Electricity Infrastructure Legislation Amendment Bill 2025

The majority voted in favour of an amendment introduced by Melbourne MP Adam Bandt (Greens), which means it will now be included in the bill.

What does the amendment do?

Mr Bandt explained that:

The amendment I am moving will enshrine the government's Capacity Investment Scheme in law in order to oblige the next two governments to meet the 32-gigawatt-by-2030 renewables and storage target, which is made up of 23 gigawatts of renewable generation and nine gigawatts of clean dispatchable energy.

Amendment text

(1) Page 3 (after line 24), at the end of the Bill, add:

Schedule 2 — Capacity Investment Scheme Program

Climate Change Act 2022

1 After Part 4

Add:

Part 4A — Capacity Investment Scheme

15B Simplified outline of this Part

The Capacity Investment Scheme Program must be implemented to achieve at least 23 gigawatts of renewable generation capacity and at least 9 gigawatts of clean dispatchable capacity.

15C Administration of the Capacity Investment Scheme Program

(1) If, at the commencement of this subsection, the Capacity Investment Scheme Program is prescribed by legislative instrument under subsection 33(1) of the Industry Research and Development Act 1986, then:

(a) the Commonwealth must make, vary or administer arrangements in relation to the carrying out of activities by one or more persons under the Capacity Investment Scheme Program; and

(b) those arrangements must result in, by the end of 2030:

(i) at least 23 gigawatts of renewable generation capacity; and

(ii) at least 9 gigawatts of clean dispatchable capacity.

Note: The arrangements referred to in this subsection may include arrangements made, varied or administered before the commencement of this subsection.

(2) If advice of the Climate Change Authority under subsection 14(1) indicates a material risk to the achievement of subsection (1), the Minister's Annual Climate Change Statement under section 12 must provide a response to that advice.

15D Amendment of the Capacity Investment Scheme Program

(1) An instrument made under subsection 33(1) of the Industry Research and Development Act 1986 (the amending instrument), that varies or revokes another instrument made under that subsection that prescribes the Capacity Investment Scheme Program, does not come into effect until the amending instrument has been approved by a resolution of each House of the Parliament.

(2) To avoid doubt, subsection (1) does not apply to an instrument made under subsection 33(1) of the Industry Research and Development Act 1986 that varies or revokes another instrument made under that subsection if that other instrument does not prescribe the Capacity Investment Scheme Program.