MINISTER FOR LANDS, PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT,
HON. TIM BALDWIN, MLA

Ref: T--01 Friday 1 June

CONTAINER DEPOSIT COMMUNITY AWARENESS

Lands, Planning and Environment Minister, Tim Baldwin, today confirmed that the allocation of $100,000 in the 2001/2002 Budget is to allow Keep Australia Beautiful and LandCare NT to conduct an extensive survey to see if Territorians want a container deposit scheme introduced into the Northern Territory.

"I am disappointed that the Member for Braitling, who had carriage of this issue as a former Government Minister, is not more supportive of the decision to gauge Territorian’s views about such a scheme," said Mr Baldwin.

"It is very important that an awareness is created among Territorians of what the introduction of a container deposit scheme will mean, in terms of costs and benefits, as such a scheme would raise the price of some packaged items.

"The survey will also look at what containers could be included, the level of incentive offered for their return, the location of recycling centres, the structure of a scheme and its administration.

"The survey is not so much about assessing the feasibility of such a scheme. It is all about making Territorians aware of how such a scheme would work, the costs involved and why and the impact on businesses."

The survey and community awareness will be conducted by Keep Australia Beautiful and LandCare NT, who will report back to Government with their findings in approximately six months.

Contact: Annie Darcy
Northern Territory Government
Telephone: (08) 8999 6773