Overview

• Committee chair Rob Molhoek tabled a 273‑page report that made 21 recommendations and referred 10 allegations to the Crime and Corruption Commission for consideration.
• Whistleblowers and operators alleged bullying, harassment, unfair contracting and questionable audit practices involving Container Exchange staff across multiple sites.
• The report found serious governance and accountability failings, citing a not‑for‑profit operator effectively controlled by Coca‑Cola Europacific Partners and Lion, including claims a key contract went to their joint venture.
• The scheme missed its 85% recovery target, reaching 62.9% by 2021–22, with an estimated $65 million in unclaimed refunds, while generating $2.5 billion in revenue with less than 40% returned to consumers and under 2% to charities.
• The environment minister said the state will consider the recommendations, while COEX and the founding beverage companies defended the program’s performance and said they are reviewing the report, with COEX limiting comment due to the CCC referrals.