Queensland budget: councils unhappy with waste levy revenue breakdown

The Palaszczuk government’s new waste levy has been criticised by Queensland councils.

The Palaszczuk government’s new waste levy has been criticised by Queensland councils, which say none of revenue raised from the scheme should be kept in the state’s coffers.

Yesterday’s state budget revealed the government will hang on to about 30 per cent of the $1.3 billion in revenue from the levy over the next four years.

Councils would receive $32 million worth of advanced payments in 2018-19.

Treasurer Jackie Trad said councils were to receive payments from the government to cover the cost of the levy to avoid costs being passed on to ratepayers.

“We will provide them with 105 per cent of the waste estimate from their collections, so 105 per cent return back to local councils so that they don’t pass on the levy,” Ms Trad said.

Local Government Association of Queensland president Mark ­Jamieson said that all revenue should “be spent on building a zero-waste future”.

“Councils will be disappointed that more than 30 per cent of the revenue generated by the new waste levy will be channelled into general revenue,’’ he said.

Australian Industry Group Queensland head Shane Rodgers described it as “a new tax on business in the state dressed up as an environmental initiative”.

Ms Trad also said $100m would be available to councils to re-use and recycle waste.