Dear Mr Terry O’Brien

I understand you represent one of the most powerful lobby groups in Australia which influence our so-called elected leaders.

Firstly, congratulations on becoming the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) chief back in February. 

This is an important job where many positive changes could occur. 
For instance, are you lobbying to curb the duopoly of our food supply? Currently Coles and Woolworths control 70 to 80 per cent of the nation’s food supply, 1 and farmers say this duopoly is eroding their viability to produce 2. Surely more competition will ensure better outcomes to farmers and consumers? 

Anyway, the reason I write to you is not that, but the three paragraphs on your website www.afgc.org.au rejecting the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS). 

I put it to you that it’s lazy and disingenuous to say ‘numerous reports confirm that a mandatory scheme such as CDS generates environmental outcomes at a very high cost relative to other options.’  Where is the proof? These ‘numerous reports’ need to be referenced. And with the senate inquiry into this topic, your lobby group’s figures have been found to be rubbery 3.

Do you dispute this? If you would like to be taken seriously regarding the financial benefits of not recycling, then let’s hear it.  

It’s just an idea to think about while you burp up those expensive long lunches with our so-called elected leaders.

Yours sincerely,

Hans Lovejoy, editor

1 Fact checked by theconversation.com.

2 Crunch time for supermarket food suppliers – ABC Drum online.

3 www.boomerangalliance.org.au.

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