House of Assembly Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Container Deposit Scheme Container Deposit Scheme Mr WHETSTONE House of Assembly Chaffey Container Deposit Scheme Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (14:44): My question is to the Premier. Premier, what level of consultation did your government initiate with the South Australian wine industry before announcing the expansion of the container deposit scheme to include wine bottles? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain. Leave granted. Mr WHETSTONE House of Assembly Chaffey Mr WHETSTONE: The opposition has been advised by the wine industry that the expansion could raise the cost of wine between 40¢ and $1 per bottle, passing the added expense along to growers and consumers while costing the industry an additional $85 million per year. The Hon. S.E. CLOSE House of Assembly Port Adelaide Deputy Premier Minister for Climate, Environment and Water Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Minister for Workforce and Population Strategy The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Minister for Workforce and Population Strategy) (14:44): This is a version of a question that was asked yesterday, and I must say I was surprised that the opposition has gone against this extension of container deposit. I was surprised to hear that, not least because it was started under the previous government to start to look at expansion, but also because it is something that is widely popular and is very welcomed. The initial discussion about this, as I understand, it happened under the last government, so it started in 2019, but since we have been in government it has continued. There have been ongoing discussions with the wine industry. There was a Hudson Howells report done that estimated the cost of adding to wine bottles— Mr Whetstone interjecting: The Hon. S.E. CLOSE House of Assembly Port Adelaide Deputy Premier Minister for Climate, Environment and Water Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Minister for Workforce and Population Strategy The Hon. S.E. CLOSE: I can't quite hear you, so perhaps I will just answer the question. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey will come to order or you won't hear the rest of the question unless you are tuning in from your office. Mr Whetstone House of Assembly Chaffey Mr Whetstone: I am asking on behalf of your constituents too. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: You can leave until the end of question time, member for Chaffey. I'm quite capable of looking after the people of McLaren Vale and Kangaroo Island. I have been on this issue since the Liberal Party raised it in 2019. Mr Whetstone interjecting: