Member Matters

AFGC at the table for plastics supply chain reform discussions

2 June 2026

The AFGC participated in the Ministerial Roundtable on Emerging Plastics Supply Chain Issues on 19 May 2026, hosted by Senator the Hon. Tim Ayres, Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science; the Hon. Julie Collins MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; and Senator the Hon. Murray Watt, Minister for the Environment and Water.

The Roundtable brought together representatives from the food and grocery, agriculture, meat, dairy, plastics and packaging sectors to discuss growing pressures on Australia’s plastics and polymer supply chains and the role of packaging reform in strengthening supply chain resilience.

Discussions focused on nationally consistent circular economy policies, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), access to and affordability of food-grade post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, and strengthening Australia’s sovereign capability amid reliance on imported virgin resin and food-grade PCR. The need for end-market development, investment in recycling infrastructure, regulatory certainty, and practical transition timeframes was also discussed.

Additionally, cost-of-living impacts were discussed, including the implications of resin supply constraints, EPR, and fragmented circular economy policies across jurisdictions (cost of inaction by the federal government).

Ministers acknowledged the urgency of reform and indicated that industry feedback from the Roundtable would directly inform the Government’s policy agenda.

The AFGC continues to advocate on behalf of members with Federal, State and Territory governments and will keep members informed as policy developments progress. The next Environment Ministers’ Meeting is scheduled for August 2026.