Sri Mulyani Demands DPR to Discuss Plastic Tax
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17 June 2019 23:36 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati Requested the House of Representatives (DPR) to immediately discuss the policy on imposing tax on plastics. Sri said that plastic tax has been included in the 2019 State Budget, but is yet to be implemented.
Sri explained that drafting a Finance Minister Regulation on Tax would require an initial consultation with the House of Representatives. "[I] hoped that the Commission IX can schedule a consultation session on plastic tax," Sri said on Monday, June, 17, 2019.
The Minister asserted that imposing plastic tax can be an effective way to anticipate the negative impact of plastics. The government, Sri said, is currently attempting to create a policy on reducing the use of plastics in the public. "The best instrument would be tax," she said.
Similarly, Director General of Customs and Excise Heru Pambudi also hoped that the issue can be discussed in the near future with the DPR. Heru said that the Directorate General of Customs and Excise had made preparation, especially in the form of a Government Regulation. He added the Directorate had even conducted discussion and had prepared on a Finance Minister Regulation draft. "But it has not been announced to the public because we are waiting for a consultation with the DPR," Heru explained.
Heru further said that he had consulted with businesses. He stated that if the plan has been approved by the DPR, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise will disseminate the information to businesses.
Heru argued that now is the right moment to impose plastic tax because the public has become more aware about environmental issues, and the adverse effects of plastics waste.
According to Heru, imposing plastic tax and supervising plastic import can balance out environmental interests with sustainable industry. "It is not impossible, because it is a matter of harmonization and regulation," he said.
In the plastic tax regulation, Heru said that the Directorate General of Customs and Excise will be focusing on plastic shopping bags. He hoped that the regulation can be applied this year. He claimed that plastic tax can increase state revenue by IDR 500 million.
HENDARTYO HANGGI
