Queensland’s 10-cent container refund scheme referred to crime and corruption commission

A parliamentary inquiry into Queensland’s container deposit scheme heard from ‘whistleblowers and operators who described bullying, harassment and intimidation’, the committee chair said. Photograph: Stephen Dwyer/Alamy

Ten allegations against Queensland’s container recycling scheme have been referred to the state’s corruption watchdog after a parliamentary inquiry on Thursday revealed allegations of bullying and conflicts of interest.

A parliamentary committee revealed claims that the board coordinating the state’s Containers for Change is “dominated” by Coca-Cola and Lion, with several submissions to the inquiry claiming that the two beverage companies have an incentive to reduce the number of containers being recycled in order to lower their costs.