145Jobs and Competitiveness Program

#### 145 Jobs and Competitiveness Program (1) The regulations may formulate a program (to be known as the Jobs and Competitiveness Program) for the issue of free carbon units in respect of activities that: (a) under the program, are taken to be emissions‑intensive trade‑exposed activities; and (b) are, or are to be, carried on in Australia during an eligible financial year specified in the program. (2) The Jobs and Competitiveness Program must provide that free carbon units must not be issued to a person in accordance with the program unless the person: (a) meets such requirements as are specified in the program; and (b) has a Registry account. (3) The Jobs and Competitiveness Program must not provide that the extraction of coal is an activity that, under the program, is taken to be an emissions‑intensive trade‑exposed activity. (4) The Minister must take all reasonable steps to ensure that regulations are made for the purposes of subsection (1) before 1 March 2012. (5) In making a recommendation to the Governor‑General about regulations that amend regulations made for the purposes of subsection (1), the Minister must have regard to the following matters: (a) the aim and objects of this Part; (b) the most recent report given to the Productivity Minister by the Productivity Commission in relation to an inquiry mentioned in section 155; (c) the principle that changes that will have a negative effect on recipients of assistance under the Jobs and Competitiveness Program should not take effect before the later of the following: (i) 1 July 2017; (ii) the end of the 3‑year period that begins when the reduction is announced; (d) such other matters (if any) as the Minister considers relevant.