At the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) hearing this afternoon, Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio confirmed that household recycling is still being diverted to landfill in Victoria.
Minister D’Ambrosio, trying to play the role of political commentator rather than decision maker, confirmed to the hearing that she “had heard reports the practice was continuing.”
In embarrassing gaffes, Minister D’Ambrosio dithered and delayed in answering how many tonnes of recyclable material had gone into Victorian landfill over the past year. She also could not confirm what Victoria’s target was for waste diverted from landfill with both questions being taken on notice.
Last week, the Victorian Auditor General found that the Sustainability Fund was bolstering Victoria’s bogus surplus despite this money being desperately needed to fund best practices in waste management.
Today, the Minister dismissed this report saying she was not going to address every “quibble” of the audit.
Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Change, David Morris:
“Victoria’s recycling crisis rolls on and on, and both Daniel Andrews and Lily D’Ambrosio have no solution and no understanding of how to fix it.”
“Victorians should rightly be angry that recycling material has and is still been diverted to landfill.”
“When you have a Minister that doesn’t know basic facts, can’t answer questions, attacks the Auditor General and seeks to blame others, it is little wonder that we have a waste management crisis in our state.”