[Greens-Media] MEDIA - New Landfill Levy not Backed by Genuine Intention to Reduce Waste

[Chapple, Robin]

Robin Chapple MLC
Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region


MEDIA RELEASE


New Landfill Levy not Backed by Genuine Intention to Reduce Waste

Thursday, 15 May 2014



The state government has almost doubled the landfill levy as a part of last week's state budget, but will not be using the extra funds to incentivise waste reduction according to Greens waste management spokesperson Robin Chapple MLC.



Only 25 per cent of revenues from proposed increases to the landfill levy will be paid into the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Account to implement initiatives to manage, reduce or re-use waste, whilst a further $15 million  will be provided to the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority to assist in 'service delivery'.



Mr Chapple said the budget only stated that the remaining $137 million would be used to help fund other government priorities.

"What are these 'other government priorities'?," he said.

"The whole thing is very ambiguous.

"I raised this issue in response to similar proposed changes in 2009 but could not get a straight answer from then Environment Minister Donna Faragher about what these extra funds would be used for.

"Yet, amendments that I attempted to introduce which would have created true incentives for key waste reduction infrastructure assets such as resource recovery facilities and material recovery facilities were opposed."

Mr Chapple said these new levies were not backed by any genuine intention to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.

"We believe that these proposed increases to the landfill levy are just another blatant tax grab and a desperate attempt by our new treasurer to balance his budget," he said.

"They are trying to pull the wool over our eyes."

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255


All the best

Robin Chapple MLC
Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region
PO Box 94, West Perth WA 6872
41 Havelock Street, West Perth. WA 6005

Phone: (08) 9486 8255 | Email: Robin.Chapple at mp.wa.gov.au<mailto:Robin.Chapple at mp.wa.gov.au>  | Freecall: 1800 138 610 | WEB: http://robinchapple.com/
Our office provides a facility for members of the public to ask their own Parliamentary Questions through my website at http://www.robinchapple.com/ask-question. Questions on Notice are preferred, instructions and templates are provided.
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