This bill is currently before Parliament.
Government & democracy
Packaging producers, importers and distributors would become responsible for their packaging from creation to disposal.
The evidence does not contain an Australian Government explanation for introducing the bill. Peter Whish-Wilson (Australian Greens), who proposed it, said Australia's plastic use had more than doubled since 2000 while its recycling rate had not improved. He said about 14% of plastic was recovered in 2023–24 and the remaining 86% was mainly sent to landfill. He argued that voluntary arrangements had failed and Australia needed one compulsory national system.
Australia had packaging targets agreed in 2019, but they remained voluntary while national plastic recovery stayed low and state-based rules risked creating a patchwork; after Environment Ministers’ 2022 reform decision and November 2023 handover of regulatory responsibility, Commonwealth action still had not arrived. Public support for mandatory rules grew in 2024, domestic recyclers warned in 2026 that delay threatened their viability, and global oil shocks exposed reliance on imported packaging, prompting Senator Peter Whish-Wilson to introduce a bill on 13 May 2026 for binding producer responsibility and packaging targets.
The evidence contains no criticism of the bill from another named speaker or party. It records only Peter Whish-Wilson's supporting speech before the debate was adjourned.
Senator Peter Whish-Wilson introduced this bill. Supportive speeches so far have come from Greens.
Did it become law?
Not yet
Final passage
No final vote yet
The bill has not yet completed passage through Parliament.
Days since introduction
146 days
Updated 06 Oct 2026.
Meaning
Packaging producers, importers and distributors would become responsible for their packaging from creation to disposal. The national scheme would start three months after formal approval.
Packaging manufacturers would have to reduce packaging and new plastic. Materials that obstruct recycling could be banned or phased out.
Packaging businesses would face 2030 targets. All packaging must be reusable, recyclable or compostable, while 70% of plastic packaging must be recycled or composted.
Packaging manufacturers would need at least 50% recycled material in every package by 2030. At least 30% must be recycled in Australia.
Shoppers would receive clear labels explaining packaging's environmental effects and how to dispose of it correctly.
Packaging businesses could pay fees based on how much packaging they make and whether it can be recycled. These incentives could not operate as taxes.
The public would get regular reports on the scheme's performance. The first review would finish within three years, then reviews would occur within each following five-year period.
responsible person, of a product (which, to avoid doubt, includes packaging), means a person who manufactures, imports or distributes the product for commercial purposes. scheme commencement day means the day after the end of the period of 3 months beginning on the day this section commences.Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for Packaging (No Time to Waste) introduced text
(2) The objectives of the extended producer responsibility scheme for packaging are the following: (a) to ensure responsible persons of packaging have responsibility for the management of their packaging over the entire life cycle of their packaging; (b) to ensure reductions in the use of packaging and virgin plastics; (c) to ensure materials and additives that impede recycling are, where appropriate, prohibited in, or phased out of, the manufacture of packaging; (d) to ensure packaging is manufactured in accordance with best‑practice standards relating to the eco‑design of the packaging;Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for Packaging (No Time to Waste) introduced text
(e) to increase resource recovery and recycling rates and support the growth of the domestic Australian recycling industry, including by ensuring the following minimum targets in relation to packaging made, used or sold in Australia are met by 2030: (i) all packaging (whether or not plastic) must be reusable, recyclable or compostable; (ii) 70% of all plastic packaging must be recycled or composted;Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for Packaging (No Time to Waste) introduced text
(e) to increase resource recovery and recycling rates and support the growth of the domestic Australian recycling industry, including by ensuring the following minimum targets in relation to packaging made, used or sold in Australia are met by 2030: (i) all packaging (whether or not plastic) must be reusable, recyclable or compostable; (ii) 70% of all plastic packaging must be recycled or composted; (iii) all packaging (whether or not plastic) must include at least 50% recycled content, including at least 30% Australian recycled content; (iv) all problematic and unnecessary single‑use plasExtended Producer Responsibility Scheme for Packaging (No Time to Waste) introduced text
(f) to ensure the labelling of packaged products include clear and accurate information about the environmental impacts and correct disposal of the packaging of the products;Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for Packaging (No Time to Waste) introduced text
(g) to provide financial incentives for responsible persons of packaging to reduce packaging, and improve the eco‑design, of their packaging, such as by requiring the responsible persons to pay eco‑modulated fees calculated on the basis of the recyclability or manufactured quantity of their packaging;Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for Packaging (No Time to Waste) introduced text
8 Periodic review of extended producer responsibility scheme for packaging (1) The Minister must cause periodic reviews to be conducted of the operation of the extended producer responsibility scheme. (2) The first review must be completed before the end of 3 years starting on the day the scheme takes effect. (3) Each later review must be completed before the end of 5 years after the completion of the previous review. (4) The persons conducting each review must give the Minister a written report of the review. (5) The Minister must cause a copy of the report of each review to be tabled inExtended Producer Responsibility Scheme for Packaging (No Time to Waste) introduced text
Context
Australia had packaging targets agreed in 2019, but they remained voluntary while national plastic recovery stayed low and state-based rules risked creating a patchwork; after Environment Ministers’ 2022 reform decision and November 2023 handover of regulatory responsibility, Commonwealth action still had not arrived. Public support for mandatory rules grew in 2024, domestic recyclers warned in 2026 that delay threatened their viability, and global oil shocks exposed reliance on imported packaging, prompting Senator Peter Whish-Wilson to introduce a bill on 13 May 2026 for binding producer responsibility and packaging targets.
