VicHealth has today welcomed a bid to introduce a mandatory levy on alcohol and junk food advertising, in light of research that shows the overwhelming majority of Victorians want these industries to be accountable for the harm they cause. “A levy on junk food and alcohol advertising would shift the focus away from products that are harmful for health and put the spotlight on the promotion of healthier products,” VicHealth CEO, Todd Harper, said. “We know from VicHealth research... ...Read more »

New research by VicHealth (the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation) suggests that three quarters of Victorians support a levy on alcohol and junk food advertising, with proceeds going to replace sponsorship by these industries in community sports. The survey also found that more than four out of five Victorians would like to see and end to alcohol sponsorship of local sports clubs, provided the lost funds are made up. The survey, conducted in November last year, randomly surveyed 1500 Victorians... ...Read more »

A Senate inquiry report released yesterday has advised that the Container Deposit Legislation not proceed at this stage, a conclusion that was welcomed by the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC). The private members Bill, Environment Protection – Beverage Container Deposit and Recovery Scheme – for Container Deposit Legislation (CDL) in Australia, has the support of the Greens and Family First and would see the introduction of a 10 cent levy on each beverage container sold in the... ...Read more »

A decision to introduce a national beverage deposit scheme – similar to that seen in South Australia – was not reached at a meeting of Australia’s state and federal environment ministers in Hobart today. Legislation for the scheme has been put forward by Family First Senator Steve Fielding and the Greens party but the Federal Government has yet to report a conclusive opinion on the idea. The state and federal ministers had commissioned a report into the merits of the scheme but... ...Read more »

An Australia-wide drink container deposit system is being considered by the Federal Government, with Family First and the Greens both pushing for legislation similar to that seen in South Australia. The idea involves adding a 10c levy to packaged beverages, which can be recovered by consumers when they recycle it. The leading representative of food and beverage manufacturers, the Australian Food and Grocery Council, is against the push, claiming it could cost Australians almost $500 million a year... ...Read more »

The price of fresh milk is set to drop when a milk tax is lifted on 22 February 2009. The Rudd Government announced last year it would abolish the 11 cents a litre levy, which was established by the Howard Government in 2000 to fund an industry deregulation adjustment package. The levy funded a number of measures to help dairy farmers adjust to the removal of state and Commonwealth government price support measures. It is collected by dairy processing companies and appropriated into a trust fund,... ...Read more »

The 11 cents per litre levy on fresh milk is to be scrapped following the passing of the Dairy Adjustment Levy Termination Bill 2008 through the Senate yesterday. The levy was established by the Howard Government in 2000 to fund an adjustment package for the dairy industry as it moved through deregulation. Around $240 million a year has been collected through the levy, to provide payments to around 13,000 dairy businesses over eight years. “The move to terminate the Dairy Adjustment Levy has... ...Read more »

The ACT community should achieve a reduction of 80 per cent in plastic bag use, ACT Environment Minister Simon Corbell said on Friday. Mr Corbell said the ACT would move to instigate a 12-month trial in the first half of next year of a range of measures, including a charge on plastic bags, to reduce plastic bag use. “The 80 per cent target would be consistent with the results achieved in the recent Victorian trial of a plastic bag charge of 10 cents per bag,” he claimed. “One of... ...Read more »

Margy Osmond, CEO of the Australian National Retailers Association, has reported that retailers are keen to participate with government on new plastic bag initiatives following the successful trial of a levy in Victoria a couple of months ago. “We welcome the opportunity to continue and grow our partnership with the Victorian and other state governments to develop a model to further reduce the use of plastic bags,” Mrs Osmond said in response to the Environment Ministers meeting in Adelaide... ...Read more »

Shoppers in Warrnambool, Wangaratta and the Fountain Gate area have dramatically cut plastic bag use during the plastic bag levy trial, according to the Victorian Government. From 18 August to 14 September a ten cent government and industry charge was placed on plastic checkout bags from Coles, Woolworths (Safeway) and IGA stores in the three trial areas of Warrnambool, Wangaratta and Fountain Gate. Victorian Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings and CEO of the Australian National... ...Read more »