Dr WOODRUFF – Minister, the Climate Change Act is currently being reviewed, which is what’s required under legislation. When do you expect the review to be completed?
Mr DUIGAN – We expect the review to be completed in 2025, understanding it is one of the requirements of the act. While we are doing that, as the previous minister committed to, reviewing the governance around the act, that is work that will be completed in line with the time frame that is required and completed in 2025.
Dr WOODRUFF – There have been significant delays on implementing the results of reviews of the act in previous years under your government. Once the review’s completed, can you please tell us what time next year you expect that will be, 2025 is a long time, will you commit to implementing the results of the review within six months?
Mr DUIGAN – I’m happy to report that it is my understanding that the review will commence during the course of this year and be completed next year. The terms of reference are currently in draft as I understand it.
We will look at the at the review, we will support its undertaking. I won’t make commitments here at this table, but I certainly expect to be acting in light of the findings of the review.
Dr WOODRUFF – You didn’t answer the question about whether you do it within six months? Not what you’d act on, but the timeframe for action.
Mr DUIGAN – I don’t think I will weld myself to a timeframe here at this table without understanding what the advice and the contents and nature of the review gives me, but I expect to be acting on the contents of the review.
Dr WOODRUFF – There is public consultation around the last review and there’ll be public consultation for this review as well? A major call for Tasmania from the last public consultation was that we have emission targets for each industry sector, not just guidelines, which aren’t bringing us to the place that we need to be as a state. Will you commit to implementing targets at the next round of changes to the act?
Mr DUIGAN – I think what I will do is point to what is a very clear, unambiguous target of net zero or lower by 2030. That is a target that this government has identified and is committed to. Noting that we will need to consider substantial reforms in our economy and our businesses in order to enable us to continue to claim net zero beyond that time.
In terms of public consultation on the independent review of the act, it will be undertaken for at least five weeks. This means that all Tasmanians will have the opportunity to provide feedback on climate change governance arrangements in Tasmania. We would be interested to hear what Tasmanians would like to see reflected in the climate change act.
