Nationals push lands Senate Inquiry into recycling policy

Labor’s attempt to slug Australians with yet another tax will form part of a Senate Inquiry into waste reduction and recycling policies, after a successful push by Nationals Senator Ross Cadell.

Co-sponsored by Senator Whish-Wilson of The Greens, the inquiry will look at the Albanese Government’s policies including export regulations, economic and social impacts, and the ramifications for Australia’s international and domestic recycling commitments.

Senator Cadell said the inquiry presented an opportunity to closely examine the proposed policies, which will see more pain delivered to already struggling Australians.

“There is nothing that the current Labor Government don’t want to tax… Whether we export it, or whether we process it, they want to tax it,” Senator Cadell said.

“The industry is seeing pressure put on them to cover the costs of everything that is put on the recycling heap.

“What we need to do is find a way that we can recycle our products effectively, and sell our commodities internationally, rather than have warehouses of soft plastics delivering no value.”

The Environment and Communications References Committee will hand down its report in November.