Porliomenf House
Stole Squore

DearGetUP Members
CHIEF M NISTER
In February this year, the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
unanimously passed landmark legislation to create a container deposit
scheme.
We became only the second jurisdiction in Australia to take the simple step of
putting 10 cents on an empty can of soft drink, a bottle of beer or our much
loved carton of ice coffee.
Our Cash for Containers scheme will commence on 3 January 2012, following
the lead of South Australia’s successful scheme that has been operating for
over 30 years.
Products are not more expensive in South Australia as a result of their
container deposit scheme. There is no reason why they should be in the
Northern Territory.
In the Territory we have some of the most pristine environments on earth and
tourists from all overthe world come to see our wild, untouched landscapes.
I can think of no better place than the Territory to implement a proven policy
that reduces litter, increases recycling and creates the green jobs of the
future.
GPO Box 3146
DOMin NT 0801
Telephone: 08 8901 4000
FGCSimile: 08 8901 4099
The multinational beverage industry has waged a 30 year scare campaign
against any Government that has dared to consider the simple measure of
putting 10 cents on an empty container.
I am writing to you because the beverage industry continues in its attempts to
undermine the will of the Parliament and the Northern Territory community.
In the lead up to our container deposit legislation, Coca Cola and its beverage
industry allies, ran a wellfunded public misinformation campaign against Cash
for Containers. .
We have seen political intimidation. We heard false claims that container
labels would take 2 years to change, only to now find Coca Cola producing
Northern Territory Government
individually named cans and bottles. And now we face the threat of legal
challenge.
I have called on Coca Cola and its beverage industry allies to respectthe will
of the Territory Parliament and that of ordinary Territorians. And ifthey seek
to challenge the legislation, we will see those companies in court.
Territorians are proudly independent and are not afraid of a fight.
We have taken on the multinational heavies butthe ongoing success of
container deposit schemes depends upon the community making it clearthat
theirtactics won’t work.
I hope that the implementation of Cash for Containers in the Northern Territory
encourages other Governments to move in the same direction to putin place
a national container deposit scheme.
Cash for Containers has my Government’s support, it has the overwhelming
support of Territorians and I hope it has your support.
Yours sincerely
o
PAUL HENDERSON
PS For more information on our Cash for Containers scheme please visit
WWW. greeningnt. nt. gov. au
O 5 DEC 20/1
Northern Territory Government