Environmental groups have welcomed the NSW government’s announcement that it will introduce cash for containers recycling in the state.
But opponents are yet to give up, with the Australian Beverages Council threatening to run attack advertising against the government during the state election campaign.
Jeff Angel, national convenor of the Boomerang Alliance of 32 groups, said supporters of the policy can counter the ‘threat by bullies’.
‘Today is a great day for the environment. It has been a long journey, littered with obstacles and uncertainties,’ Mr Angel said.
‘Please join us in congratulating and supporting premier Mike Baird against these bullies. If we show him enough support he won’t be able to crumble under the pressure and change his mind.
‘It has already happened in the past. Catherine Cusack, NSW Liberal MLC, told parliament her party was threatened with a $4 million attack ad campaign at the 2011 election when she tried to push for a container deposit scheme,’ he said.
The Lennox Head-based MP said at the time that ‘the beverage industry, frankly, has been masterful in putting off a container deposit scheme even though all the opinion polls show it’s what the public wants, even though we know how much better it will be for the environment,’ she said.
Mr Angel urged supporters to call the premier’s Manly electorate office (02 9976 2773), sending him an email (http://bit.ly/thankyoumike) or contacting him via twitter (@mikebaird) or Facebook (mikebairdMP).
‘Please also join the #CashForContainers Thunderclap to thank Mike Baird for standing up to Coke and protecting Australia from litter. It will help make a massive noise about our win on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr,’ he said.
‘With your support, which state will be next? We are really keen to keep campaigning to get a 10c container deposit scheme in other states but we rely on donations from generous supporters to carry out our work.
For more info visit www.boomerangalliance.org.au
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