Tuesday, 13 August 2019

Sustainability Fund

Mr MORRIS (Mornington) (14:32): My question is to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. Minister, what was the balance of the Sustainability Fund as at 30 June 2019?

Ms Neville interjected.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Police and Emergency Services!

Ms D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park—Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Minister for Solar Homes) (14:33): I thank the member for Mornington for his question. My understanding is that these figures are available in the budget papers, and I certainly refer him to the budget papers, but I am happy to articulate what that is just to help him out.

Mr Andrews interjected.

The SPEAKER: Order! I call the Premier to order.

Mr M O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, the question was about the status of the fund as at 30 June 2019. That is not covered in the budget papers because the budget was brought down before that date.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order.

Ms D’AMBROSIO: I understand the point of the member for Mornington in his question. I am happy to be told otherwise, but my advice is that it is approximately $397 million.

Mr MORRIS (Mornington) (14:34): Minister, with thousands of tonnes of recyclables now being sent to landfill, how much additional revenue will your government make at the expense of councils, businesses and households?

Ms D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park—Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Minister for Solar Homes) (14:34): I thank the member for Mornington for the supplementary question. Again, I believe that these questions were actually written before our announcement was made this morning. Our announcement made this morning directly goes to that very question of additional costs incurred by local councils affected by the SKM closure.

Mr M O’Brien: On a point of order, Speaker, the member for Mornington’s question was about additional revenue. It was not about expenditure or net revenue; it was about how much additional revenue will come into the fund as result of recyclables entering landfill. That is a perfectly fair question, and the member is entitled to an answer.

The SPEAKER: Order! I am not able to direct the minister how to answer the question. She was relevant to the question asked. The minister has concluded her answer.