❓ Mrs O'Malley asks about the Container Deposit Scheme's benefits for WA businesses and job creation. Premier McGowan highlights environmental benefits, job creation (especially for disadvantaged groups), and the scheme's cost-effectiveness, noting price monitoring and widespread refund points.
AnsweredQoN 69Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CONTAINER DEPOSIT SCHEME
69. Mrs L.M. O'MALLEY to the Premier:
Before I ask my question I would
like to acknowledge the year 12 politics and law students and their teacher
from Melville Senior High School who are here in the gallery today.
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to protecting our environment and improving
recycling rates across Western Australia through the implementation of the
state's first container deposit scheme. Can the Premier update the
house on how this government's landmark containers for change scheme
will provide new opportunities for WA businesses and help create new local
jobs?
69. Mrs L.M. O'MALLEY to the Premier:
Before I ask my question I would
like to acknowledge the year 12 politics and law students and their teacher
from Melville Senior High School who are here in the gallery today.
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to protecting our environment and improving
recycling rates across Western Australia through the implementation of the
state's first container deposit scheme. Can the Premier update the
house on how this government's landmark containers for change scheme
will provide new opportunities for WA businesses and help create new local
jobs?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Bicton for
her question and for her interest in this important subject matter. We are
strongly supportive of a container deposit scheme. A container deposit scheme
will commence, for the first time in history in Western Australia, on 2 June
this year. It will provide a 10� refund for those returning eligible drink
containers to approved refund points. Costs will be borne by suppliers and
industry.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Is the
National Party opposed?
Mr D.T. Redman : No.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Okay. So it is
in favour but it wants to criticise it, which is kind of normal practice for
the National Party. In New South Wales and Queensland, just so people are
aware, the average price increase per container was less than the 10� that
customers would get from a refund, with a 7.7� increase and an 8.6� increase respectively. In other words, the system worked
well, competitive pressure kicked in, and some of the very, very tiny costs involved were absorbed. People got more back than the cost increase on a container
when they returned the containers. The chair
of the Liquor Stores Association of Western Australia is in favour, and the Economic
Regulation Authority will be monitoring prices before and after the
scheme to ensure that we keep pressure down on the costs.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Under the
scheme we expect to see 6.6 billion containers recycled over the next couple of
decades. That will divert six billion containers from landfill and hundreds of
millions more from litter. It helps to clean up our environment, but what is
more is that it does another important thing: it creates jobs. This scheme will
create 500 jobs across the state. In particular, we are focused on charities
and disability sector organisations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
corporations and sporting and community groups. Earlier this year I visited the
Ability Centre, which runs Goodwill Engineering in Malaga. Many people there
perform important work and have a disability.
The Ability Centre will run some of the collection points and it expects to
create jobs for people with disabilities as a consequence. People with
disabilities, the long-term unemployed and Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people will be able to get a large number of those 500 jobs created.
There will be 172 refund points, growing to 229 refund points—the
highest ratio of refund points anywhere in Australia, and every region across
the state will be covered. This is a great environmental initiative and a great
waste-avoidance initiative, and it will create jobs, especially for people who
may have a disability or are long-term unemployed. It is a great initiative and
a great Labor achievement.
her question and for her interest in this important subject matter. We are
strongly supportive of a container deposit scheme. A container deposit scheme
will commence, for the first time in history in Western Australia, on 2 June
this year. It will provide a 10� refund for those returning eligible drink
containers to approved refund points. Costs will be borne by suppliers and
industry.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Is the
National Party opposed?
Mr D.T. Redman : No.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Okay. So it is
in favour but it wants to criticise it, which is kind of normal practice for
the National Party. In New South Wales and Queensland, just so people are
aware, the average price increase per container was less than the 10� that
customers would get from a refund, with a 7.7� increase and an 8.6� increase respectively. In other words, the system worked
well, competitive pressure kicked in, and some of the very, very tiny costs involved were absorbed. People got more back than the cost increase on a container
when they returned the containers. The chair
of the Liquor Stores Association of Western Australia is in favour, and the Economic
Regulation Authority will be monitoring prices before and after the
scheme to ensure that we keep pressure down on the costs.
Mr D.T. Redman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Warren–Blackwood, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Under the
scheme we expect to see 6.6 billion containers recycled over the next couple of
decades. That will divert six billion containers from landfill and hundreds of
millions more from litter. It helps to clean up our environment, but what is
more is that it does another important thing: it creates jobs. This scheme will
create 500 jobs across the state. In particular, we are focused on charities
and disability sector organisations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
corporations and sporting and community groups. Earlier this year I visited the
Ability Centre, which runs Goodwill Engineering in Malaga. Many people there
perform important work and have a disability.
The Ability Centre will run some of the collection points and it expects to
create jobs for people with disabilities as a consequence. People with
disabilities, the long-term unemployed and Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people will be able to get a large number of those 500 jobs created.
There will be 172 refund points, growing to 229 refund points—the
highest ratio of refund points anywhere in Australia, and every region across
the state will be covered. This is a great environmental initiative and a great
waste-avoidance initiative, and it will create jobs, especially for people who
may have a disability or are long-term unemployed. It is a great initiative and
a great Labor achievement.
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