Waste and recycling management
Rachel PAYNE (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:07): (951) My question is for the Minister for Environment. The 7.30 report recently ran a story on how Australia is embracing waste to energy, raising questions for what this means for our environment, our health and the future of waste management. Alarmingly, this report noted that six waste-to-energy plants are planned in Victoria, two in New South Wales and one in Queensland. Not only is Victoria leading the country when it comes to waste to energy, but we have more proposals here than all other Australian jurisdictions combined. All the while, Recycling Victoria continues to call for expressions of interest for even more companies to open even more plants. So my question is: why is the minister making Victoria the waste-to-energy capital of Australia?
Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:08): Thank you, Ms Payne, for that question. The question will be referred to the Minister for Environment for a response as per the standing orders.
Rachel PAYNE (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:08): I thank the minister for referring my question on. By way of supplementary, waste to energy produces greenhouse gases, is banned in the ACT, locks councils into decade-long contracts to generate a minimum amount of rubbish, undermines the circular economy, creates waste and pollutants and lacks social licence. At the same time, the proportion of waste going to landfill has not changed in the four years since the Victorian government started their circular economy policy. Can the minister advise when they will consider a moratorium on waste to energy until these concerns are addressed?
Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:08): I thank Ms Payne for her question. The supplementary, as with the substantive, will be referred to the Minister for Environment.