Container Deposits Scheme (and Legislation)
I've just received news from Colleen Hartland MLC's office Queenscliffe Borough passed a motion in support of drink container deposits. Northerh Grampians Shire also resolved to offer in principle support to container deposits.
Unfortunately Brimbank is at the back of the class for voting against. Please see here to view the motion and a brief comment on how it fared in the council chamber.
Nationally Greens Senator Scott Ludlam's container deposit legislation is in the process of gathering submissions for a Senate inquiry (submissions are due 23 July 2009).
Showing posts with label Federal Government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Federal Government. Show all posts
6.7.09
5.6.09
Reborn: national e-waste recycling scheme
Two formidabe NGOs, Environment Victoria and the Total Environment Centre, have launched a new campaign for a national e-waste recycling scheme. REBORN is calling on federal and state environment ministers to give televisions, computers and other old electronics a second life. Visit www.reborn.org.au and tell Peter Garrett you support e-waste recycling.
Two formidabe NGOs, Environment Victoria and the Total Environment Centre, have launched a new campaign for a national e-waste recycling scheme. REBORN is calling on federal and state environment ministers to give televisions, computers and other old electronics a second life. Visit www.reborn.org.au and tell Peter Garrett you support e-waste recycling.
25.5.09
Say no to CPRS
Legislation to establish a national Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) has been introduced to the Federal Parliament and the Government remains determined to pass the package of Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bills in the winter session. Of significant interest to local government is the amended Bill states that legacy emissions from landfill will not attract a carbon liability under the CPRS. Unfortunately the legislation is deeply flawed, and the emissions reductions targets upon which it is based are recklessly faulty.
Community Safety Meeting held at Council
I had called on Council to organise a community safety meeting. This meeting was attended by a range of representatives from Victoria Police, local MPs, Councillors, the Department of Transport, and Connex.
While it was useful from the vantage point of officers dealing with these issues, there was no invitation by officers to local community members who live in our neighbourhoods and streets to contribute.
Legislation to establish a national Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) has been introduced to the Federal Parliament and the Government remains determined to pass the package of Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bills in the winter session. Of significant interest to local government is the amended Bill states that legacy emissions from landfill will not attract a carbon liability under the CPRS. Unfortunately the legislation is deeply flawed, and the emissions reductions targets upon which it is based are recklessly faulty.
Community Safety Meeting held at Council
I had called on Council to organise a community safety meeting. This meeting was attended by a range of representatives from Victoria Police, local MPs, Councillors, the Department of Transport, and Connex.
While it was useful from the vantage point of officers dealing with these issues, there was no invitation by officers to local community members who live in our neighbourhoods and streets to contribute.
24.5.09
Dr Richard di Natale Greens lead Senate Candidate
Congratulations to Richard on yesterday's announcement of his preselection as the Greens lead Senate Candidate for Victoria. Greens members across the state voted to see Richard elected in the next Federal Election. The Senate needs a Victorian Greens Senator.
Twice Richard came within 1000-odd votes of winning the lower house seat of Melbourne in the Victorian Parliament in 2002 and 2006. The Age reports that he ran second to John So in the 2004 lord mayoral race. Richard has contested the Senate in 2004 and 2007 for the Greens and is now well-placed to be the party's first Victorian Senator.
Richard is a doctor who worked in rural and remote health and an articulate advocate for action on climate change, biodiversity, worker's rights, public health and education.
Congratulations to Richard on yesterday's announcement of his preselection as the Greens lead Senate Candidate for Victoria. Greens members across the state voted to see Richard elected in the next Federal Election. The Senate needs a Victorian Greens Senator.
Twice Richard came within 1000-odd votes of winning the lower house seat of Melbourne in the Victorian Parliament in 2002 and 2006. The Age reports that he ran second to John So in the 2004 lord mayoral race. Richard has contested the Senate in 2004 and 2007 for the Greens and is now well-placed to be the party's first Victorian Senator.
