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| Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water | |
|---|---|
| Name | Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water |
| Jurisdiction | Parliament of Australia |
| Formed | 2022 |
| Type | Select committee |
| Chair | Australian Labor Party |
| Membership | Crossbench and party members |
Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is a parliamentary select committee established within the Parliament of Australia to examine policy and administration relating to climate change, energy policy, environmental protection, and water resources. It operates alongside other committees such as the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Environment and Energy, and the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee. The committee conducts inquiries, compiles reports, and provides recommendations to the Australian Government, relevant agencies such as the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, and oversight bodies including the Australian National Audit Office and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.
The committee was created after parliamentary reforms influenced by debates following the 2019 Australian federal election, the 2020-21 Australian bushfire season, and the policy shifts evident during the 2022 Australian federal election. Its establishment drew on precedents from the Standing Committee on Environment and Energy (House of Representatives) and the bipartisan approaches seen in the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis in other legislatures. Founding discussions referenced international models such as the European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, the United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and advisory outputs from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
The committee’s remit includes scrutinising executive action under statutes like the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, assessing implementation of commitments under the Paris Agreement, and oversight of programs administered by the Bureau of Meteorology, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. It conducts inquiries into emissions trajectories linked to National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting, evaluates infrastructure projects involving agencies such as Infrastructure Australia, and examines water allocation regimes influenced by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority and the Water Act 2007. Functions include summonsing witnesses from entities like AEMO, Woodside Petroleum, Santos Limited, Origin Energy, Fortescue Metals Group, and research institutions such as Australian National University and University of Melbourne.
Membership comprises members drawn from the House of Representatives, the Senate, and crossbench parties including the Australian Greens, the Liberal Party of Australia, and the National Party of Australia. Leadership roles reflect party proportions and parliamentary office holders; chairs and deputy chairs coordinate with clerks from the Parliamentary Service. The committee forms subcommittees modelled after structures in the Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services and works with expert advisers from organisations like the Climate Council and CSIRO. Meetings are held in committee rooms in Parliament House, Canberra with public hearings livestreamed in line with practices used by the Senate Select Committee on Temporary Migration.
Notable inquiries include investigations into renewable energy transition strategies referencing AEMO Integrated System Plan, resilience after the Black Summer bushfires, and water security in the Murray–Darling Basin Plan. Reports have cited evidence from the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, analyses by the Grattan Institute, submissions by Australian Conservation Foundation, and testimonies from industry stakeholders like BP Australia and Chevron Australia. The committee’s reports often recommend legislative amendments, funding allocations mirrored in federal budgets debated with the Treasury and implementation reviews coordinated with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Recommendations have influenced policy instruments such as revisions to the National Electricity Rules, funding decisions involving the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, and amendments to regulatory frameworks under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The committee’s scrutiny informed parliamentary debates on measures proposed by ministers from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and has been referenced in considerations before the High Court of Australia in disputes over federal powers and environmental approvals. Its work has shaped coalition discussions between party leaders like Anthony Albanese and critics from figures associated with Scott Morrison’s tenure.
The committee engages a wide spectrum of stakeholders including state governments such as the New South Wales Government, the Victorian Government, utilities like AGL Energy, advocacy groups including World Wide Fund for Nature and Australian Conservation Foundation, unions such as the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union, and First Nations representatives from organisations like the National Native Title Tribunal. Consultations include public submissions, roundtables with city councils such as City of Sydney, and briefings from international bodies including UNFCCC and the World Bank.
Critics have accused the committee of partisan bias during high-profile hearings, citing disputes between members from the Liberal Party of Australia and the Australian Greens, and tensions over witness selection involving companies like Adani Group and Glencore. Controversies have arisen around confidentiality of submissions, alleged politicisation of scientific evidence from CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology, and conflicts over jurisdiction with state bodies such as the Queensland Government and the New South Wales Government. Judicial reviews and media coverage in outlets like The Australian, The Guardian (Australia), and ABC News have amplified scrutiny of the committee’s methods and recommendations.
Category:Parliamentary committees of Australia Category:Environmental policy of Australia