WMAA is calling for certainty on policy around greenhouse gas emissions after renewed political interest in an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
Labor Leader Bill Shorten took the opportunity at the recent National Reform Summit to implore Australia’s major business and community leaders to collaborate on designing an ETS.
Earlier this year, the South Australian Environment Minister had discussed the merits of an interstate ETS with his Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales counterparts. Although the SA Premier later such a plan as impossible.
The new CEO at WMAA, Martin Tolar, today issued a statement on behalf of the waste and secondary resource industry, saying it was worried about the recent renewed ETS debate.
“The waste management industry wants to see Australia adopt the most effective and efficient means to manage our greenhouse gas emissions,” said Mr Tolar.
“However, the government needs to be mindful of the fact that we have seen nearly 10 years of regulatory uncertainty surrounding this issue.
“It’s essential that if we are to embark upon another round of policy reform that consideration is given to the significant investments that have already been undertaken by the waste management industry in meeting its regulatory obligations. What industry and consumers need is certainty and a long term policy solution.”
The government launched its final draft on the greenhouse gas emissions cap, supporting a ‘safeguard mechanism’, just days before Malcolm Turnbull replaced Tony Abbott. With a new leader in place, the waste management industry now awaits forthcoming developments in this space.