General News
2 July, 2025
Environment Minister put on notice over Mount Isa waste levy
Robbie Katter has put a question to the Minister in parliament.
Member for Traeger Robbie Katter says he has put forward a Question on Notice to Environment Minister Andrew Powell in regards to Mount Isa’s waste levy.
“Every cost facing every council in Queensland is amplified in these more remote areas,” he said.
“So when the cost of water and waste, which directly go on the ratepayers, are imposed by the state ... it is completely flawed.
“There were two justifications for the waste levy. One was it would discourage waste being carted in from the Northern Territory like happened in Ipswich, which is just plain ridiculous.
“And secondly, was that the money used from the waste levy was to facilitate commercial waste recycling.
“I think we can all agree that’s definitely not happening with our transfer station.
“That’s a sinkhole for our money.
“So these are just straight out impositions from the state that cost ratepayers money and they’re ideologically driven and have no practical application here at all.”
Mr Katter said he was hoping a change of government would result in a better outcome for Mount Isa residents, which are not only subjected to a waste levy – the only council included that’s west of the Great Dividing Range – but also a high cost of water.
“The hope is that it’s a fresh set of eyes (on the issues),” he said of his recent lobbying.
“The handbrake is that a lot of people inside the departments were there beforehand and aren’t going to enjoy contradicting themselves and going back on what they said originally.
“But that’s where the new government has to show their worth to people in remote areas and show that they can see past the ignorance of the last government in applying these costs.”
PRE-POLL ‘GARBAGE’
While in parliament last week, Mr Katter also spoke about the lengthy pre-poll period in state and federal elections, claiming they were taking a toll on minor parties.
“I would first like to thank the many volunteers and workers who helped me personally across 23 booths in Traeger and 428,000 square kilometres,” he said.
“I would even mention those other booth workers for the other parties. Many of those people believe in something and it is wonderful we live in a democracy where they have the freedom to do so.
“I have made the observation – and I think this is the best time to bring it up – that the two weeks of pre-poll voting is absolute garbage.
“Making (volunteers) stand in the hot sun for two weeks so it makes it more convenient for the Electoral Commission to do their job is not on.
“If people within our electorates cannot get down to a polling booth to vote within one week, we have a real problem.”