Wednesday, 18 February 2026

 Sonja TERPSTRA (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (17:38): I rise to make a contribution on the Sustainability Victoria annual report 2024–25. The Sustainability Victoria annual report for 2024–25 provides a detailed record of the state’s progress in transitioning towards a circular economy and meeting established climate targets. This period marks the commencement of Sustainability Victoria’s Strategic Plan 2024–2027, a framework that is designed to shift the state from a linear economic model to one where waste is minimised and materials are kept in productive use for as long as possible.

The Victorian government remains committed to the target of a 65 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2045. To support these goals, the government allocated $197.3 million through the Sustainability Fund during this reporting period to facilitate waste reduction and climate mitigation initiatives. Data from the past year indicates that these investments have resulted in the recovery or recycling of an additional 269,763 tonnes of material. These infrastructure improvements are a core component of the government’s circular economy policy, which seeks to divert 80 per cent of waste from landfill by 2030. In terms of direct carbon impact, Sustainability Victoria’s programs contributed to a reduction of 202,331 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions. The transition to a cleaner economy also saw the creation of 312 new jobs within the sector during the 2024–25 financial year.

The government’s strategy emphasises big system change by addressing the full life cycle of products. This is evidenced by the support provided to 134 circular economy projects ranging from local repair cafes to industrial scale glass and plastic recycling facilities. A key priority has been the Closing the Loop initiative, which focuses on the design and manufacturing stages to ensure products are durable and recyclable from the outset. For example, partnerships with textile and furniture industries have demonstrated the commercial viability of using 100 per cent recycled materials in high-value manufacturing. In addition to industrial shifts, the report outlines the government’s focus on community-level environmental safety. The Detox your Home program successfully held 38 events, allowing over 5000 households to safely dispose of 137 tonnes of toxic household chemicals that would otherwise pose a risk to local ecosystems and waterways. Simultaneously, the ResourceSmart Schools program involved over 500 schools in active sustainability education, resulting in a collective saving of $3.5 million in utility costs through improved resource efficiency.

Looking forward for the remainder of the 2024–27 strategic period, the government’s focus remains on three specific outcomes: building the evidence base for circularity, accelerating the adoption of circular business models and fostering sustainable behaviours across the Victorian population. The report underscores that while significant milestones in waste diversion and emissions reductions have been met, continued investment in infrastructure and rigorous data collection will be required to meet the state’s 2030 and 2045 statutory obligations. This transition is framed not only as an environmental necessity but as an economic structural change intended to improve the state’s long-term resource security and productivity. I commend the report to the house.