AS WORLD LEADERS join US President Joe Biden for his landmark climate summit starting tonight, Australian corporate interest and activity in climate action is surging, according to independent industry association the Carbon Market Institute (CMI).

Membership to the CMI has grown 36 percent this financial year with Coles signing on this month as the 100th member, following the retailer’s commitment to using 100 percent renewable electricity by the end of FY25, reducing Scope 1&2 emissions by more than 75 percent by the end of FY30 (from a FY20 baseline) and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Other recent CMI sign-ups include the NAB, HSBC, futures exchange FEX Global, regenerative farming business Macdoch Ag Group, carbon capture and storage research facility CO2CRC, and petroleum company Ampol.

CEO of the CMI John Connor said the surge in membership across the carbon market value chain was further evidence that this year is lining up to be a crucial one for corporate emissions reduction policies.

“Australian companies are now looking for economic opportunities in the transition to net-zero emissions and there is growing demand for more sophisticated carbon market services,” Mr Connor said. "FEX Global, for example, is looking to offer exchange traded futures contracts for low carbon energy and environmental products.

“While we welcome the Morrison government’s pragmatic approach to developing technologies to help Australia reach net-zero emissions, we are yet to see Australia commit to the scale and speed, or the policy framework, required to play our fair role," Mr Connor said.

“This year, whether at the Biden Summit or at COP 26, I hope to see other existing policy levers - such as strengthening the Safeguard Mechanism - brought in, to give clarity to Australian companies as they make key investment calculations.”

Coles Group’s chief sustainability, property and export officer, Thinus Keeve, said the company was proud to be the 100th corporate member of the Carbon Market Institute. 

“CMI provides a great platform to collaborate and share knowledge, something we have highlighted as a key pillar of our recently released sustainability strategy," Mr Keeve said. "Together to Zero acknowledges our commitment to work together with all stakeholders towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions and CMI provides an opportunity to do that."

FEX Global executive chairman Brian Price said, “We see opportunities in Australia’s future carbon market, with Australia well positioned to become an Asian energy and environmental finance hub.” 

FEX Global group executive for market infrastructure, Les Hosking, who was also CMI's first chair, said, "I am proud and delighted to be able to return to CMI as a member, and to be involved and contribute to the next phase of formation of 'carbon markets'."

Macdoch Ag Group, through its Wilmot Cattle Co, recently achieved a ground-breaking sale of private market carbon credits in the US.

Macdoch director, Eric Lawrence said, "We see an opportunity to achieve outcomes like this for a growing number of Australian farmers through the technological and practical support of farming practice change and the development of Australia’s carbon markets. We welcome CMI as a focal point and a channel for advocacy in realising this potential.”

CO2CRC chief executive David Byers said, “As a leader in carbon capture utilisation and storage research, CO2CRC joined CMI because its member network comprises a wide range of organisations pursuing a similar goal to us.

"Being a CMI member offers CO2CRC insights into national and global developments in carbon markets and policies, which stimulates the wider industry application of low emissions technologies like CCUS.”

CMI's John Connor said, “As our members show, the greatest value in joining CMI comes from the collaboration, knowledge-sharing and commercial opportunities that come from participating in its working groups, forums and its annual Australasian Emission Reduction Summit. 

“CMI also works robustly but constructively with governments to build current carbon markets and carbon pricing schemes, it recently released its Advocacy Positions which it will update each year.” 

About the Carbon Market Institute

The Carbon Market Institute is the independent industry association for business leading the transition to net zero emissions. Its members include primary producers, carbon project developers, Indigenous corporations, legal and advisory services, insurers, banks and emission intensive industries developing decarbonisation and offset strategies.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Migration will hold a series of public hearings in Melbourne, Albury and Shepparton from April 21–23, 2021.

The committee has planned a busy program of public hearings and site inspections to investigate in more depth the challenges facing businesses and organisations who need to find and hire skilled migrants to fill job vacancies.

"The committee is looking forward to hearing from groups such as EY and CEDA who have considered this issue in detail, as well as exploring the practical difficulties faced by Australian business owners who have experienced navigating the skilled migration program," Mr Leeser said.

"Businesses such as those the committee will visit in regional NSW and Victoria have been vocal in their concerns about how hard it can be to fill jobs. Speaking directly to these businesses will give the Committee a valuable perspective on these issues."

More details on the inquiry and the hearing program are available on the Committee website.

Public hearing details

Melbourne

Date: Wednesday 21 April 2021
Time: 9am to 3.30pm
Location: DoubleTree by Hilton, Flinders Street, Melbourne

Albury

Date: Thursday 22 April 2021
Time: 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Location: Mantra Albury Hotel, 524 Smollett Street, Albury

Shepparton

Date: Thursday 22 April 2021
Time: 12.30pm to 3pm
Location: Parklake, 481 Wyndham Street, Shepparton

The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has called on Australia Post to defer its plans to stop delivering perishable goods, saying this would be a crushing blow to small business producers.

Mr Billson said Australia Post’s decision to cease delivery of various perishable goods from June 30 is a self-imposed deadline that could be delayed to work through its concerns, to support small business food producers.

“Given Australia Post has 80 percent share of the total delivery market, this abrupt decision could prove to be devastating to those small business food producers who rely on this essential postage service,” Mr Billson said.

“So many small businesses moved to selling their products online as a result of the COVID crisis. They need some additional time to consider what options they have to fulfil their orders.

“We strongly encourage Australia Post to consider the impact this will have on their small business customers and to work with regulators to find a way to continue this essential service. 

“Australia Post says the carriage of perishable food requirements differ state-by-state however there has been a national Food Regulation Agreement in place since 2000.

“My office has reached out to Australia Post and the state small business commissioners, who have all expressed their willingness facilitate discussions with industry regulators, to help resolve any issues Australia Post is experiencing across the delivery network," Mr Billson said.

“It is crucial to support small businesses as they work to recover from an incredibly challenging 12 months.

“Part of that is ensuring essential services such as postage of goods are both readily available and affordable to these affected small businesses.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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THE Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works has announced that it will scrutinise a new project from the Department of Defence which aims to provide vital estate maintenance and upgrades to support capability across RAAF Base Townsville, Townsville Field Training Area and HMAS Cairns.

Details of the project are: Department of Defence - North Queensland Mid Term Refresh Program – RAAF Base Townsville, Townsville Field Training Area and HMAS Cairns — $111.2 million.

It is anticipated that the committee will conduct a public and in-camera hearing for the inquiry in mid-May 2021. The committee wants to hear from all individuals or organisations interested in the project.

Submissions for the project will be accepted until Thursday May 13, 2021.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works is not involved in the tendering process, awarding of contracts or details of the proposed works. Inquiries on these matters should be addressed to the relevant Commonwealth entities.

For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings.

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