FOI on crucial CD report quashed

Thursday, 06 May 2010 12:06

Refusal by officials to release a key report commissioned by environment ministers into a national container deposit system has aroused suspicions of bureaucratic obstruction, Total Environment Centre said today.

“Our freedom of information request for the report which assesses the public’s willingness to pay for a CD system was rejected recently on the basis that the report was in draft form and the committee of bureaucrats has not yet met to consider it.  Their last meeting was October 2009 and we believe the extensive delays are unjustified,” said Jeff Angel, Executive Director of Total Environment Centre.

“Federal and state ministers had committed to meet ‘out of session’ after receiving draft results last November in the expectation that a final report was not far way.  Now it’s been almost six months of delay.  The longer we wait for a decision, that’s another 6 billion beverage containers to landfill a year.”

“The report by Price Waterhouse Coopers is a crucial missing link in the assessment of benefits and costs of a container deposit system.  It seeks to quantify the public’s willingness to pay for improved recycling and the controversial ‘inconvenience’ cost.  The willingness to pay increases the benefits while inconvenience (if it exists) increases the costs, in economic analysis.”

“They are both big figures and have a major bearing on the economic case for container deposits,” said Mr Angel.

“We call on the bureaucrats to stop stuffing around.  The NEPC Service Corporation that services the ministers’ Environment Protection and Heritage Council has told us they expect a decision by key bureaucrats on release by 21 May – but there’s no guarantee it will be made public.”