Waste Management

Ms HABIB (Elder) (14:24): My question is to the Minister for Environment and Water. Will the minister detail to the house how the state government is supporting the recycling industry and local government in response to China's National Sword policy?

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Minister for Environment and Water) (14:24): I thank the member for her question and recall our time serving on Marion council, where innovative waste management was something I know she had a passionate interest in.

The waste management industry is a very important one for South Australia. It's an industry that we have known leadership in not only nationally but internationally. Over many years, we have led the way with waste management, developing opportunities and creating jobs in that industry, and that is a body of work that has been led by successive governments of different political persuasions in this state. We know that our state led the way with the introduction of container deposit legislation some 42 years ago and, more recently, banning plastic bags. This is something that we are good at and something we should continue to be driving forward.

We also know that in December 2017 and again in March 2018, China imposed strict contamination standards for a range of recycled materials that were exported to China. We know that China has taken a significant proportion of the around 5 per cent of our recycled products that get shipped overseas each year. Now, while 5 per cent by itself seems like quite a small amount, when you are talking about a commodity like waste, and when suddenly 5 per cent of that commodity's market falls away, that does require some significant adjustment.

When I became the minister, there was already a small working group in place involving members of my department, particularly Green Industries SA (the successor organisation to Zero Waste SA), the local government sector, the waste management sector and the EPA. That group came up with a range of recommendations for me to consider and an adjustment package to take forward to the cabinet, which I did.

Stakeholder engagement has been very important in developing this strategy. It has been good to meet with key leaders in the waste management sector, particularly speaking regularly to Gayle Sloan, the Chief Executive Officer of the Waste Management Association of Australia, and working with local industry players, including the EPA, Green Industries SA, local government and other members of the Waste Management Association here in the SA chapter.

On the weekend, it was a pleasure to be able to head down to the Daws Road Recycling centre to launch our policy. The Daws Road Recycling Centre is an example of an organisation that, in partnership with CDL Solutions SA, has been able to drive forward innovation in the waste management sector. We saw a new piece of equipment there that automatically sorts CDL products and enables people, through a type of ATM, to get their money back there and then.

We launched the assistance package down at the Daws Road Recycling centre and that package is very clearly built around industry assistance, recognising that this government wants to create the sort of environment in which industry can continue to thrive and innovate. Our package has a $5.8 million grant funding component for industry and local government for new and upgraded infrastructure. We have a $5 million loan scheme, a $0.5 million transport subsidy for regional councils recognising the difficulties that they face in transport in particular, and then $1.1 million for education and marketing around ensuring our waste produce is of the right quality.

This is a good announcement. It helps the industry adjust and will hopefully continue to ensure that the waste management industry in South Australia continues to innovate and create jobs.

The SPEAKER: The leader! Member for Enfield.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Enfield will be heard in silence.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER Order! Members on my right will be quiet. Member for Enfield.