Audit

Register of Greenhouse and Energy Auditors

Invitation to apply for registration as a greenhouse and energy auditor

The Department of Climate Change is now inviting applications from eligible individuals who would like to register as greenhouse and energy auditors.

To apply for registration as a greenhouse and energy auditor applicants should read the  Greenhouse and Energy Auditor Registration Guidelines (PDF 600 KB) (RTF 2.2 MB) and then complete the Application for registration as a greenhouse and energy auditor form. Applicants should read the guidelines carefully before deciding whether to lodge an application.

Applications can be lodged at any time as the registration system is open indefinitely.

The likely processing time for applications will be around six to eight weeks, depending on the complexity of the application and the speed with which third-parties such as referees and relevant government agencies are able to verify the information provided.

It is expected that the Register of Greenhouse and Energy Auditors will be publicly available on the Department of Climate Change website from May 2010.

Frequently Asked Questions

A list of frequently asked questions has been prepared to assist you with your application. The questions cover the registration process, explanations of eligibility criteria and system access issues. 

If you require further information, you can contact the Greenhouse and Energy Auditor Registration Team between 9:00am – 8:00pm AEDST Monday to Friday (other than public holidays) on: 

The Register of Greenhouse and Energy Auditors

The Register of Greenhouse and Energy Auditors will be publicly available on the Department of Climate Change website. The Register is being established under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 (the Act) to enable corporations to undertake assurance audits of their emissions and energy consumption data before it is reported.

The Register will show the auditor’s name, auditor category and type, telephone number, email address and postal address, name of employer or, if self-employed, the name of the auditor’s company and the auditor’s industry specialisation.

Applicants must meet certain requirements before they qualify for registration as a greenhouse and energy auditor. The minimum requirements are outlined in Divisions 6.3 to 6.7 of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Regulations 2008 (the Regulations) and the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (Auditor Registration) Instrument 2010.

Once a greenhouse and energy auditor is registered they remain on the register until they elect to deregister themselves, or are suspended or deregistered by the Greenhouse and Energy Data Officer. To maintain registration, registered greenhouse and energy auditors must continue to meet all eligibility requirements. The Greenhouse and Energy Data Officer will periodically review registrations to ensure that this remains the case.

Australian Government Panel of Registered Greenhouse and Energy Auditors

The Greenhouse and Energy Data Officer intends to establish a standing offer panel of providers of greenhouse and energy audit services within the next few months.  A prerequisite for participation in the panel is that providers must have at least one registered greenhouse and energy auditor on staff. The Department of Climate Change expects to release the request for tender through Austender in April 2010.

The greenhouse and energy audit framework

The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 (the Act) provides for greenhouse and energy audits of reporting entities registered under the Act and requires the establishment of a Register of Greenhouse and Energy Auditors.

Sections 73 and 74 of the Act define the circumstances under which a greenhouse and energy audit may be initiated and allow for the appointment of Registered Greenhouse and Energy Auditors to undertake audit engagements.

The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (Audit) Determination 2009 sets out the requirements for preparing, conducting and reporting on greenhouse and energy audits. Greenhouse and energy audits may only be conducted by a greenhouse and energy auditor who has been registered under section 75A of the Act.

Purpose of greenhouse and energy audits

The purpose of greenhouse and energy audits is to determine the extent to which entities that are required to register and report under the Act have, or have not complied with its requirements.

The Act empowers the Greenhouse and Energy Data Officer to initiate a greenhouse and energy audit where:

  • there are reasonable grounds to suspect that an entity that is required to register and report under the Act has contravened, is contravening, or is proposing to contravene either the Act or the the Regulations; or
  • it is determined that, for another reason, an audit of an entity’s compliance with one or more aspects of the Act or the Regulations is necessary.

Focus of greenhouse and energy audits

An important focus of greenhouse and energy audits in the first two years of reporting will be to assist corporations to understand their obligations and develop efficient reporting processes that meet the needs of government and business.

The Greenhouse and Energy Data Officer may also initiate greenhouse and energy audits to examine:

  • a registered corporation’s structure, operational control and facilities;
  • the identification and measurement of emissions sources, energy consumption and production point;
  • the accuracy, completeness and validity of reported greenhouse and energy data, including record keeping requirements; and/or
  • more generally, the effectiveness of internal controls associated with data collection and reporting processes that support the collection or calculation of reported emissions and energy data.