June 6, 2018
Opposition Leader and Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington shares concerns the State Government’s proposed Waste Levy will hit households and small businesses with extra costs.
Last week, the government announced it would introduce a $70-a-tonne waste levy in 2019 to cut back on interstate waste dumping and promote the development of a recycling industry in Queensland.
Under the government’s plan, 38 councils in the waste levy area – including the South Burnett Regional Council – would receive an annual rebate to offset the levy’s cost.
They would be allowed to pocket the difference between the rebate and levy charges if they can reduce the amount of waste going into landfills by diverting some of it to recycling.
On Tuesday, CEO Gary Wall said Council had concerns that if the scheme failed to take all the costs of implementing the levy into account, the result could be that Council waste collection charges would increase, not remain static or fall.
Mrs Frecklington said she had similar concerns.
“The government’s new waste tax will slug families and small businesses,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Labor can try to downplay the impact of this tax all they like, but this tax will hit every industry from construction to manufacturing, tourism and hospitality because it will cost more for businesses to dispose of their waste.
“Those businesses will have no choice but to pass the cost on to their customers or be out of pocket themselves, and that’s not fair.
“I have fought this waste tax since Labor announced it and warned you can’t tax your way to growth.”
Related articles:
