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(...) Concessional loans are available under the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, the Export Finance and Insurance Commission, the Farm Finance Concessional Loan Scheme, the Drought Concessional Loan Scheme and the Infrastructure Growth Package programmes (sections 1.2.1, 3.3.5, 4.2.2.2. 4.3.2 and 4.5.7). (...)

(…) Companies receiving over $A 20 million from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (section 4.3.2) may be required to prepare and report on an AIP (Australian Industry Participation) plan as a condition of investment. (…)

(…) Since 1 July 2012, summaries of AIP (Australian Industry Participation) Plans have been published on line to increase transparency. Companies receiving over $A 20 million from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (section 4.3.2) may be required to prepare and report on an AIP Plan as an investment condition. (...)

Australia is richly endowed with natural energy resources (uranium, coal, natural gas); it is the world's ninth largest energy producer, accounting for around 2.7% of global energy production and a major supplier to world markets (it is one of only three OECD countries that are net energy exporters). In 2012/13, petroleum-based productions (including crude oil, diesel, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)) accounted for 37.7% of Australian energy consumption, followed by coal (33%), gas (23.6%) and renewables (5.6%). Domestic use of nuclear power is not envisaged in the near future. As a result, inter alia, of a surge in investment in large and lumpy infrastructure projects, rising (evening) peak versus average demand for electricity, and a move to less polluting but higher cost production technologies, the average MFP growth rate for electricity, gas, and water supply activities rose slightly from minus 4.8% (2003/04-2007/08) to minus 4.5% (2007/08 2011/12), the second lowest after that of mining (section 4.3.1).

(...) In addition to its clean energy policy, Australia supports the sustainable expansion of fossil fuel exploration, production and utilisation (sections 4.3.1, 4.3.2.1.3, and 4.4). Coal is a key contributor to the Australian economy and continues to be an important part of the country's energy mix. Australia, which is the second largest coal exporter in the world, has taken a global leadership role in efforts to reduce emissions from coal combustion and coal mining, including establishing the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute. Domestically, Australia has world-leading Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects underway and is developing new processes for converting coal mine methane into energy. Development proposals that will have, or are likely to have, a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance, including those related to coal mining development, must be referred for assessment and approval by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment.

A July 2009 National Strategy on Energy Efficiency aimed at developing a nationally consistent approach to energy-efficiency policy, reducing red tape, and helping businesses and households invest in modern cost-cutting technologies remains in place. It involves: legislation on appliance energy ratings and labels; mandating all new homes to achieve energy rating standards in the future; and accelerating the phasing-out of inefficient lighting, including a ban on incandescent light bulbs. (...)

(...) Under the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012 (GEMS Act), the Commonwealth Government can set mandatory minimum efficiency performance standards (MEPS) and energy-rating label (ERL) requirements for electrical equipment and appliance products. These requirements are set out in legislative instruments called GEMS determinations, which now cover: rotary clothes-dryers; clothes washing machines; dishwashers; household refrigerating appliances; double-capped fluorescent lamps; transformers and electronic step-down converters for ELV lamps; ballasts for fluorescent lamps; compact fluorescent lamps for general lighting services; incandescent lamps for general lighting services; electric water heaters; external power supplies; digital television set top boxes; commercial refrigeration products; power supply transformers; air conditioners; liquid chilling packages; gas water heaters; electric motors (2 phase); and televisions/computers/computer monitors for personal, domestic or household use.

(…) Mandatory energy consumption labelling requirements affect appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers/dryers, dishwashers, room air-conditioners, mains-pressure electric-storage water heaters, and motor vehicles. (…)

The majority of Australia's electricity was produced from coal, which accounted for 63.9% (76.3% in 2007/08) of total electricity generation in 2012/13, followed by natural gas (20.5%), and renewable and oil product sources (10.2% (of which hydro and wind account for 7.3 and 2.9 percentage points, respectively)). As a result, carbon dioxide emissions per unit of output are high by international standards. (...)

(…) The Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme, consisting of the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET) and the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) that is aimed at increasing renewable energy generation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector, remains in place. It is designed to deliver the equivalent of 20% of Australia's electricity from renewable sources by 2020, and will cease in 2030. As at 31 December 2013, there were 394 power stations accredited under the LRET with a combined capacity of approximately 18,600 megawatts. Under the SRES, there are over two million small-scale installations that have the capacity to generate or displace approximately 6,882 gigawatt hours of electricity annually. An independent review examined the operation and costs and benefits of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 and related legislation and regulations, and the RET scheme which is constituted by these instruments. The report was released on 28 August 2014.