Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Waste and Recycling Spokesperson
The Greens welcome the announcement today of the Government’s intention to introduce a statewide levy on waste, and are amazed the Liberals have finally reached this point.
A statewide waste levy was proposed in early 2014, and had wide and enthusiastic support from LGAT (28 of 29 Councils), the EPA Board, the waste management industry and the community. All the background work for a levy had been completed, including a governance model outlined in the Blue Environment Report 2013, and a social and economic study.
The document to move ahead with a statewide waste levy sat on then-Environment Minister Matthew Groom’s desk, ready for him to sign into life following the 2014 election. It sat there for the next two years until he effectively killed off the idea, announcing a new waste strategy would instead be required for Tasmania.
Seven years after a statewide waste levy was researched, agreed to by all stakeholders, formally drafted and then sidelined, the Liberals have finally committed to taking action.
The Greens say “better late than never”, and we’ll be scrutinising the draft legislation to make sure the proposed levy gathered at the state level will be fully directed into waste recycling activities and promotion, and does not end up in the consolidated revenue stream.