The priority issues to be addressed by the Council of Australian Governments’ Standing Council on Energy and Resources (SCER) have now been agreed, providing for greater collaboration and uniformity on matters of energy and resources policy.
SCER amalgamates the Ministerial Council on Energy and the Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum Resources, bringing together energy and resource Ministers from all states and territories as well as the Commonwealth Minister to take a more integrated approach across Australia’s upstream and downstream energy resources.
The priority issues to be addressed by the standing council are to:
- progress consistent upstream petroleum administration and regulation standards;
- address issues affecting investment in resources exploration and development;
- develop a nationally consistent approach to clean-energy technology;
- promote efficient investment in generation and networks; and
- build on Australia’s resilience to energy-supply shocks.
In response to concerns regarding the development of the coal seam gas industry, a high priority for the Council at its first meeting in December will be to work co-operatively to further progress a more harmonised approach to the regulation of the coal seam gas industry. Ministers will also seek to ensure energy markets manage the smooth transition as a carbon price is introduced.
The Terms of Reference to guide the priorities of SCER have been developed and agreed by COAG and are now publically available at www.ret.gov.au.
SCER will continue to carry out the key reforms already underway through the previous Ministerial Councils as well as implementing a strategic agenda across the resource and energy sectors.
“The resource and energy sectors are the backbone of Australia’s economy and therefore it is essential that the responsible Ministers work together in an integrated way to maximise the benefits to the Australian people” the Commonwealth Minister for Resources and Energy and Chair of SCER, Martin Ferguson AM MP said.
“Effective governance, sound regulation, competitive markets, safe development, new investment, environmental sustainability and energy affordability – all these things benefit the community.
“As chair, I look forward to continuing to work with my state and territory counterparts on the shared issues and challenges faced by the resources and energy sectors.”
A senior committee of officials supports the standing council in delivering its agenda.