IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

Climate change is one of the most complex policy challenges facing governments today. The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (the Department) is a dynamic organisation at the forefront of developing and delivering the Australian Government’s response to this critical global issue and is an active and constructive participant in international climate change negotiations.

The Department leads the development and coordination of Australia’s climate change and energy efficiency policy and is responsible for policy advice, policy implementation, program delivery and regulatory oversight in four areas:

• Reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions
• Improving Australia’s energy efficiency
• Adapting to climate change
• Helping to shape a global climate change solution

About the Climate Change Authority

The Climate Change Authority (the Authority) is established by legislation as an independent body to provide expert advice on key aspects of the carbon pricing mechanism and the Government’s climate change mitigation initiatives. The Authority will conduct regular public reviews and their reports will be made public.

The Authority will perform a number of functions, including providing recommendations to the Government on future pollution caps and carbon budgets. The Authority will also conduct regular reviews and make recommendations on the carbon pricing mechanism, Renewable Energy Target, National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System and Carbon Farming Initiative, as well as other climate change mitigation policy analysis.

The Authority will comprise of up to nine Members supported by independent staff led by a Chief Executive Officer. Two members of the Authority have already been announced: Mr Bernie Fraser as Chair of the Authority; and the Chief Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb, as an ex officio member. The Government is seeking up to seven additional members to complete the Authority.

The Authority will commence on 1 July 2012 and their office will be located in Melbourne.

Background

Scientists advise that the world is warming and high levels of carbon pollution risk environmental and economic damage.

The Australian Government has developed a comprehensive plan to move to a clean energy future.

A carbon price is not a tax on households – the biggest polluters in Australia will be required to pay for their pollution, and every dollar raised will be used to support households and jobs, and to invest in clean energy and climate change programs.

To assist households with price impacts, there will be tax cuts and increases in pensions, allowances and benefits. A significant tax reform will mean that over one million individuals will no longer need to file a tax return.

The Government is committed to supporting jobs and competitiveness as

Australia moves to a clean energy future and has designed a range of measures for this purpose. In particular, $9.2 billion will be provided over the first three years of the carbon price through the Jobs and Competitiveness Program to support jobs in industries that create a lot of carbon pollution. This assistance will be ongoing.

The Government will seek to negotiate the closure of around 2,000 megawatts of highly polluting electricity generation capacity by 2020 while at the same time safeguarding our energy security.

There will be a dramatic expansion in support for renewable energy, including through a new $10 billion commercially oriented Clean Energy Finance Corporation that will be created to invest in renewable energy, low pollution and energy efficiency technologies.

Around $1 billion will be spent over the next four years to help farmers and land managers pursue climate change action on the land and promote biodiversity. Improvements in energy efficiency will help households save money on their bills and contribute to our efforts to cut pollution.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Dimensions

The Climate Change Authority Act 2011 states that the Authority is an independent body, comprising the Chair and up to eight other Members. One of these Members is the Chief Scientist as an ex officio member.

The focus of the Authority will be providing independent expert advice to the Government on the key aspects of the carbon pricing mechanism and other climate change mitigation initiatives.

The primary functions of the Authority (Chair and other Members) are to:

• Provide recommendations to the Government on future pollution caps.
• Make recommendations on the indicative national trajectories and long-term emissions budgets.
  • Provide independent advice to the Government on the progress that is being made to reduce Australia’s emissions to meet national targets, any indicative national trajectory or budget.
  • Conduct regular reviews of and make recommendations on the carbon pricing mechanism (noting household assistance and the Jobs and Competiveness Program will be reviewed separately).
  • Conduct reviews and make recommendations on the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System, the Renewable Energy Target and the Carbon Farming Initiative.
  • Make recommendations to the Government on whether a robust methodology could be developed to recognise additional voluntary action by households.
  • Provide advice to the Government on the role of the price floor and price ceiling beyond the first three years of the flexible price phase.
  • Conduct reviews and make recommendations on other matters as requested by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency or the Parliament.
  • Conduct or commission its own independent research and analysis into climate change and other matters relevant to its functions.