Peak Oil Response Plan Bill 2008

Following is the text of the Greens bill (copy/pasted from the pdf).

Peak Oil Response Plan Bill 2008

b2008-010-42.d08

Explanatory note

This explanatory note relates to this Bill as introduced into Parliament.

Overview of Bill

The object of this Bill is to provide for the establishment of a Peak Oil Taskforce to

inquire into and report on the best strategies to mitigate the impacts of peak oil.

Peak oil is the point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum production

is reached, after which the rate of production will decline, with anticipated negative

impacts on the global economy.

Outline of provisions

Part 1 Preliminary

Clause 1 sets out the name (also called the short title) of the proposed Act.

Clause 2 provides for the commencement of the proposed Act on the date of assent

to the proposed Act.

Clause 3 defines certain words and expressions used in the proposed Act. More

specifically, the clause defines peak oil to mean the moment in time at which the

maximum rate of global petroleum production is reached.

Part 2 Peak Oil Taskforce

Clause 4 provides that the Premier is to establish a Peak Oil Taskforce (the

Taskforce). The Taskforce is to consist of not less than 5 persons appointed by the

Premier.

Clause 5 provides that the Taskforce is:

(a) to inquire into and assess the likely negative impacts of peak oil on the State

and people of New South Wales, and

(b) to report to the Premier on the best strategies to mitigate those impacts.

Clause 6 provides that, in conducting its inquiry, the Taskforce is:

(a) to hold public meetings, and

(b) to invite submissions from the public and consider those submissions.

Clause 7 requires that, before preparing its report, the Taskforce is to consider (and,

where possible, quantify) the following:

(a) the oil based fuel requirements of the State and people of New South Wales up

to the year 2020 (differentiated by fuel types and economic sectors),

(b) the impact of peak oil on the Australian motor vehicle industry (including any

anticipated changes to the importation of vehicles and any resulting

technological developments),

(c) the impact of peak oil on the economy and employment and whether strategies

for retraining and redeployment of employees will be needed,

(d) the effect of peak oil on:

(i) critical local facilities in New South Wales (such as hospitals, schools

and emergency services), and

(ii) the provision of food and water supplies to the people of New South

Wales,

(e) the effect of peak oil on disadvantaged, regional and rural communities,

(f) any disruption to road transport (including disruption to freight transport)

caused by peak oil,

(g) the effect of peak oil on mining in New South Wales,

(h) whether alternative energy production and alternative fuels that can be used in

substitution for petroleum and other oil based products can ameliorate the

impacts of peak oil,

(i) the effect of peak oil on food affordability and availability,

(j) the need for public education, awareness and preparedness in anticipation of

peak oil,

(k) whether a system of fuel rationing will need to be established,

(l) whether new public transport infrastructure and other transport infrastructure

will be needed,

 (m) the likelihood of sudden fuel emergencies (similar to the 1973 and 1979 oil

crises),

(n) any other matter prescribed by the regulations under the proposed Act.

Clause 8 requires the Taskforce’s report to contain:

(a) a detailed risk management strategy to mitigate the short, medium and long

term impacts of peak oil, and

(b) strategies on how governments, business, community groups and members of

the public may achieve reductions in their use of petroleum and other oil based

fuels, and

(c) a list of priority uses of petroleum and other oil based fuels after peak oil, and

(d) a strategy to deal with sudden fuel emergencies (similar to the 1973 and 1979

oil crises).

Clause 9 provides that the Taskforce’s report is to be completed and provided to the

Premier within 12 months after the commencement of the proposed Act.

Clause 10 requires the Taskforce’s report to be tabled by the Premier in each House

of Parliament as soon as practicable after it is received by the Premier.

Part 3 Miscellaneous

Clause 11 enables the Governor the make regulations for the purposes of the

proposed Act.

Contents

New South Wales

Peak Oil Response Plan Bill 2008

Introduced by Ms Lee Rhiannon, MLC First print

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Name of Act 2

2 Commencement 2

3 Definitions 2

Part 2 Peak Oil Taskforce

4 Establishment of Peak Oil Taskforce 3

5 Functions of Taskforce 3

6 Public hearings and submissions 3

7 Matters for consideration 3

8 Content of report 4

9 Timing of report 4

10 Tabling of report 4

Part 3 Miscellaneous

11 Regulations 6

No , 2008

A Bill for

Peak Oil Response Plan Bill 2008

New South Wales

An Act to provide for the establishment of a Peak Oil Taskforce to inquire into and

report on the best strategies to mitigate the impacts of peak oil.

