Australian Capital Territory
Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Climate Change Council Member) Appointment 2016 (No 1)
Disallowable Instrument DI2016–311
made under the  
Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010, s20 (Membership)
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Overview
Section 20 of the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010 (the Act) allows the Minister to appoint suitably qualified members of the community to the ACT Climate Change Council (Council). The Council must include people with a broad range of skills and knowledge relating to addressing, or adapting to, climate change and they must be from a listed sector of the community. 

The appointment for the non-public employee members of the Council is by way of a disallowable instrument which must be notified and tabled in the Legislative Assembly as per the requirements in Part 19.3 of the Legislation Act 2001.

Section 20 of the Act provides that the Minister may appoint a person as a member to the Council only if satisfied that the person is committed to addressing climate change and has knowledge and experience in an area relevant to the operation of the Act.

Appointment
The disallowable instrument reappoints Mr Toby Roxburgh (currently a member of the Council) as a member of the Council. Mr Roxburgh is appointed for the period 1 January 2017 to 1 March 2018.

Mr Roxburgh is not a public servant.

Mr Roxburgh is appointed as a person to represent the interests of business under section 20(2)(b)(i) of the Act.

In appointing Mr Roxburgh to the Climate Change Council, the Minister is satisfied that Mr Roxburgh is committed to addressing climate change and has knowledge and experience in relevant fields. Specifically, Mr Roxburgh is the Chair of the Australian Institute of Energy (Canberra Branch) and Founding Director of Beast Solutions.

His work in the energy sector includes fields such as education, policy, planning, sustainable design, energy efficiency, district energy, renewables, microgrids and peak demand reduction. Mr Roxburgh has been involved in demand management projects for ActewAGL, district energy delivery for the City of Sydney, remote solar PV systems for Indigenous communities through Indigenous Affairs, infrastructure savings for the ACT Government, renewable energy microgrids for campuses and developments, net zero carbon emissions solutions, and helping independent energy utilities operate off the electricity grid.

A Regulatory Impact (RIS) is not required for this disallowable instrument as it is unlikely to impose appreciable costs on the community (section 34(1) of the Legislation Act). Further, in accordance with section 36(1)(b) of the Legislation Act, a RIS is not necessary as the matter does not operate to the disadvantage of anyone by adversely affecting the person’s rights or imposing liabilities on the person.

Outline of provisions

Section 1 – Name of instrument
This section names the instrument.

Section 2 – Commencement
This section states that the instrument commences on 1 January 2017.

Section 3 – Appointment of Climate Change Council member
This section provides that the Minister appoints Mr Toby Roxburgh to be a member of the Climate Change Council.

Section 4 – Term of Appointment
This section provides that the appointment is for the period 1 January 2017 to 1 March 2018.