Safeguard Mechanism reforms
The Safeguard Mechanism has been reformed following a
consultation process undertaken by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
New obligations and reporting requirements apply to Safeguard facility financial years commencing on or after 1 July 2023:
Contents
Please note that some legislative deadlines that fall on a weekend or public holiday may vary in accordance with the
Acts Interpretation Act 1901.
Key dates for the 2022–23 financial year
Key dates for the 2023–24 financial year
| Complete by | Activity | Legislation |
|---|
Tuesday
30 April 2024 | Deadline to submit:
- 2023–24 application for emissions-intensity determination.
Responsible emitters are encouraged to submit:
- an ANREU account application (if the responsible emitter plans to apply for Safeguard Mechanism credit units and does not already have an ANREU account)
|
National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (Safeguard Mechanism) Rule 2015
See: s 52, item 1 |
|---|
Monday
2 September 2024 | Deadline to submit:
-
NGER registration (responsible emitter) application (if not already registered)
- nominations of operational control for 2023–24.
|
National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007
See: s 15B(3), s 11B(8) |
|---|
Thursday
31 October 2024 | Deadline to submit:
-
2023–24 NGER reports including 2023–24 Safeguard production data.
- 2023–24 exemption declaration applications (only for Safeguard facilities likely to exceed their 2023–24 baseline)
- 2023–24 TEBA declaration application (only for Safeguard facilities likely to exceed their 2023–24 baseline)
Responsible emitters are encouraged to submit:
- 2023–24 SMC issuance applications (only for Safeguard facilities that have emissions below their 2023-24 baselines).
|
National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007
See: s 19(6), s 22G(2), s 22X(4)
National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (Safeguard Mechanism) Rule 2015
See: s 60(3), s 52, item 3, s 56 (1) and s 58A(2)(b) |
|---|
Friday
15 November 2024 | Deadline to submit:
- multi-year monitoring period declaration applications (for MYMPs commencing 1 July 2023 - only for Safeguard facilities likely to exceed their 2023–24 baseline).
|
National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (Safeguard Mechanism) Rule 2015
See: s 65(4) |
|---|
Thursday
30 January 2025 | Latest suggested date for responsible emitters to submit:
- 2023–24 SMC issuance applications (only for Safeguard facilities that have emissions below their 2023-24 baselines).
Note that the CER is required to issue SMCs as close to 31 January as is reasonably practicable, for any SMC applications received by 30 January 2025. This is a suggested date only, applications for SMC issuance may be made past this date. |
National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (Safeguard Mechanism) Rule 2015
See: s58A(2)(b) |
|---|
Friday
28 February 2025 | Deadline to submit:
- 2023–24 borrowing application (that is, borrowing a portion of baseline capacity from 2024–25 - only for Safeguard facilities likely to exceed their 2023–24 baseline).
|
National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (Safeguard Mechanism) Rule 2015
See: s 52, item 4 |
|---|
Monday
31 March 2025 | Deadline to surrender:
- ACCUs or SMCs to avoid being in an excess emissions situation for the compliance period ending 2023–24.
|
National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007
See: s 22XF |
|---|