The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has revealed the results of polling that show Queensland communities overwhelmingly support a waste reduction and recycling but don’t want their bins taxed to do it.
Exclusive polling conducted for the LGAQ shows nearly seven out ten Queensland residents oppose households being slugged with a levy on the rubbish in their bins when the state government is collecting hundreds of millions of dollars each year from its waste levy.
The findings from the poll conducted across Queensland give strength to the LGAQ and councils’ calls for the State Government to dump the ‘bin tax’ being applied to households across 19 council areas while it conducts its waste review.
“These statistics show that although Queenslanders are in near unanimous support of reducing waste and increasing recycling, the majority do not support household waste being taxed to achieve it,” LGAQ Chief Executive Officer, Alison Smith, said.
“Councils and communities are speaking with one voice – bin the tax.
“Residents don’t want councils to be forced to choose between passing the bin tax cost on to ratepayers, or having less money for council services like parks, libraries and community facilities.”
Key insights:
- There is broad support across Queensland for the State Government’s plan to reduce waste and increase recycling, with nearly nine in ten residents (88 per cent) in favour
- However, approximately seven in ten residents (68 per cent) believe that households should not pay a levy on the amount of waste in their bins
- 91 per cent of residents statewide agreed the State Government should be doing more to reduce landfill waste in their communities
The LGAQ launched its #BinTheTax campaign after the several million Queenslanders from Far North Queensland to the Gold Coast faced being slugged with a State Government bin tax from 1 July.
