Labor declares party will try to block government’s bix tax in parliament

Labor has declared it will try to block the government’s new bin tax when it goes through the Upper House for approval this week. SEE THE CHANGES + HAVE YOUR SAY >>

Labor has declared it will try to block the government’s new bin tax when it goes through the Upper House for approval this week.

The bin tax comes packaged with the Waste and Resource Recovery Bill, and it will mean residents will be charged extra on their rates to cover an extra levy of $60 per tonne of waste collected by councils.

Labor MLC Josh Willie said this was another tax on households at a time when they were already struggling with the rising cost of living.

Mr Willie said if the government wanted to raise taxes they should do the “dirty work” themselves and not get councils to collect it on their behalf.

“Peter Gutwein promised no new taxes, and he’s silently taxing people’s bins. It’s not good enough,” Mr Willie said.

“The cost of living is hurting families, the cost of petrol, the cost of groceries, and Peter Gutwein’s out of touch with that. He should delay this tax.”

RUBBISH: Labor MP Josh Willie opposes the government's proposed bin tax. Picture: Kenji Sato

In his own electorate, Glenorchy City Council estimates that the first wave of bin taxes would coincide with a rise in waste collection fees by up to $17 for most households.

The first round of bin taxes will start off at $20 per tonne of garbage before rising to $40, and then $60 per year.

Additionally, Mr Willie said residents were already paying $78 for their food and organic waste green bins.

Environment minister Roger Jaensch said money from the bin tax would be used to improve the waste management system and incentivise greener waste practices.

RUBBISH: Labor MP Josh Willie opposes the government's proposed bin tax. Picture: Kenji Sato

“The proposed Waste Levy will help divert waste from landfill and provide funds to invest in waste reduction and alternatives to landfill, including resource recovery and recycling,” Mr Jaensch said.

“The Tasmanian Waste Levy Impact Study 2020 found the community would benefit from a waste levy through a decline in landfill disposal of about 210,000 tonnes per annum by 2030-31.”

Mr Jaensch said Tasmania’s waste levy would be unique from other states, in that it would be set aside for waste projects and not absorbed into general revenue.

Mr Willie said Labor would vote against the Bill, and that it would be up to the independents to decide whether or not the bill passed through the Legislative Council.

Independent MLC Meg Webb said she would wait until she received a full briefing and read the Bill before making a final decision as to whether or not to support it.

‘People are struggling’: Councillor rubbishes tax hike on bins

A Clarence City Councillor has rubbished the state government’s new bin tax, warning it will make life even more unaffordable for ratepayers.

The Tasmanian Government’s waste levy will kick in from July, but it will be up to local councils to collect the money through increased rates.

But the amount ratepayers will be charged varies wildly with one alderman claiming it will mean a rise of $60 and a government spokesperson saying it will be as little as $3.47.

Alderman Luke Edmunds said he wanted to see the government bin the bin tax, or at the very least postpone it until a later date.

Ald Edmunds said now was a bad time to be raising rates, given the soaring costs of rent and everyday living expenses.

“I really think that the government should take a deep breath and think about how much people are already having to fork out for things like petrol and groceries,” he said.

“Do they really want to slug people with this extra tax at this time when so many people are struggling?”

Bin tax

He said the levee would jack up rates by about $60 in July, and about $120 in two year’s time based on current modelling.

However, a government spokesperson said the increase was based on tonnage and its own modelling suggested the average cost increase per capita per year would start out at $3.47 before increasing to $10.14.

When fully implemented the overall added cost collected after 10 years will be $56,290,858.

Ald Edmunds said the levy was being “quietly” passed through parliament, with the onus now on council to charge higher rates.

Ald Edmunds said the Tasmanian government should either “front up” and collect the money themselves, or else put the plan on hold.

However Clarence mayor Doug Chipman said the rest of council was broadly in favour of the levy, since the money could be spent on improving their waste management system.

Particularly, Ald Chipman said he’d like to see their FOGO green bin service improved in order to increase their compost and decrease their landfill.

Bin tax

“Council supports the bill because the waste levy’s going to be productively used to improve the waste system,” Ald Chipman said.

“If we get into better waste management and waste recovery there’ll be a net savings, even if there’s a bit of money upfront for the levy.”

Environment minister Roger Jaensch said the waste levy would be used to bolster the state’s recycling and resource recovery efforts.

“Tasmania is already investing in these opportunities, but a waste levy will ensure that those who produce the most waste make a greater contribution to solutions for managing it. Unlike all other states, which have had waste levies in place for years, Tasmania’s levy funds will be quarantined for waste management projects, not general revenue,” Mr Jaensch said.

“The levy means less land and resources lost to landfill and, in the case of organic waste, the production of less greenhouse gases. A significant benefit for Tasmania’s environment as well as its economy.”

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