Carbon policy, waste management infrastructure and interstate waste transport were topics of discussion when the CEO of the Waste Management Association of Australia met senior government officials in Canberra.
Martin Tolar held separate meetings yesterday (13 October) with Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt and senior staff from the office of the new Minister for Cities and the Built Environment, Jamie Briggs.
Mr Tolar covered a range of issues with the Environment Minister, including carbon policy, interstate transport of waste and industry data.
“I was pleased Minister Hunt was able to confirm that there will be no changes to carbon policy, thus providing regulatory certainty to our industry going forward,” said Mr Tolar. “The Minister is aware of our concern over the interstate transport of waste and the adverse impact this has on the environment, infrastructure and state economies. The disparity in landfill levies and fees between states has contributed to this, and we are looking for national leadership on this matter.”
Meeting with a senior adviser from the office of the Cities and the Built Environment, CEO Martin Tolar pressed the importance of waste infrastructure planning to support urban growth and achieve better environmental outcomes.
“WMAA welcomes the recent announcement by Minister Briggs of a Cities Taskforce to advise on policy affecting city development,” Mr Tolar added. “I have advised his office that WMAA is ideally positioned to provide the waste infrastructure perspective to this important group.”
Minister Briggs will be looking to release a discussion paper with a focus on the needs of Australia’s future cities.