Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) Secretary General, Noriyuki Ichihara, left, speaks as Executive Board Member Tsuyoshi Fukui, listens during a press conference in Tokyo, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. Ichihara, at the press conference on Friday,denied that officials were rushing investigations to wrap up the case of harassment and physical violence by Japanese women's judo national team head coach Ryuji Sonoda at a pre-Olympic training camp, in time for the IOC evaluation visit to Tokyo. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
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Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) Secretary General, Noriyuki Ichihara, left, speaks as Executive Board Member Tsuyoshi Fukui, listens during a press conference in Tokyo, Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. Ichihara, at the press conference on Friday,denied that officials were rushing investigations to wrap up the case of harassment and physical violence by Japanese women's judo national team head coach Ryuji Sonoda at a pre-Olympic training camp, in time for the IOC evaluation visit to Tokyo. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
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FILE - In this Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013 file, Japanese women's judo national team head coach Ryuji Sonoda listens to a reporter's question during a press conference in Tokyo Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. Sonoda resigned over accusations he physically abused female judoka at a training camp before the London Olympics. Just when Tokyo was getting a boost in its bid to host the 2020 Olympics, this ugly scandal has surfaced within the Japanese sporting culture and threatened to undermine the nation’s hosting hopes. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)
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FILE - In this Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012 file photo, Japan's new Education, Culture, Sports and Science Minister Hakubun Shimomura speaks during a press conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo. Head coach of the women's Olympic team, Ryuji Sonoda resigned Jan. 31, over accusations he physically abused female judoka at a training camp before the London Olympics. Shimomura has described the situation as the most serious crisis in Japan's sports history. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)
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FILE - In this Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013 file photo, Japanese women's judo national team head coach Ryuji Sonoda bows before a press conference in Tokyo. Sonoda resigned over accusations he physically abused female judoka at a training camp before the London Olympics. Just when Tokyo was getting a boost in its bid to host the 2020 Olympics, this ugly scandal has surfaced within the Japanese sporting culture and threatened to undermine the nation’s hosting hopes. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)
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In this photo provided by Disney, Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco rides with the character Mickey Mouse in a parade through the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort on Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco led his team to a 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers at the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game on Sunday in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Disney, Matt Stroshane)
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Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy during a news conference after NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, in New Orleans. The Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34-31.(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco holds up the Vince Lombardi Trophy after their 34-31 win against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Marcio Sanchez)
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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, left, and linebacker Ray Lewis celebrates their 34-31 win against the San Francisco 49ers in NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
NT govt to fight recycling law challenge
The Northern Territory government says it will pull no punches in fighting a lawsuit by drinks giants against its cash-for-containers scheme.
On Tuesday the NT government said the scheme encouraged people to recycle 35.5 million containers since it commenced in January last year.
Drinks companies Coca-Cola Amatil, Schweppes Australia and Lion Pty Ltd have launched legal action due to begin in the Federal Court in Sydney next week.
"This government is committed to fighting this important challenge," said NT Chief Minister Terry Mills.
"The most senior lawyer in the government, the solicitor general, and his team have been briefed to pull no punches in meeting this legal challenge," he said in a statement.
Under the NT's container deposit legislation, people get a 10c refund for returning empty bottles and cans bought in the jurisdiction.
Coca-Cola has said it believes the refund will act as a new tax on its products and could hurt sales.
In the past, Coca-Cola has said it had advice that the NT's legislation conflicted with the federal Mutual Recognition Act.
South Australia, which runs a similar refund scheme, has an exemption under the act.
Mr Mills said given the number of businesses with an interest in the recycling scheme, the proceedings in Sydney would be screened live at the NT Supreme Court in Darwin so local people can watch.
The federal court action is expected to be heard from 8.30am (CST) to approximately 1.45pm (CST) on February 19.
"This is an issue that could affect many Territory families who regularly utilise this as a means of reward-based recycling," Mr Mills said.
A spokeswoman for Coca-Cola did not immediately return calls.
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