Queensland’s LNP have revealed they want to send Queensland backwards yet again, with their motion in Queensland Parliament tonight to try and repeal the waste levy.
The Queensland LNP, led by Member for Broadwater David Crisafulli, revealed they are at odds with their Federal colleagues when it comes to improving waste management.
Minister for Environment Leeanne Enoch said Queensland used to have a waste levy, and when the former LNP Government repealed it in 2012, it sent Queensland backwards, robbing us of the opportunity to invest in the industry, and opening up the floodgates for Queensland to become a dumping ground for other state’s waste.
“In Parliament tonight, the LNP tried to do this again, even though the Prime Minister recently spoke in favour of state waste levies,” Ms Enoch said.
“Following a recent COAG meeting where discussions were held about stopping the export of recycling, the Prime Minister said: “There is already various levies in place and funds that are held at state levels which are there to support the development of, and capability of, our waste management industries.”
“In the first year after the introduction of the Queensland waste levy, we expect 300 new jobs will be generated through an increase in recycling and resource recovery industries.
“And within a decade, that number is expected to grow to a further 3,000 new jobs in the sector.
“David Crisafulli opposes our Government’s measures to boost the recycling industry, and this means he opposes jobs,” Minister Enoch said.
“The LNP obviously do not understand the challenge Queensland is facing in our state while we are fighting the war on waste.
“Queensland is the second worst performing state or territory when it comes to recycling, and before July 1, we were the only mainland state in Australia without a waste levy.
“But with our sensible measures, including the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy released last month, the Palaszczuk Government is putting Queensland on the right path to grow the resource recovery industry and create jobs.
“We also have a $100 million fund dedicated to supporting new jobs in a bigger recycling industry compared to the Federal Government’s $20 million.”
Minister Enoch said the waste management industry did not want to see the waste levy repealed.
“Recently, I received a letter from the national peak body for the waste industry – the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR), saying that the motion put before Parliament this evening was of concern to industry.
“Queensland needs this. The industry needs this.
“The LNP’s hypocrisy has shown they are more interested in playing politics than coming up with new ideas for waste management and creating new jobs.”
More than 200,000 jobs have been created in Queensland since the Palaszczuk Government was elected in 2015.
