LAW7324

Energy law, regulation and policy ( 6 points, SCA Band 3, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader:

Offered:
Not offered in 2006.

Synopsis: As globalisation has gathered pace, Australian, regional and international energy markets have experienced significant economic and structural transformations. These changes have been accompanied by significant legal and policy developments, reflecting growing worldwide concerns over diminishing global supplies of traditional fossil fuel resources, cost and price fluctuations, security of energy supply, environmental hazards of fossil fuel production and consumption (e.g. sustainable development, climate change and marine pollution) and a variety of human rights matters issues (e.g. corporate responsibility and indigenous peoples' rights to and over natural resources).

Objectives: Upon completion of this unit, students should have: 1. A comprehensive understanding of the nature of energy and its economic importance, both domestically and internationally; 2. A comprehensive understanding of various national energy sectors, both upstream and downstream, together with an understanding of the sources of energy law and the statutory framework regulating the various energy sectors in Australia; 3. An in-depth appreciation of the historical political, legislative and regulatory developments underpinning the deregulation of the Australian electricity and nature gas industries, including, inter alia, the establishment of the National Energy Market (NEM), the Hilmer Committee Report, the National Competition Policy and the impact of the Australian constitutional system on legislative, regulatory and energy policy decision making powers of State and Federal Governments together with a range of inter-governmental agreements on energy and related issues; 4. An in-depth knowledge of the current political, legislative and regulatory developments underpinning the establishment of the Australian Energy Market in 2004; 5. A comprehensive understanding and ability to identify, analyse and critically comment on the development, content and operative effect of the legislative and the regulatory regime of the Australian Energy Market, with particular focus on key market participants (Government, private industry and consumers) and their regulatory functions, obligations, responsibilities and/or participatory rights and benefits; 6. An ability to critically analyse, evaluate and comment upon key regulation and policy governing the national gas and electricity markets, including issues of ownership, production, transmission, distribution, pricing, interstate electricity grids and gas pipelines; 7. An understanding and ability to analyse and critically comment on a range of relevant regulatory issues including arguments for and against regulation of the national energy market and stakeholders; 8. An in-depth knowledge and ability to critically analyse and discuss the various national and international environmental problems associated with energy production and consumption, in particular greenhouse gas emissions; 9. The ability to analyse and critically comment on the various domestic, supranational and international regulatory responses to the adverse impact of energy on the environment, in particular the international emissions trading systems, encouraging uptake of renewable energies, recognition and judicial enforcement of environmental rights and improving efficiency standards of goods; 10. A comprehensive understanding and ability to analyse and critically comment on broader, multidisciplinary energy issues including diminishing supply of traditional fossil fuels, security of supply, renewable energies end-user/consumer participation in energy markets, demand side management and native title; 11. An in-depth knowledge of

Assessment: Assessment will consist of: 1. 20% class presentation on major research paper to be held after completion of the main intensive seminars. (The 20% presentation component to comprise 5% content, 10% research and 5% presentation skills including the use of presentation aids); and 2. 80% research paper (6000 words) due in two weeks after the class presentations.

Contact Hours: Students enrolled in this unit will be provided with 24 contact hours of lectures/seminars per semester plus class presentation times