Richard is a doctor who worked in rural and remote health and an articulate advocate for action on climate change, biodiversity, worker's rights, public health and education.
15.5.09
St Aloysius College
I spoke to a group of year 10 students today about the role of a councillor. They were an impressive bunch and visits like these are one of the more fun things I get to do as a councillor.
Federal Budget
On Tuesday evening the Rudd Government unveiled their second Federal Budget.It includes a number of items relevant to Brimbank:
• Regional rail link funding of $3.2 Billion
• Kings Rd interchange to be completed by 2013
• East west rail tunnel, $40M to commence the project
To the relief of a lot of Australian households, the Rudd Government did not issue a surprise announcement withdrawing the Solar PV $8000 rebate (Solar Homes and Communities Plan)
Climate action on pause – without or without CPRS
Australia needs real domestic action on climate change. Unfortunately, the Rudd government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is deeply flawed. The Government has announced that it will delay the Scheme by one year and deliver another $2.2 billion in compensation to Australia’s biggest polluters—in addition to $7.4 billion the polluters are already gifted with Australian taxpayers money. Meanwhile paltry targets lock the country into dangerous levels of emissions.
Lantrak Fined
The EPA have fined Lantrak Pty Ltd $5671 for dumping almost 1,500m3 of acid sulphate soil* at a clean fill site at Carrington Drive, St Albans.
*“Acid sulphate soils produce sulfuric acid which release toxic quantities of iron, aluminium and heavy metals into surface water, groundwater and other soil.”
I spoke to a group of year 10 students today about the role of a councillor. They were an impressive bunch and visits like these are one of the more fun things I get to do as a councillor.
Federal Budget
On Tuesday evening the Rudd Government unveiled their second Federal Budget.It includes a number of items relevant to Brimbank:
• Regional rail link funding of $3.2 Billion
• Kings Rd interchange to be completed by 2013
• East west rail tunnel, $40M to commence the project
To the relief of a lot of Australian households, the Rudd Government did not issue a surprise announcement withdrawing the Solar PV $8000 rebate (Solar Homes and Communities Plan)
Climate action on pause – without or without CPRS
Australia needs real domestic action on climate change. Unfortunately, the Rudd government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is deeply flawed. The Government has announced that it will delay the Scheme by one year and deliver another $2.2 billion in compensation to Australia’s biggest polluters—in addition to $7.4 billion the polluters are already gifted with Australian taxpayers money. Meanwhile paltry targets lock the country into dangerous levels of emissions.
Lantrak Fined
The EPA have fined Lantrak Pty Ltd $5671 for dumping almost 1,500m3 of acid sulphate soil* at a clean fill site at Carrington Drive, St Albans.
*“Acid sulphate soils produce sulfuric acid which release toxic quantities of iron, aluminium and heavy metals into surface water, groundwater and other soil.”
11.5.09
Climate change - Act NOW
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in Hobart on April 30 signed on to the Federal Government’s paltry National Renewable Energy Target (RET) and agreed to exemptions of up to 90 percent for the most intensive emitters of green house gases where these are export-related.
Broadband and the cycle of privatisation
It’s raining big budget government spending items at the moment. One of the recently announced ones was the “fibre-to-the-home” National Broadband Network (NBN) valued at $43 billion. The Commonwealth will have a 51 percent stake in the project that will deliver potential download speeds of up to 100 megabytes per second (Mbbps) to up to 90 percent of the Australian population – exceeding Rudd’s 2007 election undertaking by a long margin. It will generate 25,000 jobs a year over the eight years it will take to roll out.
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in Hobart on April 30 signed on to the Federal Government’s paltry National Renewable Energy Target (RET) and agreed to exemptions of up to 90 percent for the most intensive emitters of green house gases where these are export-related.
