On 11 October 2012 the Senate referred the following matter to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and report by 22 November 2012:

The pricing and revenue allocation practices of the beverage industry in the container deposit schemes operating in South Australia and the Northern Territory, including:  

1. management of the operation of container deposit schemes in South Australia and the Northern Territory;
2. the cost structure of the beverage industry's involvement in these container deposit schemes;
3. the use of unredeemed deposits and unused handling and transport fees;
4. alternative scheme structures which ensure beverage producers cannot pass on unreasonable costs from these recycling schemes if such schemes  are implemented in additional states or nationally;
5. structures to ensure schemes managed under the Product Stewardship Act 2011 do not result in producers passing on unreasonable costs; and
6. any other related matters.

For further information, contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Environment and Communications
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone:	+61 2 6277 3526
Fax:	+61 2 6277 5818
Email:	ec.sen@aph.gov.au