News release

From: George Institute for Global Health

New commentary out in BMJ Global Health (George Institute co-authored) reveals Australia exported 22,333 tonnes of plastic waste to Indonesia in 2023-24 alone, part of a wider crisis that's seen the country take in more than 200,000 tonnes of imported waste it can't safely process. Up to 80% of it ends up burned or dumped.

Here's the story most people are missing: this isn't just an environmental problem anymore. Researchers say microplastics are now crossing the placental barrier, meaning babies are being exposed to plastic-derived pollutants before they're even born. Communities near burning sites are seeing elevated rates of respiratory disease, cardiovascular problems and cancer risk.

As George Institute for Global Health researcher Laura Downey puts it:

"Australia rightly spends millions every year on health aid to Indonesia. Then we ship over 22,000 tonnes of our own plastic waste there, waste that's burned in the very communities that aid is meant to help. We're undermining our own commitments to our neighbours' health, and to health security across the region."

And the timing couldn't be sharper. The Albanese government just signed a new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Indonesia, one the PM has called a 'new era' in the relationship. The researchers argue plastic waste needs to be written into that partnership as a health security issue, not left off the table.