Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend notice of motion No. 1170 standing in my name for today relating to the Northern Territory Container Deposit Scheme.

Leave granted.

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) the recent decision by the Federal Court of Australia in the Coca-Cola Amatil (Aust) Pty Ltd v Northern Territory of Australia [2013] which ruled that the Northern Territory container deposit scheme was invalid, and

(ii) that some beverage companies have announced that they will cease to provide container deposit refunds under the scheme; and

(b) calls on all Australian governments to work together to expedite consideration of any application made by the Northern Territory Government for an exemption to the Mutual Recognition Act 1992, to support the continuation of the Northern Territory container deposit scheme.

I seek leave to make a very short statement.

Leave granted.

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This motion today is important for the people of the Northern Territory and the businesses that have invested in a recycling scheme there—the container deposit scheme. It is based on the very successful South Australian model and in fact a number of South Australian businesses have invested in the Northern Territory to see their recycling rates amongst the highest in the world. It is despicable that a large corporation has used a legal loophole to cancel this scheme, which was dictated by the local government and by local communities.

This motion today is a very clear signal for parliament and parliamentarians from all parties to stand together and make a big statement that we would like to see the Northern Territory scheme reinstated and that we would like to see recycling continue in the Northern Territory.

Question agreed to.