The Legislature of New South Wales enacts:

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Name of Act

This Act is the Peak Oil Response Plan Act 2008.

2 Commencement

This Act commences on the date of assent to this Act.

3 Definitions

In this Act:

peak oil means the moment in time at which the maximum rate of global

petroleum production is reached.

Taskforce means the Peak Oil Taskforce established under section 4.

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Part 2 Peak Oil Taskforce

4 Establishment of Peak Oil Taskforce

(1) The Premier is to establish a Peak Oil Taskforce within one month after

the commencement of this Act.

(2) The Taskforce is to consist of not less than 5 persons appointed by the

Premier.

5 Functions of Taskforce

(1) The Taskforce is:

(a) to inquire into and assess the likely negative impacts of peak oil

on the State and people of New South Wales, and

(b) to report to the Premier on the best short, medium and long term

strategies to mitigate those impacts.

(2) The Taskforce may request the co-operation of any Department of the

Public Service in the carrying out of its functions and each such

Department must comply with any such request.

6 Public hearings and submissions

The Taskforce, in conducting its inquiry, is:

(a) to hold public meetings, and

(b) to invite submissions from the public and consider those

submissions.

7 Matters for consideration

Before preparing its report, the Taskforce is to consider (and, where

possible, quantify) the following:

(a) the oil based fuel requirements of the State and people of New

South Wales up to the year 2020 (differentiated by fuel types and

economic sectors),

(b) the impact of peak oil on the Australian motor vehicle industry

(including any anticipated changes to the importation of vehicles

and any resulting technological developments),

(c) the impact of peak oil on the economy and employment and

whether strategies for retraining and redeployment of employees

will be needed,

(d) the effect of peak oil on:

(i) critical local facilities in New South Wales (such as

hospitals, schools and emergency services), and

Page 4

 (ii) the provision of food and water supplies to the people of

New South Wales,

(e) the effect of peak oil on disadvantaged, regional and rural

communities,

(f) any disruption to road transport (including disruption to freight

transport) caused by peak oil,

(g) the effect of peak oil on mining in New South Wales,

(h) whether alternative energy production and alternative fuels that

can be used in substitution for petroleum and other oil based

products can ameliorate the impacts of peak oil,

(i) the effect of peak oil on food affordability and availability,

(j) the need for public education, awareness and preparedness in

anticipation of peak oil,

(k) whether a system of fuel rationing will need to be established,

(l) whether new public transport infrastructure and other transport

infrastructure will be needed,

(m) the likelihood of sudden fuel emergencies (similar to the 1973

and 1979 oil crises),

(n) any other matter prescribed by the regulations.

8 Content of report

The report is to contain:

(a) a detailed risk management strategy to mitigate the short,

medium and long term impacts of peak oil, and

(b) strategies on how governments, business, community groups and

members of the public may achieve reductions in their use of

petroleum and other oil based fuels, and

(c) a list of priority uses of petroleum and other oil based fuels after

peak oil, and

(d) a strategy to deal with sudden fuel emergencies (similar to the

1973 and 1979 oil crises).

9 Timing of report

The report is to be completed and provided to the Premier within

12 months after the commencement of this Act.

10 Tabling of report

(1) The report is to be tabled by the Premier in each House of Parliament as

soon as practicable after it is received by the Premier.

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 (2) If a House of Parliament is not sitting when the Premier seeks to table

the report, copies of the report are to be presented to the Clerk of the

House concerned by the Premier.

(3) The report:

(a) is, on presentation and for all purposes, taken to have been laid

before the House, and

(b) may be printed by authority of the Clerk of the House, and

(c) if so printed, is for all purposes taken to be a document published

by or under the authority of the House, and

(d) is to be recorded:

(i) in the case of the Legislative Council, in the Minutes of the

Proceedings of the Legislative Council, and

(ii) in the case of the Legislative Assembly, in the Votes and

Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly,

on the first sitting day of the House after receipt of the report by

the Clerk.

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Part 3 Miscellaneous

11 Regulations

The Governor may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, for

or with respect to any matter that by this Act is required or permitted to

be prescribed or that is necessary or convenient to be prescribed for

carrying out or giving effect to this Act