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About the Inquiry 

On 20 February 2025, the Hon Andrew Powell MP, Minister for Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, announced an inquiry into Queensland’s container refund scheme. The Legislative Assembly agreed to a motion that Health, Environment and Innovation Committee (committee) inquire into and report on Improving Queensland’s container refund scheme.

The terms of reference call upon the committee to report to the Legislative Assembly by 21 August 2025 on:

1. The current state and operation of Queensland’s container refund scheme and its efficiency and effectiveness in meeting the scheme’s objects as outlined in section 99H of the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011.
2. The efficiency and effectiveness of the scheme’s administration by Container Exchange (Qld) Limited (COEX) as the appointed Product Responsibility Organisation under the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011, including:
   1. its progress towards achieving the container recovery rate of at least 85 per cent for each financial year;
   2. the availability of refund points across Queensland to provide the community with access to a place to return empty beverage containers in exchange for a refund; and
   3. the final processing and utilisation of recycled products, ensuring transparency and public oversight.
3. Whether the scope and objectives of the scheme remain fit for purpose and meet the needs of all Queenslanders, noting the Queensland government’s ongoing support for the scheme.
4. Ensuring the appropriateness of governance arrangements, structures and expenditure (including sponsorship).
5. Any other relevant matters.

Call for submissions

Submissions closed at 10am on Friday, 4 April 2025. Submissions will be published in due course under the ‘View Submissions’ tab.

Confidentiality and parliamentary privilege

The committee has prepared a fact sheet to assist members of the public and stakeholders who may be concerned about the confidentiality of submission and any other information provided to the committee. The fact sheet outlines how parliamentary privilege applies to the inquiry, and how a person’s ability to give information to the committee may be affected by non-disclosure agreements or other confidentiality clauses.

Confidentiality of information - FAQs

PUBLIC PROCEEDINGS

The committee has scheduled a public briefing on the Bill by officers of the Department for the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation on Wednesday, 2 April 2025. See timeline below for further information.

A public hearing will be held in Brisbane on Wednesday, 30 April 2025. Public hearings may also be held in regional locations. See below for further information.

PUBLIC Hearings

Public hearings will be held Brisbane on Wednesday, 30 April 2025. The hearing will be broadcast live on Parliament TV and is open to the public. However, please note that space in the room can be limited and there is no guarantee attendance will be possible.

To register interest to attend the public hearing in Brisbane, there is an observer form below. 

            Brisbane, Public hearing, 9:50am - 12:30pm, Wednesday, 30 April 2025. 

See the Timeline below for venue information. 

Further information

Further information including written briefings, correspondence, response to submissions, transcripts and answers to questions taken on notice are available under the Related Publications tab.

Committee’s report

The committee is due to table its report on Thursday, 21 August 2025. The report will be published here.

Once the committee’s report has been tabled, the Government has three months to respond to the report’s recommendations (if any). At that time, the Government Response will be published here.

Timeline