16Functions of the Authority

16  Functions of the Authority

 (1) The Authority has the following functions:

 (a) to:

 (i) promote coordination and consistency in the design and implementation of Australian government policies, programs and plans; and

 (ii) consult and cooperate with other persons, organisations and governments; and

 (iii) provide reports, advice and recommendations to the Minister;

  to facilitate the achievement of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets and support Australia’s transition to a net zero emissions economy;

 (b) to facilitate public and private sector participation and investment in greenhouse gas emissions reduction and net zero transformation initiatives in Australia, including, but not limited to, referring matters to one or more of the entities mentioned in subsection (3);

 (c) to support workers in emissions‑intensive industries who are, or will be, affected by Australia’s transition to a net zero emissions economy:

 (i) to access new employment or other opportunities; or

 (ii) to acquire skills to improve their employment prospects;

  including through the provision of funding or grants to those workers or to employers of those workers;

 (d) to support Indigenous persons to participate in, and benefit from, Australia’s transition to a net zero emissions economy;

 (e) to encourage, support, develop and deliver educational and promotional initiatives for the purpose of promoting an understanding of, and enabling participation in, Australia’s transition to a net zero emissions economy;

 (f) any other functions conferred on the Authority by this Act or any other law of the Commonwealth;

 (g) to do anything incidental or conducive to the performance of the above functions.

Note 1: Paragraphs (a), (b) and (e) are subject to subsection (4), and paragraph (c) is subject to subsection (5).

Note 2: The CEO administers Part 5 (Energy industry jobs plan). Any objectives, strategies or policies determined by the Board in respect of Part 5 must be of a general nature only (see subsection 19(3)). The Board must not give a direction to the CEO in respect of Part 5 (see subsection 41(2).

 (2) In performing the Authority’s functions, the Authority should prioritise communities, regions, industries and workers that are, or will be, significantly affected by Australia’s transition to a net zero emissions economy.

 (3) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), the entities are the following:

 (a) the Clean Energy Finance Corporation;

 (b) the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility;