资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

Changes to the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Legislation

Following the review of the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Program, changes have been made to the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989, the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Act 1995, the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Act 1995 and the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Regulations 1995. These changes implement the key outcomes of the review.

The major change was the introduction of a phase-down of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) imports from 1 January 2018, as announced by the Government in June 2016. This will enable Australia to meet the HFC phase-down obligations of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, starting in 2019.

Also included in the changes are most of the efficiency measures announced in the review, including streamlining of licensing provisions, waiving uneconomic levy debts and reduced reporting frequency.

Legislative amendments planned for 2019 will implement further measures including strengthened compliance and enforcement powers and additional program efficiency measures.

Emissions reduction

The key emissions reduction measure is an 85 per cent phase-down of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) imports, commencing on 1 January 2018, with the 85 per cent phase-down being reached from 2036. The phase-down will provide certainty for business and position Australia well to meet any future international obligations to phase-down hydrofluorocarbons.

Measures to compliment the HFC phase-down:

• Provision for bans on the import and manufacture of specified equipment containing specified high global warming potential HFCs. Through a future review of the effectiveness of the phase-down the Government will consider the need for equipment bans. For example new motor vehicle air conditioning systems using the refrigerant R134a may be considered for an equipment ban.
• Strengthened compliance powers. This will include new offence provisions, infringement notices for refrigeration and air conditioning and fire protection schemes, and the ability to suspend licences.

Streamlining and effectiveness measures

The streamlining measures reduce the burden on business. The key measures are:

• increase the low volume import exemption to 25 kilograms
• lengthen the duration of end use permits to 3 years
• introduce licence renewals
• reduce reporting requirements from quarterly to twice yearly, while retaining flexibility for more frequent reporting if licence holders prefer to do so
• waiver of small levy debts up to $330, reducing the number of invoices issued by 94 per cent from 2,750 to 150.

Non-regulatory measures

The Department will develop an education program working with business to better inform equipment owners of the benefits of regular equipment maintenance. This will achieve substantial emissions savings through reduced gas leakage and lower electricity use, and businesses will benefit through reduced electricity costs and reduced replacement costs for gas leakage.

The Department will engage with state regulators and the business community to examine how the Act can work in better synergy with State-level regulation that relates to the refrigeration and air conditioning sector.