[Greens-Media] Coke threatens to price gouge in Victoria

[Elizabeth.Ingham at parliament.vic.gov.au]

Greens MLC Colleen Hartland says Coca Cola's full page advertisements in today's Herald Sun against a 10c refund on bottles, cans and cartons show the company is terrified its free advertising from litter will disappear if a national scheme is progressed at tomorrow's COAG meeting.

"I don't think Coca Cola executives stay up all night worrying about our grocery bills.  If that were the case, the adverts would say the 10c deposit is fully refundable at reverse vending machines that will also let you donate your 10c to charity," said Colleen Hartland

"This must be costing Coca Cola a fortune.  It just goes to show the value of the free advertising they get from branded litter if they will pay so much money to oppose a scheme that stops litter before it hits the ground."

"It's actually pretty funny they are calling the scheme a 'tax'. If only we could get a 100% refund on all our tax!" 

"In the Northern Territory, the bottle companies that run the new 10c refund scheme, including Coke, have refused to put the profits they are making out of it back into the scheme - they are keeping the unredeemed deposits and the materials sales.  They are trying to make the scheme fail so it won't be rolled out nationally. Meanwhile they are price-gouging up to 20c on drinks in the Northern Territory, which is an utter scandal in itself, let alone threatening to do the same in full page adverts in Melbourne."

"My message to the Baillieu government ahead of tomorrow's COAG meeting is: if you can't stand up for Victorians who want a 10c refund scheme against companies threatening us with price gouging, there is absolutely no point in having you here," said Ms Hartland

Ms Hartland has Greens legislation before Victorian parliament for a 10c refund on bottles, cans and cartons.  She has delayed debate on her Victorian scheme pending a COAG decision on a national scheme.

For comment: Colleen Hartland - 0417 445 845

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Liz Ingham
Office of Colleen MLC
Western Metropolitan Region

75 Victoria Street Seddon 3011
P: 9689 6373
M: 0409 333 595
E:elizabeth.ingham at parliament.vic.gov.au
W: http://mps.vic.greens.org.au


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Parliament of Victoria                                                                                                                    . 

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