Given the current uncertainty surrounding "green papers" and "white papers" we thought that it would be useful to compile a general summary of the key dates surrounding the implementation of the Australian emissions trading scheme as set out in the table below1.
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2008 |
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3rd quarter |
16 July |
Release of the green paper |
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July |
Report of the Strategic Review of Climate Change Policies ('Wilkins Review') delivered to the Australian Government |
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10 September |
Submissions on green paper close |
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End September |
Final report of Garnaut Climate Change Review delivered to Australian governments. Public release of the details of the expanded Renewable Energy Target |
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4th quarter |
October |
Treasury modelling expected to be released |
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December |
Public release of draft laws on emissions trading & medium term target range (white paper). National registry operational with Kyoto Protocol functions and connected to International Transaction Log |
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2009 |
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1st quarter |
February |
End of consultation period on exposure draft of legislative package |
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March |
Bill to enact scheme introduced into Parliament |
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2nd quarter |
Testing of auction design expected to commence |
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June |
Report on streamlining existing climate change mitigation measures presented to the Council of Australian Governments |
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3rd quarter |
Act establishing scheme in force & public consultation on scheme regulations commence |
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4th quarter |
National registry operational with Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme functions |
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2010 |
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1st quarter |
Scheme regulations and other legislative instruments finalised First auction of permits |
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3rd quarter |
1 July |
Start of first compliance year under the scheme |
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2011 |
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2nd quarter |
30 June |
End of first compliance year under the scheme |
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4th quarter |
31 October |
Deadline for liable entities to submit emissions reports through National Greenhouse and Energy Report System |
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Mid – late December |
Deadline for surrender of eligible compliance permits for first compliance year |
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2012 |
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31 December |
End of first commitment period under Kyoto Protocol |
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2016 |
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Possible inclusion of agriculture in the scheme First scheduled public strategic review by independent expert committee |
Footnotes
1 Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Green Paper – July 2008, Commonwealth of Australia at 455
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