Australia issues White Paper on Energy.

The Australian Department of Industry and Science (Ministry of Industry and Science) released the Energy White Paper (Energy White Paper) on April 8, 2015, which aims to provide a reliable energy supply chain with a competitive price advantage by promoting competition in the energy market, improving energy efficiency and promoting investment in energy resources development.

The white paper will provide a coherent and consistent energy policy framework, thereby promoting the integration of other relevant policies.

The main topics of the White Paper cover the following three areas:

(1) promote competition in the energy market to reduce prices.

Effective competition is the best way to reduce the price of energy products and services. The white paper will provide a coherent and consistent energy policy framework, thereby promoting the integration of other relevant policies.

Consumers should have easy access to information that encourages the efficient use of energy.

Better access to information will help consumers engage with energy suppliers more effectively and help them make informed energy use choices.

Technological change and innovation pricing have provided consumers with more choices of energy products and services.

Investors and consumers need consistent and stable energy market policies and regulations to give confidence in their market decisions.

Policy interventions in the market framework should not be used to force the market to outperform reliable and price-competitive energy supplies. Better access to information will help consumers engage with energy suppliers more effectively and help them make informed energy use choices.

Cooperation with states and localities on energy market reform through the Australian Government Council Energy Council (COAG Energy Council) is essential to promote competition in the energy market.

A consistent national energy market would remove the costs paid by consumers to support regulatory environments with different jurisdictions, improve reliability, and introduce more competition to reduce costs.

(2) improve energy efficiency to promote economic growth.

Improving energy efficiency will help reduce spending by businesses and households. A consistent national energy market would remove the costs paid by consumers to support regulatory environments with different jurisdictions,

Productivity gains can come from options, information and tools for consumers to develop and use energy that meets their needs, as well as through more efficient buildings, transportation, equipment and appliances.

The Australian government will develop a national energy efficiency plan to improve energy use.

The Australian Government will also develop a national energy efficiency policy framework through the Energy Council of the Australian Government Council to elaborate cooperative actions under the National Energy efficiency Plan.

The national energy efficiency improvement target will be carried out in parallel with the development of Australia's emissions reduction targets beyond 2020 as part of the plan.

It is possible for the national energy efficiency improvement target to reach 40% by 2030.

(3) invest in Australia's energy future.

Australia depends on a reliable energy supply.

The Australian Department of Industry and Science forecasts that Australian energy commodity export revenues will reach US $114 billion a year over the next five years.

Investment, especially foreign investment, is crucial to realizing Australia's natural resources and technological innovation potential.

The white paper highlights the actions needed to promote Australia as an investment destination.

The Australian Government supports a technology-neutral approach to the future supply of electricity and transport fuel, and will continue to support the research, development and demonstration of new energy technologies, removing unnecessary regulatory and other non-market barriers to future technologies.

The Australian Government will also improve its outlook capacity to enable Australia to respond quickly to changes in the way energy is produced, transported and used.