Aussie can take back scheme given new lease of life
A can take back scheme pioneered by an Australian state will stay in place after a court ruling.
Australia’s Northern Territory Government environment minister, Peter Chandler (pictured) said, back in March this year, the authority would prop up the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) for two months with taxpayers’ money.
However, on Monday (5 August) Chandler, says the scheme had cleared the final hurdle following the Federal Executive Council’s decision to grant national recognition yesterday.
He said, “I have been advised that ExCo ratified the Territory Government’s bid for the Container Deposit Legislation to be exempt from the operation of the Commonwealth’s Mutual Recognition Act.
“Without those amendments, the Territory would have been unable to operate the scheme in isolation from other jurisdictions.
“This outcome involved a great deal of negotiation on the part of the Territory Government and we are proud to have secured the future of this popular environmental measure.
“It was quite an achievement to secure the agreement of all State Premiers and the ACT Chief Minister to support our bid for exemption under the Mutual Recognition Act.”
The scheme was under threat after the beverage industry successfully challenged the Territory legislation in the Federal Court.
The Territory Government showed its commitment to the scheme through provision of funding of an estimated $1 million a month to subsidise the scheme since February.