Sustainable Australia Party campaigns to significantly reduce Australia's waste production and increase its recycling and energy recovery through embracing circular economies.
Sustainable Australia Party submission:
Draft Report on the Inquiry into the Right to Repair - Productivity Commission
23 July 2021
Right to Repair inquiry
Productivity Commission
Locked Bag 2
Collins Street East
Melbourne Vic 8003
Via online portal at: https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/repair/make-submission#lodge
Dear Sir or Madam,
Submission - Draft Report on the Inquiry into the Right to Repair
The Productivity Commission has invited submissions relating to its draft report, which assesses the case for a right to repair in Australia, with a focus on whether consumers face any unnecessary barriers to repair that require a government policy response.
I thank the Commission for the opportunity to lodge a submission in relation to this inquiry.
Sustainable Australia Party is an independent community movement from the political centre, with a positive plan for an economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable Australia. We support a science and evidence-based approach to policy. Further details about Sustainable Australia Party can be found at our website: www.sustainableaustralia.org.au
Sustainable Australia Party campaigns to significantly reduce Australia's waste production and increase its recycling and energy recovery through embracing circular economies.
Our policy objectives include:
- Achieving better product design and standards to reduce materials usage, improve warranties, longevity, repairability, re-usability and recycling capacity.
- Establishing a national sustainable design and development centre of excellence for the advancement of circular economies and waste reduction technologies.
- Supporting major community centres dedicated to the repair, re-sale and responsible recycling of electronic waste and household goods. As such we endorse the activities of community networks such as Mend It, Australia.
- Establishing a national packaging and container deposit scheme.
- Establishing a national battery recycling scheme.
- Lowering population growth, which is a major source of waste production.
We would also call on governments and regulators to investigate the environmental impact of planned obsolescence and marketing strategies that drive an emergent ‘throw away culture’ in Australia, contributing to significant growth in e-waste production. The results of such an investigation should inform amendments to relevant legislation and enforcement measures.
In line with our objectives above, we are supportive of the Commission’s draft recommendations and consumers’ right to repair. We look forward to the final report.
Yours sincerely,
Stephen Tighe
State Administrator – Victoria
Sustainable Australia Party
www.SustainableAustralia.org.au
