Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International commitments
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy ministers
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    Decorative image

    Australian Energy Employment Report survey

    Share insights to help the energy workforce plan for the future

    Find out more

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    Read our Nature Positive Plan

    Our plan sets out the Australian Government’s commitment to environmental law reform

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Office
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Our science strategy
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Decorative image

    Juukan Gorge response

    Read the Australian Government's response to the destruction at Juukan Gorge and the recommendations

    Read the response

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. About us
  3. News and media
  4. Safeguard Mechanism reform and Powering the Regions Fund: Have your say

Back to news - AWE

  • Back to news

Safeguard Mechanism reform and Powering the Regions Fund: Have your say

  • Have your say
  • Climate change
10 January 2023

The Australian Government is consulting on the proposed design for reforms to the Safeguard Mechanism and the design of the Powering the Regions Fund (PRF) to reduce industrial emissions in line with Australia’s climate targets.

Safeguard Mechanism reform

This is the third consultation on reforms to the Safeguard Mechanism. You can review our previous consultation on the initial consultation paper and exposure draft of legislation, along with the submissions.

The Safeguard Mechanism position paper outlines the Australian Government’s proposed approach on:

  • the Safeguard Mechanism’s share of the national emissions reduction target
  • setting baselines for existing and new facilities, including the rate of decline
  • arrangements for issuing and using Safeguard Mechanism Credits
  • access to flexible compliance arrangements, including access to credits, offsets, banking and borrowing arrangements, multi-year monitoring periods and cost containment measures
  • tailored treatment of emissions-intensive, trade-exposed facilities.

We are also consulting on the following subordinate legislation:

  • National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (Safeguard Mechanism) Amendment (Reforms) Rule 2023
  • Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Amendment (No. 1) Rules 2023
  • Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Rules 2023.

Read more about the proposed Safeguard Mechanism changes and submit a response on our consultation hub.

Powering the Regions Fund (PRF)

The Australian Government will support the reduction of industrial emissions through the $1.9 billion Powering the Regions Fund (PRF).

To support the Safeguard Mechanism, the Australian Government will set aside $600 million from the PRF to establish the’ Safeguard Transformation Stream’ to help industry reduce emissions.

Projects could include:

  • energy efficiency upgrades
  • shift to lower carbon processes
  • switch fuels to electrification
  • hydrogen and biofuels
  • carbon capture, use and storage.

Have your say on the proposed design of the Powering the Regions Fund Safeguard Transformation Stream by submitting a response on our consultation hub.

Submissions close 5:00pm AEDT on Friday 3 February 2023 for the PRF and 5:00pm AEDT 24 February 2023 for Safeguard Mechanism.

Read more

Media release: Next steps to safeguard Australian industry and regions in net zero global economy

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Copy link

Related

Decorative image

Australia and the Netherlands sign milestone renewable hydrogen agreement

  • News
  • Climate change
31 January 2023
H2

Australia and Germany strengthen hydrogen partnership

  • News
  • Climate change
27 January 2023
Offshore wind farm

Australia’s first offshore wind area now open for feasibility licence applications

  • News
  • Climate change
23 January 2023
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 10 January 2023

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.