Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Environment and Biodiversity spokesperson
The Greens welcome the Gutwein Government finally tabling legislation that forces beverage companies to take responsibility for their rubbish. After decades of avoidable environmental harm, this action has been too long coming.
A container refund scheme for Tasmania has been Greens’ policy for decades and we are pleased it is finally becoming a reality.
The Greens, community groups and conservationists encountered Liberal ridicule, resistance and delay towards implementing a container deposit scheme, as they fought against legislating product stewardship on behalf of their big corporate mates.
The result has been years of preventable roadside rubbish, and marine plastic pollution that has choked and starved bird and sea life, and permeated the food web.
Environmental stewardship has been lambasted as ‘bad for business’ for years by the Liberals. Thankfully, in this instance, political interests have bowed to overwhelming consumer sentiment and financial sense.
While the Gutwein Government has finally introduced container refund scheme laws to Parliament, we hope it doesn’t take decades to adopt other much-needed Greens environment policies – we have no time to waste to protect our climate and irreplaceable biodiversity.