❓ Hon. Sally Talbot questions the Minister for Environment regarding the City of Fremantle's plastic bag ban and urges the government to implement a statewide ban, citing environmental concerns. The Minister responds by stating the government is reviewing South Australia's legislation and prefers a voluntary approach.
AnsweredQoN 77Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PLASTIC BAGS — CITY OF FREMANTLE BAN
77. Hon SALLY
TALBOT to the minister representing the Minister for Environment:
I notice that Fremantle City Council is set to become the
first council in Australia to ban plastic bags.
(1) Does the
minister believe his current policies are doing enough when plastic bags
continue to pollute our beaches and parks, damage boats and engines and kill
thousands of birds and sea creatures every year?
(2) Will the
government now follow the lead of the Fremantle City Council and support Labor's
bill to ban plastic bags statewide?
77. Hon SALLY
TALBOT to the minister representing the Minister for Environment:
I notice that Fremantle City Council is set to become the
first council in Australia to ban plastic bags.
(1) Does the
minister believe his current policies are doing enough when plastic bags
continue to pollute our beaches and parks, damage boats and engines and kill
thousands of birds and sea creatures every year?
(2) Will the
government now follow the lead of the Fremantle City Council and support Labor's
bill to ban plastic bags statewide?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1) The
Western Australian government has examined the legislation introduced to ban
lightweight plastic shopping bags in South Australia. The legislation is
currently being reviewed by the South Australian government and it would be
premature to introduce similar legislation in WA before the results of the
review are available. In the meantime, the government continues to encourage
voluntary take-up of biodegradable and reusable bags by customers and retailers
as part of broader efforts to decrease litter, improve recycling and reduce
waste in this state.
(2) The
government has previously expressed its concerns about the approach outlined in
the bill. The bill only bans plastic bags of less than 35 microns in thickness,
and anecdotal evidence in South Australia indicates some retailers are moving
to thicker plastic bags negating the initiative. This evidence reinforces the
need to wait for an outcome of the South Australian review. Plastic bag litter
represents only one to two per cent of the total litter stream and targeted
legislation for plastic bags may not be the most efficient way to target litter
and waste issues.
(1) The
Western Australian government has examined the legislation introduced to ban
lightweight plastic shopping bags in South Australia. The legislation is
currently being reviewed by the South Australian government and it would be
premature to introduce similar legislation in WA before the results of the
review are available. In the meantime, the government continues to encourage
voluntary take-up of biodegradable and reusable bags by customers and retailers
as part of broader efforts to decrease litter, improve recycling and reduce
waste in this state.
(2) The
government has previously expressed its concerns about the approach outlined in
the bill. The bill only bans plastic bags of less than 35 microns in thickness,
and anecdotal evidence in South Australia indicates some retailers are moving
to thicker plastic bags negating the initiative. This evidence reinforces the
need to wait for an outcome of the South Australian review. Plastic bag litter
represents only one to two per cent of the total litter stream and targeted
legislation for plastic bags may not be the most efficient way to target litter
and waste issues.
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