Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has launched a crackdown on tonnes of NSW garbage being dumped north of the border to avoid waste levies - but for now, at least, isn't prepared to impose one herself.
Her response to the interstate rort comes amid allegations of corruption within the NSW waste industry referred on Wednesday to that state's corruption watchdog by NSW Environmental Protection Authority chief executive Barry Buffier.
His move followed a recording played by ABC's Four Corners program of EPA waste management director Steve Beaman joking with industry figures, where he said: "We (NSW) take their mangoes, they (Queensland) can take our waste. So that's the reality of it."
Mr Buffier said Mr Beaman would be taking four weeks "recreation leave" effective immediately.
In response, Ms Palaszczuk announced on Wednesday that monitoring efforts by Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection staff will increase at some landfill sites.
She said asbestos and other hazardous wastes would also be the focus of Department of Transport and Main Roads' officials carrying out regulation compliance inspections.
Ms Palaszczuk said she would convene a meeting between waste and recycling industry representatives, government agencies and the Local Government Association of Queensland to map out a long-term waste management strategy.
She ruled out imposing a waste levy for Queensland during the current term of government but not putting one in place if she wins the next election.
"I made a commitment to the people of Queensland that under my government this term we would not put in place any new fees taxes or charges and I keep my promises," she said.
Queensland's former LNP government scrapped the state's $35 per tonne waste levy in 2012, describing it as a burden on businesses.
The Labor government has refused to reinstate the charge, even though many claim it would immediately fix the interstate dumping problem.
Ms Palaszcuk had been due to speak with NSW counterpart Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday afternoon but the meeting was pushed back into the evening.
Ms Berejiklian on Tuesday refused to answer questions about whether states should create a uniform national waste levy to avoid any financial incentive to ship waste around the country.
The Queensland Greens meanwhile have proposed implementing a $78.20 per tonne waste levy, with candidate for the state seat of Maiwar Michael Berkman claiming that price was consistent with regional rates in NSW.
Share
