Queensland Bills Explanatory Notes Queensland Bills Explanatory Notes[Index] [Search] [Download] [Bill] [Help]
1
Clean Coal Technology Special Agreement Bill 2007
Clean Coal Technology Special
Agreement Bill 2007
Explanatory Notes
Objectives of the Bill
The Bill provides for the formation of the Clean Coal Council (the Council)
to advise the Minister with respect to priorities for funding to accelerate the
demonstration, development and widespread implementation and use of
clean coal technology to achieve deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions
and to authorise the Premier to enter the Queensland Clean Coal
Agreement with ACA Low Emissions Technologies Ltd ACN123 147 240
(ACALET).
The objective of forming the Council is for it to consider and make
recommendations to prioritise funding in research and development and
demonstration activities to achieve accelerated deployment of clean coal
technologies to achieve deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
Reasons for the Bill
The reason for the legislation is to establish the Council and approve the
Premier to enter the Queensland Clean Coal Agreement and to reinforce
the commitment of the Queensland Government and the Coal Industry to
accelerate the deployment of clean coal technology
Achievement of the Objectives
The objectives of the Bill are achieved by establishing the Clean Coal
Council which will be comprised of Government and Industry
representatives with a chairman and other persons with relevant expertise
each appointed by the Premier to advise on priorities, assess project
opportunities and make recommendations with respect to funding Clean
Coal technology projects. The funding will be available from the voluntary
COAL21 Fund that will be subscribed to by the Coal Industry. The
Queensland Clean Coal Agreement describes the ability of the Premier to
make decisions regarding which projects should be funded and the amount
of funding which should be provided by ACALET.
2
Clean Coal Technology Special Agreement Bill 2007
Estimated Cost for Government Implementation
The cost of administering the Bill is expected to be minimal. The Council
will not have any dedicated staff and will be provided support from a
Government Department.
Consistency with Fundamental Legislative Principles
The Bill is consistent with the fundamental legislative principles.
Consultation
The following Departments were consulted:
· Department of Premier and Cabinet
· Department of Mines and Energy
· Treasury Department
· Department of State Development; and
· Department of Infrastructure
· The following organisations were consulted in the preparation of
the Queensland Clean Coal Agreement:
· Australian Coal Association (ACA)
· ACA Low Emission Technologies Limited; and
· Queensland Resources Council
Notes on Provisions
Part 1 Preliminary
Clause 1 states the short title of the Act
Clause 2 states the object of the Act is to accelerate the demonstration,
development and widespread implementation and use of clean coal
3
Clean Coal Technology Special Agreement Bill 2007
technology by encouraging collaborative investment, by the State and the
Coal Industry, in research and development.
Clause 3 provides definitions of terms in the act.
Part 2 Clean Coal Council
Clause 4 establishes the Council
Clause 5 provides for the membership of the Council and that it will consist
of at least 11 members made up of:
(a) 1 person who is to be the chairperson of the council;
(b) 5 representatives of the Government of Queensland;
(c) 5 representatives of the Queensland black coal industry who are
nominated by ACALET; and
(d) other persons who the Minister is satisfied have relevant experience in,
or knowledge of, any aspect of clean coal technology.
Members of the Council are to be appointed by the Minister by a gazette
notice.
Members of the Council hold office on the conditions, including the term
of office, decided by the Minister. The Minister may change the conditions
on which a member of the Council holds office.
Clause 6 provides the functions of the Council.
Those functions include:
· advising the Minister about priorities for funding in Queensland
for the development, implementation and use of clean coal
technology;
· assessing and making recommendations to the Minister about
which clean coal projects should be funded in accordance with
the provisions of the Queensland Clean Coal Agreement and the
amount of funding that should be provided;
· considering intellectual property issues associated with those
projects;
· reporting to the Minister about requests for funding received by
the Council for clean coal technology projects;
4
Clean Coal Technology Special Agreement Bill 2007
· coordinating the State's involvement in international research
collaborations relating to clean coal technology including the
FutureGen Project; and
· if asked by the Minister in writing, advising the Minister on
matters relevant to the development of clean coal technology.
Clause 7 provides that the Council must if requested by the Minister report
to the Minister about a request received by the Council for funding or a
project relating to clean coal technology. The Council may also report to
the Minister on its own initiative about a request received by the council for
funding for a project relating to clean coal technology.
Clause 8 provides that the Council may conduct its business in the way it
considers appropriate and this includes deciding how it conducts meetings.
The Council must meet at least three times in a year.
Clause 9 provides that the department responsible for administration of the
Act may make administrative support services available to the Council to
enable the Council to perform its functions.
Clause 10 provides that the Minister responsible for the Bill may delegate
the functions described in Part Two to another Minister. The delegation of
functions includes delegation of powers included in Part Two.
Part 3 Queensland Clean Coal
Agreement
Clause 11 provides that the Minister is authorised to make, for the State, an
agreement with ACALET, titled Queensland Clean Coal Agreement, in the
form set out in the schedule.
© State of Queensland 2007