Update from the Environment Ministers’ Meeting

30 March 2026

Background

Environment ministers held their first meeting of 2026 on Friday 27 March. The full Communique can be read here.

The agenda covered national environment law reform, nature policy and the circular economy, including packaging and product stewardship. The meeting was largely about setting directions, with most issues referred for further work.

Key areas discussed

Environment Law Reform

Ministers agreed to continue work on the transition to new national environment laws, including renewed Commonwealth–state bilateral arrangements. Detailed implementation will continue through officials.

Nature and Diodiversity

Ministers noted progress on the Strategy for Nature 2024–2030 and discussed protected areas, marine environments, invasive species and bushfire management. No new commitments or regulatory changes were announced.

Circular Economy

Circular economy reform remains on the agenda, but several issues, including packaging and product stewardship, remain unresolved.

Packaging Reform

Packaging reform was discussed, but no decisions were made.

Ministers did not agree on national packaging design rules or a regulatory model. Officials were asked to prepare a draft intergovernmental agreement on packaging reform for ministers to consider later in 2026. This reinforces that packaging reform is still in play, with ongoing risk of different state and territory approaches continuing in the absence of national agreement.

Product Stewardship

Ministers agreed to progress a national portal for beverage suppliers to improve coordination across container deposit schemes. There was no agreement on battery stewardship, which remains inconsistent across jurisdictions. Product stewardship was confirmed as an ongoing policy focus, with further work referred to officials.

What this means for AFGC Members

There are no immediate changes to packaging or product stewardship requirements.

Existing state and territory obligations continue to apply. Uncertainty remains around national policy direction, timing and transition arrangements.

AFGC’s advocacy approach

AFGC will continue to focus on its federal advocacy through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and Minister Watt’s office to progress national circular economy policy, including packaging reform.

In parallel, AFGC will increase our state and territory advocacy while national settings remain unresolved. This work will focus on reducing policy fragmentation and clearly setting out the cost-of-living impacts of inconsistent circular economy policies across jurisdictions, including higher compliance costs, supply chain complexity, and flow-on impacts for consumers.

AFGC will continue to advocate for the following positions across all jurisdictions:

• a whole-of-system approach, recognising how packaging design, collection, recycling and end markets interact and then need for standards across the value chain
• a whole-of-nation approach, to reduce regulatory fragmentation across jurisdictions
• a whole-of-lifecycle approach, including end of life considerations to mitigate unintended consequences
• the need for packaging to be fit for purpose, including safety, security and product specific requirements
• AFGC will continue to push for harmonised circular economy policies, including packaging and product stewardship policy, supported by clear transition timelines and practical pathways. This includes avoiding rushed or misaligned reforms that increase cost, add complexity or deliver poor environmental outcomes.

This work will prioritise improving certainty for members operating across multiple jurisdictions and discouraging further divergence while national reforms remain under development.

Who you can talk to

Should you require any further information, please contact me at sarah.collier@afgc.org.au.

Sarah Collier
Director, Membership & Sustainability