Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee
The Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee is an independent expert committee supporting the environmental integrity of carbon offsets generated under the Carbon Farming Initiative. Its role is to assess methodology proposals for use under the scheme and advise the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, who makes a decision whether to approve methodology proposals.
The committee also provides advice to the Minister on regulations specifying eligible activities under the Carbon Farming Initiative that are not common practice, known as the positive list.
The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency may also seek the committee's technical and scientific advice on other offset matters.
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Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee members
Professor Timothy Reeves (Chair)
Professor Reeves is an international consultant with expertise in the development and extension of sustainable agricultural productions systems and crop-livestock integration. He is a Professorial Fellow at the Melbourne School of Land and Environment, a director of The Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research Centre, was a Senior Expert for the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and was formerly the Director-General of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre.
Dr Tony Press
Dr Press has led one of Australia’s leading climate science bodies, the Australian Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre as CEO since 2009 and has been Chair of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens Board for many years. He was previously a senior executive on the Environmental Forest Taskforce in the Department of the Environment and Heritage and was the Director of the Cooperative Research Centre for the Sustainable Development of Australia’s Tropical Savannas.
Professor Lynette Abbott
Professor Abbott is the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science and Professor in the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Western Australia. Professor Abbott is an internationally well known and respected scientist who has published widely in soil, agricultural and botanical research journals. Professor Abbott’s principle area of scientific expertise is within the agricultural sector with broad expertise in soil biology, including retention/protection of soil carbon.
Ms Rebecca Burdon
Ms Burdon is the principal economist at the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). Ms Burdon has extensive international experience assessing the economic impact of existing and proposed regulatory interventions using statistical and econometric analysis and modelling. Prior to working with ACMA Ms Burdon assisted the NSW government with the development of the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme, specifically with the rules governing the creation of NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Certificates from demand side abatement activities.
Dr Brian Keating (CSIRO representative)
Dr Keating is Director of the National Research Flagship on Sustainable Agriculture focusing on productivity, greenhouse gas abatement and sustainability challenges in Australian agriculture, forestry and land-use systems. Brian has 35 years experience in agricultural and natural resource management R&D with leadership roles including the Chief of the CSIRO Division of Sustainable Ecosystems (2004-2008) and a past Board member of Sugar, Rainforest Ecology and Management and Tropical Savannas CRCs. Brian has authored over 200 scientific papers covering diverse topics including soil and water management, plant nutrition, soil carbon and nitrogen cycling, crop physiology, farming systems analysis and design, bioenergy, simulation modelling, climatic risk management and food security. He is a continuing member of the Editorial Board of the international journal, Agricultural Systems.
Ms Shayleen Thompson (Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency representative)
Ms Thompson is the Head of the Land Division in the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. She has worked on international and domestic climate change policy and programs since 1995. The Land Division was established in July 2010 to provide a coherent and coordinated approach to climate change mitigation.
Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee Secretariat
The Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee Secretariat provides administrative support for the ongoing functions of the Committee. The Secretariat is also the point of contact for methodology proponents in their dealings with the Committee.
Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee enquiries should be directed to the secretariat at:
Methodology assessment integrity
Members of the Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee bring a range of expertise relevant to the rigorous and objective assessment of Carbon Farming Initiative methodology proposals, including greenhouse gas abatement science, agriculture, forestry and soil science, international markets and climate change policy.
The Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 requires members of the Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee to disclose on an ongoing basis any interest, pecuniary or otherwise, in any matter being considered by the Committee. They must also not engage in any employment or activity that conflicts or may conflict with the proper performance of their duties as Committee members. If a Committee member discloses a conflict of interest he or she must:
- Not be present or take part in any deliberation or decision by the Committee on the matter, unless the Committee determines otherwise, and
- Absent themselves from determination by the Committee as to whether they should not be present during deliberation on the matter.