Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Senator Conroy. Last weekend saw hundreds of Clean Up Australia events all over the country. Given that the July 2010 consultation regulation impact statement found that a container deposit scheme with a 10c deposit on beverage containers would increase recycling to over 80 per cent and reduce litter volume by 19 per cent, can the minister update the Senate on why nothing at all was forthcoming from last Friday's meeting of environment ministers on a national container deposit scheme and outline whether the government intends to bury this initiative under further delays or whether there will be progress towards a national scheme?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think Senator Ludlam for his question. Last Friday all environment ministers reconfirmed their commitment to the completion and release for public consultation of the consultation regulation impact statement as soon as possible. This process started in July 2010 when the Environment Protection and Heritage Council agreed to develop a consultation regulation impact statement to assess the costs and benefits of a limited range of options to address packaging impacts, including container deposit legislation.

Before any decision is made to apply new regulation, the government needs to look at the costs and benefits of the proposal. A regulation impact statement provides a detailed analysis of the costs and benefits and includes a broad-ranging consultation to ensure stakeholders' views are taken into consideration. Stakeholder consultation has been and continues to be a critical element of this process and substantial consultation has been undertaken to date. It is still on track to be released for public consultation by the end of the year. The impact statement is looking at a range of options for dealing with packing waste, including a national container deposit scheme.

All of the ministers last week reaffirmed that there will be open and transparent stakeholder consultation on all of the options for improving packaging resource recovery rates and reducing litter. Those options include a national container deposit scheme. All ministers agreed to hold a teleconference by the end of November to consider the consultation regulation impact statement. It will then be released for a four-month consultation period. The reason for the extended period of consultation is that it will take in the Christmas-New Year period.

Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. A spokesperson for Coca-Cola Amatil has reportedly claimed that the Northern Territory container deposits law breaches the Commonwealth Mutual Recognition Act and the company is reportedly planning legal action against the Territory's scheme. Has the Commonwealth government received any legal advice on the matter? If not, will the government seek legal advice on this matter?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That it is a specific question, Senator Ludlam. I am happy to take it on notice to see what information the minister can make available to you.

Scott Ludlam (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. To what extent has Coca-Cola Amatil made representations to the Commonwealth government on this matter? Has the company made any threats of legal action during the EPHC process or any of the RISs or any of the other stultifying series of processes that this thing has been subjected to? At any time has Coca-Cola Amatil made direct representations to the government?

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I am sure you are aware, I would not have been in any of those meetings so I will have to seek further information from the minister and see what we are able to table to assist with answering your question.