Broadband and the cycle of privatisation
It’s raining big budget government spending items at the moment. One of the recently announced ones was the “fibre-to-the-home” National Broadband Network (NBN) valued at $43 billion. The Commonwealth will have a 51 percent stake in the project that will deliver potential download speeds of up to 100 megabytes per second (Mbbps) to up to 90 percent of the Australian population – exceeding Rudd’s 2007 election undertaking by a long margin. It will generate 25,000 jobs a year over the eight years it will take to roll out.
29.4.09
Meeting of the Keilor Cemetery Trust
At this meeting I was astonished to learn that the finance officer of the Trust had been under pressure from Kathryn Eriksson to investigate the Bank of Cyprus for a term deposit as the manager was a friend of hers. We quickly moved to ensure a transparent tender review process was to be implemented.
Broadband
Federal Member for Gorton* Brendan O’Connor's recent comments about the Rudd Labor Government providing broadband to the ordinary people would strike as sincere if there weren't the problem of other vital and missing services to the people of the West. Suddenly broadband access is important to Labor and perhaps big business, but out of step with the needs of this community.
*the Federal seat of Gorton which shares similar electoral boundaries to Brimbank local government area.
At this meeting I was astonished to learn that the finance officer of the Trust had been under pressure from Kathryn Eriksson to investigate the Bank of Cyprus for a term deposit as the manager was a friend of hers. We quickly moved to ensure a transparent tender review process was to be implemented.
Broadband
Federal Member for Gorton* Brendan O’Connor's recent comments about the Rudd Labor Government providing broadband to the ordinary people would strike as sincere if there weren't the problem of other vital and missing services to the people of the West. Suddenly broadband access is important to Labor and perhaps big business, but out of step with the needs of this community.
*the Federal seat of Gorton which shares similar electoral boundaries to Brimbank local government area.
22.4.09
Container Deposit Meeting
We had a successful local meeting in Sunshine attended by members of local sports clubs, girl guides groups and interested community members. 10cent deposit on all drink bottles, cans & cartons would save councils $15.2 million, by shifting the cost away from councils towards those who create the litter.
A remarkable 94% of Victorians are in favour of container deposit legislation. The scheme proposed by Greens upper house MP Colleen Hartland would be self funding with potential for tremendous economic benefit to taxpayers and local community groups, as well as the obvious environmental benefit.
Brimbank Council would reap countless benefits
• We will end up saving on tip fees because of a lower volume
• We get a guaranteed 10c for every can, bottle or container
• We will got more for our paper that is collected through kerbside because it will not be contaminated by broken glass
• Less litter in our parks and waterways
• There will be an increased value of the recyclate
• Community groups will make money on bottles, cans and cartons and keep our streets clean
• We wont have to pay for expensive public place recycling
• There will be water and greenhouse gas emissions savings
• And we could even make money out of operating Reverse Vending Machines, hubs and depots
Ms Hartland released her report "Turning Rubbish into Community Money: The benefits of a 10c deposit on drink containers in Victoria" on 31 March 2009.
We had a successful local meeting in Sunshine attended by members of local sports clubs, girl guides groups and interested community members. 10cent deposit on all drink bottles, cans & cartons would save councils $15.2 million, by shifting the cost away from councils towards those who create the litter.
A remarkable 94% of Victorians are in favour of container deposit legislation. The scheme proposed by Greens upper house MP Colleen Hartland would be self funding with potential for tremendous economic benefit to taxpayers and local community groups, as well as the obvious environmental benefit.
Brimbank Council would reap countless benefits
• We will end up saving on tip fees because of a lower volume
• We get a guaranteed 10c for every can, bottle or container
• We will got more for our paper that is collected through kerbside because it will not be contaminated by broken glass
• Less litter in our parks and waterways
• There will be an increased value of the recyclate
• Community groups will make money on bottles, cans and cartons and keep our streets clean
• We wont have to pay for expensive public place recycling
• There will be water and greenhouse gas emissions savings
• And we could even make money out of operating Reverse Vending Machines, hubs and depots
Ms Hartland released her report "Turning Rubbish into Community Money: The benefits of a 10c deposit on drink containers in Victoria" on 31 March 2009.
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