Independent Review – Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
On 11 August 2015, the Government announced that Australia’s post-2020 emissions reduction target is a 26-28 per cent reduction below 2005 levels by 2030. The Government intends to achieve the target through the Emissions Reduction Fund, supported by a range of other policies including the National Energy Productivity Plan and other policies to be reviewed in detail in 2017-2018. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Taskforce Review Report was developed by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet which certified the review as following a similar process to that required for a Regulation Impact Statement and adequately addressing all seven RIS questions. Under the Australian Government Guide to Regulation, the OBPR does not assess independent reviews. The Prime Minister agreed that regulatory costs (and offsets) would not be required for the consideration of the post-2020 emissions target, but that costs and offsets will be prepared for individual measures that will impact on the target as they are brought forward for decision. The process undertaken by the Department is consistent with best practice.
