Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) has provided feedback to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) on the Nature Repair Market Discussion Paper.

Key points from the October submission:

• Accessibility and Flexibility: The Nature Repair Market should be easy to understand for landowners and investors. It should be flexible to adapt to developments in both domestic and international nature markets and streamlined with other investment vehicles in the current financial market ecosystem.
• Government Incentives and Support: To encourage participation, the Government could consider incentives, such as tax incentives, to assist landowners and investors. Additionally, the Government should provide clear practical guidance and education to help them understand the requirements to participate in the nature repair market.
• Domestic and International Investment: The current nature repair market caters to a domestic investment market. The Government is encouraged to consider how the domestic market could be extended to fit into a potential global nature repair market to attract international investment.
• Alignment with Carbon Markets: It is important to align outcomes between the carbon and nature (biodiversity) markets to ensure both operate in unison and avoid contradictions, such as green power projects destroying or degrading biodiversity.
• Further Consultation and Market Operation: The Government should undertake further targeted consultation with the finance industry and investor membership bodies to understand investor expectations and practical considerations for an inclusive, effective, and streamlined market. Additionally, there is a need for clarity on how the nature repair market will function and interact with existing financial investment markets.