Ex-justice to head Qld waste investigation

Former Supreme Court Justice Peter Lyons QC will head an investigation into Queensland's waste management industry.

A former Supreme Court justice will lead an independent investigation into Queensland's waste industry in a bid to stop rubbish from NSW being dumped over the border.

Peter Lyons QC has been appointed to run the three-month probe, with the report to be provided to the government by mid-November.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told parliament on Tuesday the review would provide advice on possible "regulatory reforms" that would stop the dumping of waste into Queensland.

Mr Lyons will also be responsible for meeting with waste and recycling industry bodies.

Ms Palaszczuk said she was "very alarmed" at a recent report by ABC's Four Corners that exposed the practice by some NSW operators in a bid to avoid its own state's waste levy.

"We are sending a clear message to interstate operators transporting waste to this state," she said.

Ms Palaszczuk said she and Environment Minister Steven Miles met with industry representatives last week.

"They told us that the law-abiding majority of operators are just as keen to stamp out the rogue elements of the industry as we are," she said.

Queensland's former LNP government scrapped the state's $35 per tonne waste levy in 2012.

The Labor government has refused to reinstate the charge in this term of government.


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Source: AAP



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