Roger Jaensch,Minister for the Environment
Claims by the Greens that funding for environmental management drops significantly over the Forward Estimates are simply not true.
In fact, the 2022-23 Budget and Forward Estimates contain $16 million more in funding for environmental management, protection and regulation when compared to last year’s Budget and Forward Estimates.
In the Budget Papers, the Environment Protection Authority’s (EPA) funds no longer fall under environmental management because it is now an independent State authority. Instead, they are now included in Volume 2 of the Budget Papers under Agencies.
The 2022-23 Budget is about strengthening Tasmania’s future and that is why our Government has actually increased funding for the EPA.
We are investing $2 million per year ongoing for additional resources to increase the rigour and integrity of environmental assessments, and $500,000 per year for new independent accommodation.
In terms of waste initiatives, we are delivering for all Tasmanians by investing significantly in recycling and resource recovery infrastructure through a number of fixed term programs that reduce landfill and grow our circular economy, including:
- $5.5 million for plastics reprocessing
- $3 million to coinvest in a crumb rubber plant
- $6 million for composting organic waste
In the future, these types of investments will be supported by funds raised through the landfill levy.
The levy will ensure those who produce the most waste make a greater contribution to the solutions for it and this funding will reduce the need for the Government to spend taxpayer money on growing the capacity of the resource recovery sector.
The preferred levy rate option is modelled to collect $8.3 million in its first full year, rising to $17.1 million by 2030/31, significant funds that will lead to better outcomes for the environment and greenhouse emissions while creating new business opportunities and jobs in the economy.
