This bill became law on Dec 10th, 2024.
Climate, energy & environment
Businesses that register product production, delivery or use records under the Guarantee of Origin program can be charged each financial yearThe yearly charging period used in the bill, so the fee applies once for each year a profile or facility stays registered. while those records stay registered.
Running the new Guarantee of Origin schemeThe new system that tracks and verifies the emissions or renewable attributes of products and electricity. creates ongoing administration, compliance, investigation and enforcement costs that would otherwise leave the Clean Energy RegulatorThe government agency that will run the scheme, register participants and collect the charges. under-resourced. This bill lets the government charge registered participants and facilities each year, with amounts set in regulationsDetailed rules made later by the government that set the charge amounts, payment rules and possible exemptions., to recover those scheme costs.
Australia already had accreditation and certification arrangements under the Renewable Energy TargetThe earlier federal certification framework that the government says will not last beyond 2030 and will be replaced by the new scheme., but the government said those arrangements end in 2030 and would not provide the enduring emissions accounting needed for emerging low-emissions products and renewable electricity. The bill was introduced with the new Guarantee of Origin package so the scheme could be fully cost recovered through annual charges on registered participants and facilities, then passed both houses in November 2024 and received Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. in December 2024.
Critics said the bill helps lock the Guarantee of Origin schemeThe new system that tracks and verifies the emissions or renewable attributes of products and electricity. into a renewables-focused design that favours wind and solar, risks extra costs for industry and power users, and could become a backdoor carbon-pricing mechanism. That case was pressed mainly by Coalition and Nationals speakers, while narrower concerns about safeguards and anti-greenwashingMaking a product or project look cleaner or greener than it really is, which some speakers said the scheme should guard against. rules came from a supportive crossbencher rather than broad opposition.
Josh Wilson MP introduced this bill. It passed with support from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, some crossbench members; opposed by Liberal Party, Nationals, UAP, some crossbench members.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 10 Dec 2024
Final passage
Recorded final vote
1 counted final-passage vote was recorded.
Passage speed
89 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
Businesses that register product production, delivery or use records under the Guarantee of Origin program can be charged each financial yearThe yearly charging period used in the bill, so the fee applies once for each year a profile or facility stays registered. while those records stay registered.
Renewable electricity generators, storage projects and grouped energy projects in the Guarantee of Origin program can also face annual charges once they are registered.
The charge amounts are not fixed in the Act, so the government can set or change them later through regulationsDetailed rules made later by the government that set the charge amounts, payment rules and possible exemptions., including setting a zero charge.
The minister must be satisfied the charges will recover no more than the Australian Government's likely cost of running the Guarantee of Origin program.
RegulationsDetailed rules made later by the government that set the charge amounts, payment rules and possible exemptions. can create exemptions, so some registered participants or facilities may not have to pay these annual charges in defined situations.
(1) A charge is imposed by this subsection on a production profile, for a financial year ending on or after the commencement of this section, if the profile is a registered profile at any time during the financial year.Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin Charges) as-passed bill text
The GO Charges Bill would impose charges on different profiles and registered facilities under the GO scheme for a financial year. Charges would be payable with respect to the following profiles and registered facilities in the GO scheme:Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin Charges) explanatory memorandum
(1) Without limiting subsection 33(3A) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901, the regulations may prescribe an amount (including a nil amount) of charge:Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin Charges) as-passed bill text
(2) Before the Governor‑General makes regulations for the purposes of this Part, the Minister must be satisfied that the effect of those regulations will be to recover no more than the Commonwealth’s likely costs in connection with the administration of the Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin) Act 2024.Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin Charges) as-passed bill text
The regulations may provide for exemptions from a charge imposed by subsection 9(1), 10(1), 11(1), 12(1), 13(1), 14(1) or 15(1).Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin Charges) as-passed bill text
Context
Australia already had accreditation and certification arrangements under the Renewable Energy TargetThe earlier federal certification framework that the government says will not last beyond 2030 and will be replaced by the new scheme., but the government said those arrangements end in 2030 and would not provide the enduring emissions accounting needed for emerging low-emissions products and renewable electricity. The bill was introduced with the new Guarantee of Origin package so the scheme could be fully cost recovered through annual charges on registered participants and facilities, then passed both houses in November 2024 and received Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. in December 2024.
