Queensland's Inquiry Ignites
Australia's Container
Refund Scheme
Revolution.
The inquiry is done. The legislation is tabled. Now comes the action.
Queensland called the inquiry, exposed the failures, and tabled the legislation. Now Queensland is watching what happens next.
Hi Minister Powell, I'm Matty Gee. I have a huge amount of respect for the courage it took to call this inquiry and drive it through to legislation. You're the one who exposed what Labor buried — and I believe you and the Crisafulli government are the ones to deliver the solution that makes the scheme actually work. Please take the time to view what I have built and what I can deliver together.
Learn about us here
Martin Shaw
President, Wounded Heroes
Minister Powell, you initiated this inquiry and drove it to legislation. Now here is your opportunity to deliver the solution that closes the participation gap your inquiry identified. You could be the one to launch Australia's Largest Ever Social & Environmental Impact Experiment called Return for a Cause.
"I've known Matty for years. He supported Wounded Heroes financially when we needed it most because that's who he is. A person of genuine integrity, with a deep commitment to serving others.
What he's building now with the 10c Recycling Games and Return for a Cause is extraordinary. This initiative will provide Wounded Heroes with the sustainable, long-term funding we've always needed to assist veterans how we do, freeing us from any dependence on government grants or funding and giving us the certainty of ongoing support.
I've seen a lot of people talk about making a difference. Matty actually does it. I back this initiative completely — and I back this remarkable person with everything I have."
Wounded Heroes
Supporting Australia's Veterans
Martin Shaw with Minister Andrew Powell — Queensland Government
Queensland Government
Martin Shaw & Minister Powell — NRL State of Origin
Queensland, 2025
Multi-year supporters
Matty backed Wounded Heroes long before this initiative existed.
Sustained funding from launch
Return for a Cause will deliver the ongoing support veterans deserve.
Community-funded independence
Sustainable, long-term funding driven by community participation — not reliant on grants.
You already know what's broken.
The inquiry was the first comprehensive review of the Queensland scheme since it launched in 2018. The findings were significant — documenting governance failures that had gone unexamined for years.
~$100M
Unclaimed 10c refunds annually in QLD
Refunds Queenslanders never claimed — enough to fund large-scale behavioural initiatives, prize pools, and community incentives that would drive returns far beyond what the scheme currently achieves.
10
CCC referrals from the inquiry
Ten allegations — including conflicts of interest, unfair contracts, misleading conduct, bullying and intimidation — referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission following the parliamentary inquiry.
21
Recommendations tabled
Your government backed 20 of 21 recommendations in full or in principle — including stronger board oversight, public strategic plans, cost relief for small businesses, and fast-tracked legislation to restore integrity.
The inquiry was a commitment, not a conversation.
The inquiry was announced publicly on 20 February 2025. Queenslanders watched. The evidence was significant. Legislation was tabled to restore integrity. But governance reforms alone don't drive participation — what's needed is a solution that closes the gap at the community level. That solution exists right now.
Why Queensland should move decisively.
WA said yes 10 months ago. Then their team said no. Queensland has the opportunity WA missed — to be the first state to actually reach the legislated 85% return target using behavioural incentives.
The WA Decision
Ten months ago, the CEO of WA Return Recycle Renew Ltd — the scheme coordinator for Containers for Change WA — approved this initiative.
Then his strategic team overturned it. Not because it wouldn't work. Because it wasn't their idea.
Internal politics over community impact. That decision cost Western Australia the chance to lead Australia's recycling transformation.
The Results Since
In the 10 months since their decision, WA's return rates have increased by only 0.4%.
Over the last 3 years, they've only increased a full percent. Stalled at a 65% return rate. The 10c refund isn't moving the needle and neither is their strategy.
0.4%
Increase in 10 months
1%
Increase in 3 years
Queensland's Moment
Premier, this is your opportunity to be the ones who got the results no other state has ever achieved. Not only does this allow you to deliver the solution to the problems you found in the parliamentary inquiry — you get to launch Australia's Largest Ever Social & Environmental Impact Experiment.
First-Mover Advantage
The state that launches first becomes the national model
National Narrative
Media coverage positioning Queensland as the leader
Measurable Impact
Real behavioral change, not incremental gains
Tim Cusack, CEO of WARRRL, saw the opportunity immediately.
These are the key moments from that conversation — included here not as pressure, but as evidence that this has been validated at the highest level in WA.
From the meeting
"The Recycling Games would absolutely help Containers for Change reach the demographics they can't reach — the ones that are disengaged."
This confirmed the exact participation gap the platform is designed to close — the people infrastructure alone doesn't reach.
From the meeting
"We only have 25% of participants with a member number — this would help us get more sign-ups."
Member registration is a key strategic metric. The 10c Recycling Games requires account creation by design — it addresses this directly.
From the meeting
"We could fund an initial prize pool rollout to drive behaviour — run it as a pilot model."
A pilot model funded through unclaimed refunds remains a practical and low-risk entry point. The structure hasn't changed.
From the meeting
"It's a yes from me — but I'll need to speak with the team first."
His personal read of the opportunity was clear. The team conversation was a necessary next step — and entirely understandable.
Tim Cusack — CEO, WARRRL · 2 July 2025 · In-person meeting
We're not waiting for anyone.
We're launching.
We are actively presenting to multiple states simultaneously. WA is back on the table. Queensland is on the table. We're not holding the launch for any single decision — we're moving forward with whoever is ready to lead.
When the countdown reaches zero, we go public — launching the Expression of Interest for Australia's Largest Ever Social & Environmental Impact Experiment with or without a state partner locked in.
Time Until Media Submissions
We're not applying pressure, we're just keeping a tight schedule.
This countdown exists because every single day this is delayed, almost 11 million beverage containers end up as litter or in landfill. This isn't about urgency for urgency's sake — it's about accountability to the environment and to every Australian who deserves better.
Let's build this together.
Minister, you've shown the leadership to call the inquiry, expose the failures, and table the legislation. We've built the solution. Let's make Queensland the state that showed Australia how it's done — and launch Australia's Largest Ever Social & Environmental Impact Experiment in the process.
Minister — explore the full case
Start with the Queensland Audit, then see what we built and why it matters.
Queensland Audit
QLD's own data — recovery rates, missed targets, and the participation gap this initiative is built to close.
Return for a Cause
Australia's largest ever social and environmental impact experiment — the initiative Queensland can launch first.
Home Page
The complete picture — who we are, what we've built, and why it matters for Queensland and Australia.