Tuesday, 13 August 2019

Waste and recycling management

Mr M O’BRIEN (Malvern—Leader of the Opposition) (14:17): My question is to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. To ensure that the government does not profit from the current recycling crisis in Victoria, will the government now suspend the collection of the bin tax immediately until this crisis is resolved?

Ms D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park—Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Minister for Solar Homes) (14:17): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I think the opposition leader needs to explore and have a look at our announcement of this morning in fact, when we are absolutely providing immediate relief to councils. We are delivering to them what they asked us to do in the many engagements, consultations and meetings that we have had with them over a period of time as they manage through their contracts with SKM and beyond.

It is absolutely clear the investment that we are making today is about returning that necessary funding to them to assist them to cover the costs over a 12-week period, sorry, four—over a period of time to ensure that they—

Members interjecting.

Ms D’AMBROSIO: Those opposite are getting their jollies off, Speaker—

Mr R Smith: On a point of order, Speaker, just for clarity, could the minister tell us what that period of time might be?

Members interjecting.

Ms D’AMBROSIO: The Premier has certainly taken the words out of my mouth. They know exactly what our commitment is. It is a four-month commitment to return significant funds to the 33 local councils that are affected by the SKM closure. They have absolutely welcomed this commitment. You only have to have a look at the Municipal Association of Victoria release this morning that welcomes it and the many, many commentaries from councils and mayors along the way because we are delivering what they have asked us to do.

Mr M O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, on the question of relevance, the question was: will the government suspend the collection of this bin tax until this crisis is resolved? It does invite a definite answer, and I invite you to ask the minister to give us one.

The SPEAKER: Order! I am not able to direct the minister how to answer the question, just that she is relevant.

Ms D’AMBROSIO: I have been absolutely clear about what our commitment is. Our announcement—

Members interjecting.

Ms D’AMBROSIO: Those opposite are getting hyper-excited, but the reality is we are working with councils to deliver what they have requested of us, and that is exactly what we are delivering plus also working on the longer term commitments that we need to ensure that we get across to ensure that we actually develop and have a sustainable recycling industry in the future, and local governments have welcomed our announcement this morning.

Mr M O’BRIEN (Malvern—Leader of the Opposition) (14:20): Why is the minister telling Victorians to do their bit for the environment by separating their recyclables when, because of this government’s recycling crisis, in many areas it all gets sent to the tip, and because the minister will not suspend the bin tax, they have to pay for the privilege?

Ms D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park—Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Minister for Solar Homes) (14:20): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the supplementary question. I think this supplementary question, and in fact the one before, actually predates our commitment this morning because we are delivering to local governments what they have asked us to do. We will get on with working with them across all levels of government so that we can actually get this recycling sector into a robust position and a sustainable one working across all three levels of government.

Mr M O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, recycling is being sent to the tip. I have asked the minister: why should Victorians have to pay for that privilege? I ask you to invite her to answer that question.

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister has concluded her answer.