Coffs Harbour’s cafés are being promised relief from Labor’s reusable coffee cup mandate, but the catch is it won’t come until after the March 2027 election.
Environment Minister Penny Sharpe has told Ben Fordham that Labor would reverse the laws after the election. It came less than 24 hours after Premier Chris Minns defended the mandate on 2GB as good policy with bad messaging.
The NSW Liberals and Nationals say the backflip followed months of pressure from them and small business owners across the state. Now they want the laws gone immediately, and will introduce a Bill to repeal the mandate in the next Parliamentary sitting week.
“We now have an extraordinary situation where Labor has made a commitment to repeal their own legislation next year if they win the election,” said NSW Nationals Leader, Shadow Minister for Small Business, and Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh.
“Businesses can’t wait that long. They’ve had enough of pointless government intervention and red tape.”
“We will bring our Repeal Bill to Parliament next month to give business owners the certainty they need and deserve.”
The Opposition says the confusion comes at a time of record business insolvencies, with mum and dad businesses struggling to absorb rising interest rates, changes to credit card surcharges, and spiralling fuel costs.
“We stood with cafés and small businesses to stop this mandate, but Labor refused to listen and support our sensible amendments,” said Leader of the Opposition Kellie Sloane.
“We will now give Labor another chance to reverse this legislation before Christmas by introducing a Repeal Bill next month.”
“Any future proposal must be developed with the businesses expected to make it work,” said Shadow Minister for the Environment Felicity Wilson.
Mr Singh said it was great to see the Minister had reconsidered her position.
“Congratulations to the thousands of small business owners across the state who have made their voices heard on this issue,” he said.
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