The Packaging Council of Australia has made preparations for its forthcoming meetings with key opposition shadow ministers as well as government, to examine policies that will affect the industry after the election.
Gavin Williams, chief executive officer PCA, says, “Federal elections always give rise to the potential for a change of government and policies that affect companies in the packaging supply chain. We have been giving thought to the packaging issues we will be raising those in our upcoming meetings.”
Williams says the core issues include the broader economic and manufacturing policy issues and problems confronting companies in the packaging supply chain. Some specific packaging issues will also be raised. These include:
- Environmental Issues – The future of the Covenant; it’s possible place under the product stewardship legislation; and the need to provide regulatory certainty that no other regulatory mechanisms will be introduced provided the Covenant performs satisfactorily.
- Regulatory Reform – Companies must observe a multitude of rules and regulations across different states and territories which add to costs. There is a lack of national consistency between various State and Commonwealth governments on consumer, labelling, weights and measures and other regulations which affect packaging. There is a need for a new, streamlined approach.
- Competitiveness – Australian produced packaging and packaged products are battling against a high Australian dollar, relatively high labour, energy and administrative costs and growing imports of packaging particularly from Asia. What productivity, industrial relations and other policy changes are envisaged to address these issues?
Williams adds that if industry members have any specific packaging issues they want raised at the meetings, they should contact the PCA
