackle the climate emergency.”
Dugald Saunders NAT
“I make a short contribution to debate on the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023. From my perspective, the bill does nothing more than what the Liberals and The Nationals achieved while we were in government without the need for any legislation. We met those aspirational targets based on our capacity to get there, and we took the community on that journey.”
Michael Regan IND
“I welcome the opportunity to speak to the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023, and I congratulate the Government on prioritising this legislation so early in its term.”
Jenny Leong GRN
“I also contribute on behalf of The Greens to debate on the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023. I wholeheartedly support the comments made by my Greens colleague the member for Balmain, Kobi Shetty, and my Greens colleagues in the other place who have spoken extensively on the bill. Right now our State, like much of the world, is at a crossroads.”
Helen Dalton IND
“I contribute to debate on the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023. In rural New South Wales, we care deeply about the environment. We also pay close attention to the way government responds to climate change. Rural New South Wales often cops it from both sides.”
Alex Greenwich IND
“There is urgent need to address the climate crisis. The world is on a dangerous path towards mass destruction of life as we know it. Extreme heat, sea level rises, more and more carbon dense oceans, drought and flood will affect every aspect of society, culture, environment and the economy.”
Joe McGirr IND
“I make a brief contribution to debate on the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023. I congratulate the Government on the bill and commend it as an important step, which builds on the work of the previous Parliament, to help this State play its role in addressing the challenge of our generation—climate change—and to make sure that our future generations do not suffer from our neglect.”
Liesl Tesch ALP
“I contribute to debate on the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023. As I did when Parliament returned after the 2019 bushfires, I quote from The Lorax by Dr Seuss:”
Jihad Dib ALP
“At the outset, I thank all members who made a contribution to the debate. I know that many others wanted to, but it is the second very late night and there were fireworks going on. I acknowledge the member for Sydney who, while the bill was being debated, almost put it to a vote because he thought that it would be fitting to have the fireworks going off at the same time it was being voted on.”
News articles and press releases
Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023
The Hon. PENNY SHARPE, Minister for Climate Change — 2023-10-12
As I have outlined, the bill has four key objects. The first object is to establish guiding principles for action to address climate change. The second object is to set targets for 2030 and 2050 net greenhouse gas emissions reductions in New South Wales. The third object is for New South Wales to be more resilient to a changing climate. The fourth object is to establish the Net Zero Commission and its functions. The bill, at clause 8, sets out the guiding principles that will underpin the way we address climate change in New South Wales. These guiding principles recognise the urgent need for swift and decisive action on climate change. They seek to ensure that action is consistent and coherent without being overly prescriptive or limiting flexibility or innovation.