Senator LUDWIG (Queensland—Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Manager of Government Business in the Senate and Minister Assisting the Attorney-General on Queensland Floods Recovery) (15:40): I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move: That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the Clean Energy Bill 2011 and related bills, allowing the bills to be considered during this period of sittings. I table statements of reasons justifying the need for these bills to be considered during these sittings and seek leave to have the statements incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The statement s read as follows— Purpose of the Bills The bills implement a carbon pricing mechanism with the aim of reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and meeting Australia’s international emissions reduction obligations and commitments, and provide assistance to households and industry to adjust to a carbon price. Reasons for Urgency Australia needs to reduce its carbon pollution as part of global efforts to combat climate change. Cuts in global pollution are necessary to reduce the risks posed by unmitigated climate change. For Australia, these risks are large, threatening the economy, natural heritage and our way of life. Timely introduction of a carbon price is the most cost-effective and economically responsible way of reducing Australia’s carbon pollution. Its timely introduction would enable Australia to play its part in global efforts to reduce the risks posed by climate change. A carbon price will also provide opportunities for innovation and investment in lower carbon technologies, and opportunities and rewards for improved land use management. The Government is aiming to commence the carbon pricing mechanism on 1 July 2012. Passage of enabling legislation in the 2011 Spring sittings is required to provide sufficient time for businesses to prepare systems and procedures for complying with the mechanism and to consider any additional investments they may wish to make to reduce their emissions liabilities. Sufficient time will also be needed to establish the Clean Energy Regulator, the Climate Change Authority and associated systems to administer the carbon pricing mechanism and engage effectively and efficiently with entities covered by it, to deliver assistance to households and industry and to establish any additional systems required to deliver this assistance.