Government says Renewable Energy TargetThe earlier federal certification framework that the government says will not last beyond 2030 and will be replaced by the new scheme. certification will end in 2030
In the second reading speech, the government said the new Guarantee of Origin schemeThe new system that tracks and verifies the emissions or renewable attributes of products and electricity. was needed to succeed the Renewable Energy TargetThe earlier federal certification framework that the government says will not last beyond 2030 and will be replaced by the new scheme. accreditation and certification arrangements that are due to finish in 2030.
Hansard ↗Government introduces a Guarantee of Origin schemeThe new system that tracks and verifies the emissions or renewable attributes of products and electricity. for low-emissions products
The explanatory memorandum says the three-bill package would create a framework to track and verify attributes of low-emissions products, starting with hydrogen, and provide enduring certification for renewable electricity.
Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin Charges) explanatory memorandum ↗Government says the new scheme will be fully cost recovered
The explanatory memorandum says charges and levies from commencement would recover scheme costs including compliance monitoring, investigations and enforcement for groups of participants.
Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin Charges) explanatory memorandum ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both houses passed the charges bill in the same form, clearing the way for annual cost-recovery charges to support administration of the Guarantee of Origin schemeThe new system that tracks and verifies the emissions or renewable attributes of products and electricity..
Parliamentary timeline ↗Guarantee of Origin charges become law
Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. turned the bill into an Act, completing the legislative package for charging registered participants and facilities under the new scheme.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Referred to Committee (12/09/2024): Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Committee report (31/10/2024)
Referred to committee
APH bill page notesThe bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Recorded vote: 90 to 53.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Recorded vote: 33 to 23.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
Recorded vote: 33 to 24.
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
Critics said the bill helps lock the Guarantee of Origin schemeThe new system that tracks and verifies the emissions or renewable attributes of products and electricity. into a renewables-focused design that favours wind and solar, risks extra costs for industry and power users, and could become a backdoor carbon-pricing mechanism. That case was pressed mainly by Coalition and Nationals speakers, while narrower concerns about safeguards and anti-greenwashingMaking a product or project look cleaner or greener than it really is, which some speakers said the scheme should guard against. rules came from a supportive crossbencher rather than broad opposition.
Most criticism targeted the scheme design and future effects, not the idea of certifying product origin itself.
Not technology agnostic
Opponents argued the scheme backs government-preferred renewable technologies rather than treating low-emissions options evenly, with repeated complaints that it favours wind and solar and excludes or sidelines options such as legacy hydro.
Higher costs and industry risk
Several opponents said the scheme would add compliance complexity, certificate costs and broader energy-policy risk for manufacturers, farmers and regional industry, potentially flowing through to electricity bills and making major investment less attractive.
Weak safeguards and greenwashing concerns
A narrower criticism was that the scheme needed stronger scrutiny, consultation and clearer protections in primary legislation so certification could not be undermined by unclear offset rules or greenwashingMaking a product or project look cleaner or greener than it really is, which some speakers said the scheme should guard against. risks.
Further sources
Votes
The chamber-passage votes come first. Expand a vote to see the party breakdown.
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Passed 33 to 24. Support came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, and UAP. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Earlier bill-stage votes
Passed 90 to 53. Support came from Labor, Greens, Centre Alliance, Katter's Australian Party, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party and Nationals. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Passed 33 to 23. Support came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, and UAP. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Passed 33 to 23. Support came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, and UAP. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
Amendments grouped by chamber. These cards include amendment outcomes recorded without a counted division.
Senate
Passed 33 to 24. Support came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, One Nation, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, and UAP. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
These amendments changed the companion Future Made in Australia package before final passage.
Passed 33 to 24. Support came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, and UAP. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
These amendments added accountability requirements to the broader Future Made in Australia support framework.
The Senate defeated, on voices, remaining amendments on sheet 2872 and amendments on sheets 2871, 2901 and 2997.
Defeated on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
The Senate defeated, on voices, remaining amendments on sheets 2880 and 2881 and amendments on sheets 2878 and 2879.
Defeated on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
This list includes amendment votes, procedural votes and votes on the bill itself.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Wilson supports the bill, saying it is needed to fund the Clean Energy RegulatorThe government agency that will run the scheme, register participants and collect the charges. so it can administer the Guarantee of Origin schemeThe new system that tracks and verifies the emissions or renewable attributes of products and electricity. efficiently and on a financially sustainable basis.
