13Risk management, proportionality and the precautionary principle

13 Risk management, proportionality and the precautionary principle

(1) A decision, action or thing directed towards minimising the following should be proportionate to the harm or risk of harm that is being addressed—

(a) harm or a risk of harm to human health or the environment;

(b) failure or disruption or a risk of failure or disruption to waste, recycling or resource recovery services and the stability of the market.

(2) If there are threats of serious or irreversible harm to human health or the environment, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent or minimise those threats.

(3) In the application of the precautionary principle set out in subsection (2), public and private decisions should be guided by—

(a) careful evaluation to avoid, wherever practicable, serious or irreversible harm to human health and the environment; and

(b) an assessment of the risk-weighted consequences of various options; and

(c) an evaluation of how the circular economy supports the transition to a net-zero and resilient Victoria.