Product Stewardship Schemes for the Lifecycle of Regulated Products
Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill 2025
Legislative Council
Legislative Assembly
Assent
Introduced by: The Hon Jihad Dib MP (ALP); The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
James Griffin LIB
“On behalf of the Opposition, I contribute to debate regarding the Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill 2025. The bill addresses the pressing need for a sustainable approach to product and end of life management of batteries in New South Wales, and we welcome this legislation. The core objective of the bill is to establish a robust product stewardship framework.”
“The Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill 2025 is an important bill that seeks to establish a mandatory product stewardship framework for brand owners of certain products. As all members know, technology powers more and more items used in many parts of our daily lives—from our toothbrushes and mobile phones to micromobility scooters and power tools.”
Kobi Shetty GRN
“On behalf of The Greens, I contribute to debate in support of the Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill 2025. The Greens welcome this important legislation as a significant step toward tackling the growing waste crisis in New South Wales.”
Donna Davis ALP
“I support the Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill 2025. The Government understands that batteries are a growing waste disposal and resource recovery dilemma. Batteries should not be placed in kerbside bins where they can cause fires, but that leaves residents with limited simple options for disposal.”
Tamara Smith GRN
“On behalf of The Greens, I contribute to debate on the Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill 2025. We welcome the bill. I note that the Minister’s staff are in the Chamber. I acknowledge the contribution made by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment and I commend the Minister for the Environment for this important reform.”
Kylie Wilkinson ALP
“I support the Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill 2025. New South Wales is facing a significant challenge from battery‑related fires. In Canterbury‑Bankstown lithium ion battery incidents are increasing year on year, from three in 2022 to 15 in 2023 and over 20 in 2024. We are not alone.”
Jenny Leong GRN
“I make a brief contribution to debate on the Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill and acknowledge the contributions made by my Greens colleagues the member for Balmain and the member for Ballina. The Greens support the bill. It is a sensible step in the right direction towards reducing waste and protecting our environment and communities.”
Michael Holland ALP
“I support the Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill 2025. At its core, the bill provides a framework to make brand owners responsible for their products across their life cycle. The Government has been very clear that it is concerned about the potential harms from batteries. Batteries are incredibly important to our society.”
Mr GARETH WARD
“I support the Government’s Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill 2025, which establishes a product stewardship framework for brand owners of certain products and for related purposes. With the indulgence of the House, I acknowledge in the public gallery my mum, Margaret Bowcher, my uncle, James Urquhart, and his partner, Erica. I had not seen my uncle in about 20 years before he came to Australia.”
Stephen Bali ALP
“I support the Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill 2025 and thank Minister Sharpe from the other place. She is ably represented in this place by her Parliamentary Secretary, the member for Blue Mountains. The key focus of the bill is to provide a framework to regulate product stewardship for batteries.”
Julia Finn ALP
“I contribute to debate on the Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill 2025. This is nation-leading reform that is absolutely essential. Product lifecycle responsibility is incredibly important. In recent years we have seen rapid and massive changes that have gone far beyond any of the regulation we have in place.”
Greg Piper IND
“Today I speak strongly in favour and support of the Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill 2025. It is not a secret that we have a waste problem in this State. We are producing too much waste and do not have enough places to put it. Greater Sydney’s landfill space is running out, and New South Wales’ recycling rate has plateaued.”
Marjorie O'Neill ALP
“My contribution to debate on the Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill 2025 will be brief. At the outset I express my very strong support for the bill. This is a long overdue and visionary piece of legislation that shifts the way we think about consumption, waste and corporate accountability in New South Wales.”
Edmond Atalla ALP
“I make a brief contribution to debate on the Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill 2025. I support the bill. This Government recognises that households, businesses and communities in New South Wales are facing an extraordinary threat from battery fires. We are experiencing a rapid escalation in the number of battery fire incidents, which have increased by 90 per cent over three years.”
Alex Greenwich IND
“The Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill 2025 will empower the Minister to prescribe products subject to a mandatory product stewardship scheme and the outcomes that such a scheme must deliver. We urgently need to transition to a circular economy that includes mandatory product stewardship regimes across a range of problem products.”
Jason Li ALP
“I contribute to debate in support of the Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill 2025. The legislation answers a question more and more people in New South Wales and the Strathfield electorate are asking: Who is responsible for the waste we see piling up in our streets, waterways and landfill sites? For too long, the answer has been unclear.”
Trish Doyle ALP
“Many members contributed, so I will not name them all. I particularly recognise the member for Balmain, who spoke in support of the bill on behalf of The Greens, and the member for Manly and former Minister, who spoke in support of the bill for the Opposition. I acknowledge the work of the former Minister on the green shoots of this reform.”
News articles and press releases
Product Lifecycle Responsibility Bill 2025
The Hon. PENNY SHARPE, Minister for Climate Change — 2025-03-18
The legislation allows the Government to enter into a contract with a product stewardship organisation. The Government may do this for a particular product where there is a need to oversee an aspect of the product life cycle. We typically think about this at the end of life for a product where the markets for re-use or recycling are still developing. The bill provides appropriate regulatory oversight to ensure that product stewardship organisations are fulfilling their agreed responsibilities. The bill carries significant penalties for brand owners—the owner of a product name—who fail to comply with product stewardship requirements set by the regulations and, in particular, for contraventions of safety requirements identified by the regulations.