Albanese government shelves plastic waste packaging laws
The government has dropped packaging laws meant to cut plastic waste. It cited cost worries before the next election.
The Albanese government has dropped a promise to bring in packaging standards intended to force makers and retailers to cut plastic waste. The federal environment department told industry last week.
The laws would not happen before the election. The government feared any costs would be passed to shoppers.
Work on the standards began after a 2023 federal-state agreement. They would have set design rules.
They would have banned certain chemicals. They would have required makers to manage packaging through its full life cycle.
Jeff Angel from Boomerang Alliance warned the decision sparked rare anger from environmental groups. Industry and state governments were also upset.
The Australian Marine Conservation Society called it deeply disappointing. Packaging makes up 59.5% of all litter in Australia.
- 2023 federal-state agreement
- Agreement year
- 59.5% of all litter in Australia
- Packaging in litter
Why it mattersNot keeping environmental promises shows what the government cares about. It favours short-term help with living costs over long-term waste reduction.
AustraliaAustralia continues as a high-waste nation; plastic litter remains a major environmental problem as promised reforms are shelved indefinitely.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 13 d ago
