Released 08/05/2018
The ACT Government will introduce new measures to ensure drink prices don’t rise beyond reasonable levels following the introduction of a container deposit scheme.
The price of beverages in the ACT will be monitored one month before and 12 months following the implementation of the container deposit scheme to identify if any costs passed onto consumers are excessive.
“The container deposit scheme will encourage Canberrans to do the right thing to reduce litter and waste to landfill. It is not an opportunity for beverage companies to arbitrarily or excessively increase prices, so we’ll be keeping a close eye on them,” Minister for Transport and City Services Meegan Fitzharris said.
“We have been watching the rollout of the container deposit scheme in New South Wales and we are learning lessons from their experience to make sure Canberra’s container deposit scheme is efficient, effective and fair.
“The costs of running the container deposit scheme will be funded by the beverage industry, and we expect the industry may try to recover costs by increasing the retail price of beverages.
“We want to make sure Canberrans are treated fairly, so we want to know if any beverage price increases are excessive and don’t reflect the actual costs incurred to fund the container deposit scheme.
“We have engaged the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to undertake independent and transparent monitoring of prices.”
Minister Fitzharris said the ICRC would make recommendations to the Government, and the Government will respond to any issues that need to be addressed. The Minister added that the monitoring will be paid for by the beverage industry from scheme funding.
The container deposit scheme will launch on 30 June 2018, with collection points to be located in high residential and industrial catchment areas.
- Statement ends -
Meegan Fitzharris, MLA | Media Releases
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