Read in Hansard ↗O'Brien opposes the bill in its current form and has moved a reasoned amendment because he says Labor has turned a sensible hydrogen certification idea into a renewables-only scheme that is ideological, not technology-agnostic.
Read in Hansard ↗Tink supports the bill and says the Guarantee of Origin schemeThe new system that tracks and verifies the emissions or renewable attributes of products and electricity. is a welcome part of Australia’s energy transition, but she wants stronger scrutiny, consultation and clearer primary-legislation safeguards against greenwashingMaking a product or project look cleaner or greener than it really is, which some speakers said the scheme should guard against. and offsets.
Read in Hansard ↗Barnaby Joyce opposes the bill, arguing it sits inside a broader energy policy that drives up power costs and makes Australian manufacturing less viable.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
1 speaker · 1 support
“This bill helps ensure that the activities of the Clean Energy Regulator in administering the scheme will be fully cost recovered.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
6 speakers · 6 oppose
“When it comes to a Guarantee of Origin scheme focused on hydrogen, so that we can have verification and tracking of emissions in that product to ensure that Australian companies can receive a premium where they have produced low-emissions hydrogen—with that we agree entirely. In fact, it was the coalition which started the entire process, but the Albanese government has done what it always does. It has played the politics, not the policy, as it did with 'made in Australia'. Generations of Australian men and women have built the 'made in Australia' brand overseas, creating goodwill. The Albanese government comes in. It steals that brand for itself, packages up what is nothing more than a 'big government picking winners' approach, and calls it an industry policy. So, too, they have done with the Guarantee of Origin bills. They have taken a coalition policy, kept the label and fundamentally reformed the substance. And then they have the gall to expect the Australian parliament and therefore the Australian people just to roll over, get tickled on the tummy and trust them. That's not the way it works, and that's not the way it should work.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“You can have all the bills you want, but, until you decide to get the fundamentals right, it's just a narrative. It's just rhetoric.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“What this bill does is put all our eggs in one basket. It's very focused on green hydrogen and it's very focused on some other things. Like a lot of the government's investments, it's very ideologically narrowly focused. I worry that, if some of those things don't take off or if technology goes off in a way that we didn't predict, we are not going to be in the game globally. That's frightening for Australia and it's frightening for the people of the Goulburn Valley. If those businesses that I started out with in this address leave our shores, there'll be a lot of people in my electorate who won't have jobs anymore. If those people don't have jobs, they won't have money. Their living standards will go back even further than they have done. So we really have to focus on making sure we protect Australia's manufacturing future, and this bill is not it.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“But this particular bill and this package of bills are not good.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“It is regrettable that this is a lost opportunity to have a bipartisan bill that would have been able to continue on from the work we did in our last term, would create something that would provide certainty for Australian industry and, of course, would be agnostic in relation to the great opportunities around technologies like nuclear that we look forward to presenting to the people of Australia at the upcoming election. It is very regrettable that, again, the government are not open to the people having their say on a matter like that through this legislation. So, indeed, I support the second reading amendment from the member for Fairfax. We don't support this bill for all the reasons outlined. I commend the member for Fairfax's amendment to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This is a very interesting bill, to say the least. I hate to disappoint listeners and members in this chamber, but I can't support it, because of the reasons I'll outline. The Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin) Bill 2024 and associated bills are really quite extensive, but, on reading an analysis guided by the investigative powers of the Parliamentary Library, it has confirmed my worst fears. This is another renewable subsidy boondoggle.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 support
“In summary, the Guarantee of Origin scheme could play a really important role in Australia's energy transition and create an enduring renewables certification framework to empower the purchaser to purchase green energy, with the inclusion of energy attributes giving customers choice about the type of certificate they want to purchase. It's a welcome move—one supported by my community of North Sydney. But, to get it right and ensure the scheme is not used to facilitate greenwashing, it is critical there is proper scrutiny of the rules and regulations that will govern the operation of the Guarantee of Origin scheme. While it's appropriate for highly technical matters to be included in delegated legislation, I urge the government to ensure proper and detailed consultation on the rules and methodologies underpinning this scheme, to explicitly rule out the use of offsets and to make clear the government position on below-baseline credits within the primary legislation.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Recorded vote: 90 to 53.
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Recorded vote: 33 to 23.
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Recorded vote: 33 to 24.
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.
Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Committee report (31/10/2024)
Referred to committee
Referred to Committee (12 Sept 2024): Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Committee report (31 Oct 2024)
APH bill page notes
