Product Responsibility Staff Cannot Share Personal Info and Minister Can Appoint Special Manager
Waste Reduction and Recycling (Strengthening the Container Refund Scheme) Amendment Bill 2026
Topics
beverage containers corporate governance criminal penalties data privacy environmental programs government oversight information sharing personal information privacy waste management waste recycling +6 more
Introduced by: The Hon Andrew Powell MP (LNP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
Members, directors, employees and contractors of the Product Responsibility Organisation must not use or share personal information they got through their role. People who break this rule face a fine of up to 100 penalty units (2026: $17,270).
The Environment Minister can appoint a special manager to monitor PRO affairs. The Product Responsibility Organisation, also called the PRO, manages the container deposit scheme in Queensland.
A special manager can force the Product Responsibility Organisation or its staff to provide information or take specific actions. People who refuse to help or follow these orders face a fine of up to 100 penalty units (2026: $17,270).
The Environment Minister no longer needs to issue a notice for decisions about PRO appointments.
Decisions about PRO appointments can no longer be reviewed by the chief executive or QCAT.
The PRO must pay the chief executive for costs incurred by the Scheme.
The Environment Minister must approve all PRO directors and the chairperson.
The Environment Minister can withdraw approval for a director at any time for any reason.
The Environment Minister can take over the Product Responsibility Organisation by appointing a special manager or cancelling the organisation's appointment. This can happen if the organisation provides misleading info, breaks the law, or fails to follow directions.
Blocking a special manager or administrator from doing their job is banned. People who obstruct them face a fine of up to 100 penalty units (2026: $17,270).
The chief executive can ask the police commissioner for a person's criminal history if that person is an executive officer or business associate. The person must give written consent first.
People who have access to criminal history information under this Act must not share or use it for other purposes. Breaking this rule carries a fine of up to 100 penalty units (2026: $17,270).
The Product Responsibility Organisation must pay the department for the costs of running the scheme if the chief executive asks them to.