Jason Falinski (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Indeed, as improbable as it seems, there may even be some people in state parliaments in other parts of the country who also, from time to time, have good ideas. Who knows? It might be an accident. Nonetheless, our federation was designed to be competitive, to allow policy experimentation, and I think it's a good thing that each of the states is undertaking its own schemes and experimenting from those. If the time comes when we should have a national scheme, that will be the time for us to borrow the best ideas that we have seen implemented by the states and in other parts of the world.

Those opposite would have us believe that we need to choose between economic growth and the environment. It is a false paradigm that has been created by communities in an attempt for vested interests to get votes. We as a government are choosing both the environment and economic growth in this landmark legislation which is forecast to generate an additional $1.5 billion in economic activity over the next 20 years, whilst the Australian economy will be turning over an additional $3.6 billion. We are supporting communities hit hard by COVID-19, aiding economic growth and helping the environment. This is the kind of smart policy in government investment that this nation requires to get back on its feet. We believe that this country is strongest when communities are brought together, which is why we do not use the politics of division when it comes to the environment and economic growth. This is especially the case when our nation is contending with a global pandemic that has affected the lives of countless Australians and caused untold grief. Economics, not ideology, drives policies like this, which creates jobs, powers the economy and helps keep our beaches clean.

This government has never been afraid of commitment, which is why this bill is tackling some of the toughest environmental issues this nation is facing. From 2018 to 2019, more than 645,000 tonnes of waste was exported overseas. That is the equivalent of 40,000 shipping containers; if laid from end to end, they would span from Sydney to Canberra. We can use this material productively or we can allow it to destroy valuable land. Inaction is not an option when it comes to recycling, protecting our environment or encouraging our economic recovery.

Building a resilient Australia does not stop with JobKeeper but requires a holistic approach to rebuild our way of life and environment after the bushfires. We cannot allow pollution and waste-control measures to become lax and for government to turn a blind eye during COVID-19; future generations of Australians will only end up paying for this later on. Creating a dynamic economy for the 21st century which puts working Australians at its centre has been my goal since I first entered parliament. We need an innovation driven economy to fuel the kind of growth which will deliver higher standards of living for future Australians whilst supporting out retirees. As part of this, having a diverse economy with many innovative sectors will be critical in creating a shock resistant economy and society. We are taking pre-emptive action with this bill in driving outcomes for Australians and helping to create a freer, fairer society.

For those Australians not in isolation, keeping active is important not only for general fitness but for supporting good mental health. Recycling is a cornerstone of keeping our communities clean so that everyone can enjoy them. It is part of supporting the healthy lifestyle for which Australians are renowned the world over. Whatever this government can do to support Australians during times of hardship, we have done and will continue to do. Our national obsession with fitness continues unabated and is more important now given the challenge of COVID-19. We're taking a holistic approach to supporting Australians and protecting their safety. Keeping our walkways free of waste and protecting our nature reserves requires a national framework to manage waste and recycling across Australia.

At a time when our economic recovery is in the spotlight, it is critical that we do not forget the importance of our wildlife, our beaches and the environment. With the bushfires at the beginning of this year having caused mass devastation to rural Australia, on top of droughts, this government is taking a strong stand to support the environment which our rural communities rely on. The tourism industry relies on our natural ecosystem as part of their bushfire models, and it helps attract tourists from all around the world. Before COVID-19, Australia was one of the top travel destinations in the world. We cannot allow such an important sector, which so many Australian families rely on, to degrade. As a government, we are acutely aware that many people are doing it tough. In preparation for the post-COVID world, we are continuing to support our natural ecosystems to aid a speedy recovery and help Australians get back on track and back to business. This bill institutes an export ban on waste plastic, paper, glass, and tyres.

This Commonwealth government brought together the states and territories as part of an extensive consultation process to ensure that the goals of this bill were met and agreed on by all involved. Yet again this goes to our view that Australia is at its best when we're working together to resolve real issues that affect our communities. There are many that do not see it this way and instead stoke the flames of division and conflict to help themselves at the expense of others. A collective approach to national issues is why this government has outperformed the rest of the world when it comes to our COVID response and as we put in place measures to hasten our recovery.

An integral part of this bill is encouraging companies to take greater responsibility for waste that they generate. By incorporating the Product Stewardship Act 2011, companies are encouraged to design and create products more efficient in terms of waste. This legislation builds on this by increasing the number of opportunities for businesses to join in voluntarily with the product stewardship scheme to reduce waste and pollution. In cases where the scheme is not effective or where they are not targeted effectively in priority areas, the government will have new tools to intervene. This is not about introducing new regulation or increasing the burden on businesses to comply. It's about driving outcomes by creating jobs and using limited resources more efficiently. Green manufacturing is an area that will become increasingly important not only as we drive economic outcomes but also as we seek to protect our environment and use it more effectively, whether it be for tourism or otherwise.

The promise of our federation to all Australians is the opportunity to pursue their conception of a good life and to support their aspirations, provided they are willing to work hard. It is about institutionalising the quality of outcome, giving all Australians a fair go. During COVID-19 there are great challenges, and it's been deeply moving to see neighbours helping each other and coming together in this time of crisis. As a government, we cannot replace loved ones helping each other, but we can support healthy and vibrant communities.

Engaging productively with waste and recycling in a way that supports the economy rather than imposing a bureaucratic solution is a win-win. All too often solutions to problems result in more regulation for businesses, much of which is pointless and simply costs time, money and eventually jobs. Australia has some of the most stringent regulations and highest compliance costs in the world, and yet, compared to the rest of the OECD in this area, we lag behind. This is not because Australians are not innovative, hardworking or entrepreneurial. It is because the burden to be compliant with successive waves of regulation has stymied generations of small business owners and mums and dads who run simple businesses from getting ahead. Dumb regulations are the very antithesis of the promise and values of the Australian fair go, because only the big corporates actually have the finances to deal with increasingly complex legislation.

Where large multinational firms have departments dedicated to compliance in Australia, small businesses and young university graduates looking to do a start-up are undermined. They are betrayed by the Canberra bureaucrats who are searching for a reason to exist and to increase their departmental budgets and their personal salaries. In effect, they are taking money out of the pockets of some Australians to find meaningless regulation and self-promotion. At a time when many are struggling to make ends meet, when businesses have been liquidated due to hardship through no fault of their own, there are still vested interests wanting to regulate further. There is no benefit to regulation which destroys opportunities for Australians. A smarter regulation agenda such as this needs to create jobs, not lose them, and support innovation and investment, not discourage it. This bill is able to pursue the dual goal of helping the environment whilst building a stronger economy. Rather than dividing communities, we are bringing them together. Instead of pursuing a healthier environment at the cost of jobs and innovations, we are supporting a new industry. This is the agenda that partners with aspirational Australians and recognises that they are the drivers of economic growth and are responsible for Australia's prosperity and success. As a government and as a party we are helping to build a fairer Australia for everyone. COVID-19 has meant that this is more challenging now than any time since the Great Depression. That is why bills which support growth, fairness and recycling are so important. For these reasons, I highly commend the bill to the House.

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