COMMITTEES

Mr ROB MITCHELL (McEwen) (10:25): On behalf of the Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation and Science, I present the committee's report entitled When the rubber hits the road: inquiry into the Australian tyre industry, together with minutes of proceedings. Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e). Mr ROB MITCHELL: by leave—Tyres are an essential part of modern life.

They support the movement of people and goods across Australia, underpinning economic activity and connecting communities across our vast nation. Yet, when tyres reach the end of their service life, they present a very complex challenge. Each year, hundreds and thousands of tonnes of tyres become waste, and how Australia manages these materials has significant implications for our environment, our economy and our communities.

Throughout this inquiry, the committee heard compelling evidence that end-of-life tyres should be viewed not simply as a waste problem but as a valuable resource. Witnesses and submitters pointed to significant opportunities to recover materials, develop domestic manufacturing capability and advance Australia's transition into a circular economy. These opportunities align with the Australian government's national circular economy framework, which sets out pathways to maximise resource value, reduce waste and strengthen Australia's economic resilience.

The inquiry also received evidence about persistent challenges, including stockpiling and illegal dumping, limited recycling markets, inconsistencies in regulation and barriers to higher value uses of recovered tyre material. The report contains 12 recommendations aimed at strengthening resource recovery outcomes and supporting a more sustainable and resilient tyre industry, including: developing a nationally harmonised regulatory framework, improving the recovery and management of off-the-road tyres, auditing and strengthening tyre stewardship arrangements and supporting the tire retreading industry.

The committee believes these reforms will help Australia turn waste into value, strengthen domestic markets for tyre derived products and build a stronger circular economy for the future. I want to thank all the individuals and the organisations who contributed to the inquiry through submissions, public hearings and site visits. Their expertise greatly assisted our committee in its consideration of these issues.

I also extend my thanks to all the committee members for their collegial and bipartisan approach throughout this inquiry, and I want to thank the deputy chairs for their valued contribution to the committee's work during the inquiry. And thank you always—the most important part, of course—is our hardworking secretariat: Jeff Norris; Shennia Spillane; inquiry secretaries Kate Morris and Miona Ikeda; researcher Grace, who we really gave a hard time to—she worked very hard throughout this, keeping us all in line and keeping us straight; and, of course, Tanya Pratt.

Without the secretariat these things don't work properly, and I think we can never be thankful enough as committee chairs for the work that they do and the advice they give and the support they do throughout the entire inquiry. With that, I commend this report to the House.