Budget fails recycling

Failure by the state government budget to adequately fund recycling from the $200 million it collects in municipal and industrial landfill levies each year was attacked by the Municipal Association of Victoria.

It said investment was urgently need to strengthen the state’s “fragile recycling system” with only $34.9 million allocated over three years to tackle what is described as a crisis.

According to the MAV landfill levies sitting in the Sustainability Fund at the end of last financial year amounted to $511 million.

Of the $200 million collected each year half is allocated to environmental agencies with the other half transferred to the Sustainability Fund.

The MAV said the budget gave no assistance to councils hit with additional costs due to facility closures or compensation for the extra costs to councils to implement the State’s ewaste landfill ban that begins on July 1.

The association did welcome investment in roads and public transport infrastructure, the start to implementing the Statefunded three year-old kindergarten program and a one-year extension to the roadside weeds and pests grants program.

The Housing Industry Association was disappointed the budget did not do anything to help home buyers return to the market.

“Instead, it will implement a range of tax increases to counter a $5.2 billion write-down in stamp duty and property taxes from a weakening housing market.

HIA says its data showed there will be a 20 per cent drop in residential building starts this financial year and there were better revenue raising options than depending on stamp duties that punish home buyers when they can least afford it.

The Victorian Farmers Federation said that while there were some positive commitments there were a number of “glaring funding gaps” for agriculture.

The positives included significant resourcing for biosecurity and fit-for-purpose roads, a focus on farm safety and a reduction in payroll tax paid by regional businesses.