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Hotels were already financially invested in emissions reduction, says TAA.

Australian hotels will not be forced via compliance legislation to adopt a NABERS rating as a compulsory measure after the Federal Government rejected a recommendation to do so from a review into emissions reductions on commercial premises.

The rejection means hotels can continue implementing their own methods of reducing energy usage rather than being legally required to enforce standards that may have a negative effect or none at all.

Chaired by Grant King, the ‘Report of the Expert Panel Examining Additional Sources of Low Cost Abatement’ included a recommendation that the NABERS and Commercial Buildings Disclosure schemes be expanded to hotels, however this was rejected by the federal government.

Tourism Accommodation Australia CEO, Michael Johnson.

According to the TAA, many hotels across Australia are already actively exploring and implementing their own measures to reduce energy use, including a choice to adopt a NABERS rating, and that the industry shouldn’t be forced into a situation which would ultimately be little more than an expensive exercise in red tape designed to appease bureaucrats.

National CEO, Michael Johnson, said by avoiding the compliance headache, hotels could continue to put in place their own, more practical, measures to cut energy use, reduce costs and ultimately reduce emissions.

“For years Australian hotels have been world-leading in their pursuit for innovative and practical solutions to reduce emissions, which has been driven in large part by rising energy costs,” Johnson said.

“From forming Renewable Energy Power Purchase Agreements with energy providers through to implementing Power Factor Correction Systems and Building Management Systems, Australia’s hotels have been getting on with the job of increasing energy efficiency and driving down emissions,” he added.