National Packaging Targets are agreed but remain voluntary
Governments and industry set the National Packaging Targets, but packaging producers remained subject only to voluntary or co-regulated schemes that consistently underperformed.
Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for Packaging (No Time to Waste) explanatory memorandum ↗Environment Ministers agree to reform packaging regulation
Ministers agreed packaging should be designed for recovery, reuse, recycling and safe reprocessing, but Commonwealth legislation did not follow.
Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for Packaging (No Time to Waste) explanatory memorandum ↗Commonwealth accepts responsibility for packaging standards
Environment Ministers agreed that the Australian Government would become the regulator of packaging standards, but the lack of Commonwealth action left states developing separate schemes.
Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for Packaging (No Time to Waste) explanatory memorandum ↗Businesses call for consistent national packaging rules
Companies including Nestlé, Unilever, Lion and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners urged the Environment Minister to impose packaging and recycling standards that applied consistently across the states.
Sydney Morning Herald ↗Packaging reform delays threaten domestic recyclers
After the 2024 reform consultation, recyclers and other stakeholders said the continuing lack of regulation posed a direct and imminent threat to the viability of Australian recycling businesses.
Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for Packaging (No Time to Waste) explanatory memorandum ↗Global oil shocks expose reliance on imported packaging
The Iran war and related oil shocks highlighted Australia's dependence on imported packaging and revived calls for a producer levy and penalties.
ABC News ↗Senator Peter Whish-Wilson introduces the bill
Senator Peter Whish-Wilson introduced the private senator's bill to create a mandatory national extended producer responsibilityMaking packaging businesses manage packaging throughout its life. scheme within three months of Royal AssentFormal approval that turns a bill into law. and make packaging targets binding.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Referred to Committee (14/05/2026): Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Committee report (06/08/2026)
Report tabled 06 Aug 2026
APH bill page notesThe bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Key criticism
The evidence contains no criticism of the bill from another named speaker or party. It records only Peter Whish-Wilson's supporting speech before the debate was adjourned.
Whish-Wilson said packaging and grocery industry groups had recently supported national rules. He also cited polling showing 85% support for legally required plastic-reduction targets and 80% support for phasing out single-use plastics.
Risk of poor recycling outcomes
A scheme focused on collection and low costs, without enough reprocessing infrastructure or demand for recycled material, could produce stockpiles rather than high-quality recycling. The recycling sector called for recyclers to help design the scheme and for sustained investment in end markets and processing capacity.
Further sources
Votes
No recorded votes have been found yet for this bill.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Whish-Wilson urges Parliament to pass the bill, arguing that Australia urgently needs a mandatory national scheme making packaging producers responsible for waste and legally enforcing packaging targets.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
1 speaker · 1 support
“The urgent calls from the community, waste management, resource recovery and Australian businesses are clear. The time for establishing an ambitious, mandatory and nationally uniform EPR scheme for packaging is now.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee
Report tabled 06 Aug 2026
Referred to Committee (14 May 2026): Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee; Committee report (6 Aug 2026)
APH bill page notes