Queensland Government rejects drink container tax

Queensland Government Environment Minister Andrew Powell has announced that the state has rejected the proposed national drink container deposit tax.

Minister Powell has instead announced a collaborative partnership between the Queensland Government, industry and Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland to reduce littering and improve recycling rates across the state.

The decision was welcomed by the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC), with AFGC General Manager of the Packaging Stewardship Forum Jenny Pickles saying the Queensland Government has shown the way forward.

“At more than $300 a year for the average family, the cost of living impacts of a national drink container tax are significant, particularly when the majority of families are already doing the right thing by recycling and not littering,” Pickles said.

“We look forward to working closely with the Queensland Government and Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland to deliver real and practical initiatives to create a cleaner future for the state.”

The Minister’s announcement was made in advance of a meeting of federal, state and territory Environment Ministers to be held in Canberra tomorrow. The meeting will discuss a range of options to increase packaging recycling and reduce litter, including drink container deposits.

“The Queensland Government’s decision is a win for common sense, a win for the environment and a win for the hip pocket of every Queenslander,” Pickles said.