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Australia

Australia

Federative (6 states, 3 federal territories (of which 2 are self-governing) and 7 external territories)

Political Groups

G20, OECD

Global Climate Risk Index

Targets

World Bank Income Group

High income

Share of Global Emissions

1.22%

Documents

2025Policy
Net Zero Plan
The Australian Government has set a target to reduce emissions to 62-70% below 2005 levels by 2035. The Net Zero Plan sets out how Australia will achieve a fair, orderly and efficient transition to net zero. It provides a framework for action that builds on Australia’s natural strengths, to ensure all Australians benefit. The Plan demonstrates how Australia can transition ...
2025Policy
Electricity and Energy Sector Plan
The Electricity and Energy Sector Plan sets out a roadmap for the next stages of our energy transformation to help households, industry and governments to navigate and prosper as Australia decarbonises its energy system. The pathway to 2050 sets out 3 shifts in our energy system to get to net zero: Use energy more efficiently. Using all energy – including electricity, ga...
2025Policy
Agriculture and Land Sector Plan
The Agriculture and Land Sector Plan establishes a framework for the sectors to contribute to Australia’s net zero target. The framework includes three strategic objectives to underpin agriculture and land’s contribution to net zero: Australian producers remain global leaders in low-emissions food and fibre production; support of diverse landscapes, balancing agricultural...

Targets (13)

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Reducing Australia’s net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. Economy-wide · Target year: 2050Source: Climate Change Act 2022
National net-zero by 2050Economy-wide · Target year: 2050Source: Australia's long term emissions reduction plan : A whole-of-economy Plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050
Reducing Australia’s net greenhouse gas emissions to 43% below 2005 levels by 2030:(i) implemented as a point target; and(ii) implemented as an emissions budget covering the period 2021-2030.Economy-wide · Target year: 2030Source: Climate Change Act 2022
Meet net zero emissions by 2050Economy-wideSource: Australia's long term emissions reduction plan : A whole-of-economy Plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050
Increase energy productivity by 40% by 2030 compared with a from 2015 and against business as usual scenarioEnergy: Energy Intensity · Target year: 2030Source: National Energy Productivity Plan 2015-2030

Legislative Process

The Australian parliamentary system is based on the UK’s Westminster system. The Federal Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the House of Representatives (the Lower House), and the Senate (the Upper House). The Senate is composed of equal numbers of representatives from all six Australian states, with additional Senators representing Australian Territories (76 in total). Senators are elected for six-year terms. In the House of Representatives, the number of members of parliament per state is proportional to population (currently 150 members). Members are elected for three-year terms. The most recent election was in July 2016 with the next expected in 2019. Australia retains the Sovereign of the United Kingdom as its head of state. All laws are formally enacted by the Sovereign (Royal Assent) as a formality after passage through Parliament.

Proposed laws are called bills, and can be introduced into either House, except for bills that propose expenditure or tax levies (appropriation or money bills), which must be introduced in the House of Representatives. In practice, most bills are introduced in the House of Representatives. All bills must be passed (by a series of three readings) by both Houses to become law (Acts). It is possible for the Senate to block the passage of legislation even when the government has a clear majority in the House of Representatives. In the case of parliamentary deadlock, the constitution allows the Governor-General (the Sovereign’s representative) to authorise a “double dissolution” election under specific circumstances, at the request of the Prime Minister.

Australia operates under a Federal system of government, with six states (formerly separate colonies) and two territories with considerable autonomy, defined areas of jurisdictional responsibility under the Constitution and separate Parliaments. This chapter covers only those laws and policies that are enacted nationwide.