Friday, 14 August 2026

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (12:13): I rise today to update the house on Victoria’s strong waste management system, which is delivering better environmental outcomes, creating jobs and supporting the circular economy. The results speak for themselves. Since the container deposit scheme commenced in November 2023 Victorians have returned more than 3.47 billion containers through more than 22 million transactions. I personally take my daughter along for her, I do not know, $30 about four times a year, and it is something that young people are really, really passionate about.

Nick McGowan interjected.

Jaclyn SYMES: I am not profiting. I am doing the work. She is getting the 30 bucks. The scheme has created 615 jobs and supported over 6000 donation partners across the state, helping communities while reducing waste. The achievement builds on the Labor government’s more than $538 million investment into the circular economy since 2020. The achievements in reducing waste have been delivered in collaboration with local governments and backed by a clear, costed plan. I cannot say the same for other proposals, such as mandating weekly red bin collections, a plan that can only be implemented by forcing councils to cut crucial services like mental health, local sporting fields, libraries and road repairs. It is a plan developed without consulting councils and slammed by the MAV, who have confirmed it will cost millions per council to implement and require existing contracts to be ripped up. We should all create good policy. It should be off the back of evidence-based approaches that reduce waste, support resource recovery and allow councils to respond to the unique circumstances of their communities.