Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Environment spokesperson
Labor’s furthering the interests of big beverage companies risks delaying, or worse derailing, the implementation of Tasmania’s Container Refund Scheme (CRS).
Bringing in a CRS has been an extensive process, with an already exhaustive years-long debate on the shape of a Tasmanian scheme. During that time, other states have set up their own CRS models, and Tasmania has seen which ones would work best to maximise our recycling rates.
It has taken a massive effort from recycling advocates and the community to get the Liberals over the line on CRS, and there is now wide agreement about the proposed effective scheme model.
The last thing Tasmania needs is a Labor Party putting the brakes on - potentially sending us back to square one.
In the same week Labor rolled over to Federal Hotels on pokies, they now seem to be doing the bidding of big beverage companies.
It’s notable that Boags’ staunch opposition to the container refund scheme model has been presented by a spokesperson who stood for Labor at the last state election.
It says everything about Labor’s priorities that they’re prepared to push for an Upper House Committee on a broadly-supported Container Refund Scheme, but are refusing to do so on pokies.
Labor’s new anti-recycling stance would rightly have Tasmanians wondering if there’s been any political donations involved.
The Greens are proud to stand with recycling advocates and the community in supporting an effective Container Refund Scheme. We urge Labor to rethink their position and do the same.