Media release: Follow-up audit on Publishing information about waste management
Queensland’s Office of the Information Commissioner’s follow-up audit report into publishing information about waste management was tabled in Parliament today.
In 2022, we examined the legislative requirements in the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 (the Act) about publishing waste management plans and strategies. We assessed the extent to which the departments met these requirements.
We made six recommendations to the lead departments to improve the significance and timeliness of statewide strategies, plans and progress reports about waste management. We also made five recommendations to all government departments about their waste reduction and recycling plans.
This report outlines the progress made by government departments in implementing the recommendations from our 2022 audit.
Over the last 18 months the two lead departments have done significant work to implement the recommendations from our 2022 audit. Five of six recommendations are fully implemented. One recommendation is in progress to full implementation.
Departments have improved their compliance with the publication requirements about their waste reduction and recycling plans. However, progress is not uniform, and more work is needed to ensure they all meet the legislative requirements.
More plans are easy to find and up-to-date but two departments have not published their plans on their websites.
The Information Commissioner Joanne Kummrow said, “By implementing the recommendations, waste management is a key component of good environmental management and climate change mitigation. As this touches the community at large, business and government, waste management is also a topic that attracts significant public interest.”
“If waste management plans and other publications are easy to find, easy to use, meaningful and timely, this will build public trust and confidence in government agencies. It also contributes to increased community participation and behavioural change.”
Media contact: Steve Haigh
Phone: (07) 3234 7373
