12Annual climate change statement

#### 12 Annual climate change statement (1) Within 6 months after the end of each financial year, the Minister must prepare a statement that relates to: (a) the progress made during the year towards achieving Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets; and (b) international developments during the year that are relevant to addressing climate change; and (c) climate change policy; and (d) the effectiveness of the Commonwealth’s policies in contributing to the achievement of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets and reducing emissions in the sectors covered by those policies and in particular whether safeguard emissions and net safeguard emissions are declining consistently with the safeguard outcomes; and (e) the impact of the Commonwealth’s climate change policies to achieve Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets on rural and regional Australia, including the social, employment and economic benefits being delivered by those policies in rural and regional Australia; and (f) risks to Australia from climate change impacts, such as those relating to Australia’s environment, biodiversity, health, infrastructure, agriculture, investment, economy or national security. (2) A statement under subsection (1) is to be known as an annual climate change statement. (3) The Minister must cause a copy of an annual climate change statement to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 5 sitting days of that House after the completion of the preparation of the statement.