Container Deposits Key Issue in Federal, Vic, NSW Elections

Wednesday, 30 June 2010 13:55

Key environment and local government groups today declared that the introduction of a container deposits system (CDS) would be an important issue in the coming federal, Victorian and New South Wales Elections.

They urged Peter Garrett to take the lead after previous meetings of environment ministers engaged in excuses and delay.  Minister Garrett needs to fix this appalling buck passing next Monday when the Ministers meet again, the groups said.

“Politicians can only ignore the public’s strong support for CD for so long – and the coming federal and state elections will be a proving ground for their positions. We are disappointed that Minister Garrett and his state colleagues have been sitting on this issue,” said Dave West National Campaign Director of the Boomerang Alliance.

“So far we have seen governments dither – but next week’s meeting of environment ministers in Darwin will be a test of where they want to go – allow 6 billion beverage containers to litter the landscape or be landfilled each year or introduce a CDS that solves the problem and provides several hundred million dollars of benefit to the Australian community and economy and some 1,200 new green jobs across the country,” said Jeff Angel, Director of Total Environment Centre and Convenor of the Boomerang Alliance.

““In Victoria we’ve seen strong support from the Greens and the Coalition for container deposits. At the Darwin meeting the Brumby Government needs to back container deposits or risk it becoming a major environment issue at November’s state election,” said Mark Wakeham, Campaign Director of Environment Victoria.

“There have been positive discussions in New South Wales with the Greens and the Opposition but the Keneally government is acting like a headless chicken.  If it wants to have any chance of improving its polling position it will have to wholeheartedly and consistently adopt strong environmental policies.  It couldn’t go wrong by supporting container deposits,” Mr Angel said.

Supporting the call to action, Ian Kiernan, Chairman and founder of Clean Up Australia noted that 40 per cent of the rubbish that Clean Up Australia Day volunteers remove from environment each year relates to beverage containers. “The public is very much behind a refund scheme. National research conducted for Clean Up Australia in 2009 found that 88 per cent of people support the introduction of a 10 cent refund for drink cans and bottles,” said Mr Kiernan.

“And the community, our politicians claim to represent has had enough of the rhetoric and the endless reports being put between them and a decision.”

The groups will also be launching a Facebook Page, ‘Cash for Containers Campaign’ as part of ramping up public engagement over the next 12 months.