We have accepted an enforceable undertaking from Beach Energy Limited, which sets out a series of commitments designed to improve the accuracy and reliability of its National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (NGER) reporting. These commitments include:
- engaging an external consultant to develop and implement a comprehensive and documented system of controls to support NGER reporting
- strengthening internal systems and procedures related to data collection and reporting
- engaging an external auditor to conduct reasonable assurance audits of its NGER reports prior to submission for the next 3 reporting periods.
Enforceable undertakings are:
- voluntary, written statements made by a scheme participant
- undertakings to do, or refrain from doing, specific actions to address non-compliance or improve compliance with the legislation administered by us
- designed to secure effective and efficient remedies for non-compliance without the need for court proceedings
- intended to provide non-adversarial and constructive solutions to compliance issues.
As a registered controlling corporation under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 (NGER Act), Beach Energy is required to submit annual reports on its greenhouse gas emissions, energy production, and energy consumption.
Our compliance and enforcement priorities 2024-25 include a focus on NGER reporters with a history of reporting late or submitting inaccurate data.
Beach Energy has inadvertently misstated components of its NGER reports in prior reporting periods. These errors suggest potential weaknesses in the internal control systems Beach Energy has in place to support accurate and compliant NGER reporting.
While the NGER Act does not explicitly require corporations to implement such controls, their absence can lead to persistent and significant reporting inaccuracies. We expect NGER reporters to maintain robust systems to ensure compliance with reporting obligations.
We publish all enforceable undertakings.
Further information
We administer the NGER Act, which establishes a single, national framework for reporting and publishing company information about greenhouse gas emissions, energy production, and energy consumption.
The data reported by companies under the NGER is used to inform and underpin government policy, meet international reporting obligations, and give the public visibility of Australia’s largest companies’ emissions and energy production and use.
NGER reporters must provide accurate reports by the reporting deadline of 31 October every year. Ensuring accurate and timely reporting is critical to maintaining the integrity of data within the scheme. Repeated failures to report on time or inaccuracies in reporting will trigger compliance or enforcement action.