❓ Hon Robin Chapple asks about the introduction of a levy on plastic bags in WA, and the Minister responds that a national approach is required due to the National Competition Policy, with work underway through the National Packaging Covenant.
AnsweredQoN 225Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With regard to articles in
The West Australian
(October 12 2002) and the
Sunday Times
(October 13 2002) and a letter I wrote to all State Members of both Houses dated September 9 2002 regarding the introduction of a levy on plastic bag use -
(1) Can the Minister confirm that the Federal Environment and Heritage Minister has approached the State Government to ask the National Packaging Covenant Council to develop measures to combat plastic bag waste?
(2) Has the Minister taken any action to contact the Council in this regard?
(3) If so, what action has been taken?
(4) Has the Minister taken any action to investigate the introduction of a levy on plastic bags in Western Australia?
(5) If not, why not?
The West Australian
(October 12 2002) and the
Sunday Times
(October 13 2002) and a letter I wrote to all State Members of both Houses dated September 9 2002 regarding the introduction of a levy on plastic bag use -
(1) Can the Minister confirm that the Federal Environment and Heritage Minister has approached the State Government to ask the National Packaging Covenant Council to develop measures to combat plastic bag waste?
(2) Has the Minister taken any action to contact the Council in this regard?
(3) If so, what action has been taken?
(4) Has the Minister taken any action to investigate the introduction of a levy on plastic bags in Western Australia?
(5) If not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
26 November 2002
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
40 days
(2) Western Australia is a signatory to the Covenant and a participant in this process. In addition the Minister wrote to the National Packaging Covenant Council on 24 October 2002 urging them to provide a uniform response to the issue of plastic bags in Australia, and to develop a clear list of actions and targets to be implemented and reported publicly. (3) A working group has been set up under the National Packaging Covenant, which is working outside of the regular National Packaging Covenant meeting schedule to deal with this matter. The Working Group is considering three strands of activity, a National Code of Practice, levy options and product options. The Working Group has appointed a consultant to analyse overseas levies on plastic bags and to undertake life-cycle impact. It is anticipated that the consultant will report to the Covenant Council by December 2002. (4) Western Australia is unable to act on its own in this regard. Since the Hilmer report, and the subsequent adoption of the National Competition Policy, which was entered into in 1995 by the member jurisdictions of the Council of Australian Governments, individual States are no longer in a position to unilaterally enact such legislation. Introduction of a levy on plastic shopping bags would now require a national approach. As a result, all environment ministers through the national EPHC are jointly considering this issue. (5) Answered in Question (4).
(3) A working group has been set up under the National Packaging Covenant, which is working outside of the regular National Packaging Covenant meeting schedule to deal with this matter. The Working Group is considering three strands of activity, a National Code of Practice, levy options and product options. The Working Group has appointed a consultant to analyse overseas levies on plastic bags and to undertake life-cycle impact. It is anticipated that the consultant will report to the Covenant Council by December 2002. (4) Western Australia is unable to act on its own in this regard. Since the Hilmer report, and the subsequent adoption of the National Competition Policy, which was entered into in 1995 by the member jurisdictions of the Council of Australian Governments, individual States are no longer in a position to unilaterally enact such legislation. Introduction of a levy on plastic shopping bags would now require a national approach. As a result, all environment ministers through the national EPHC are jointly considering this issue. (5) Answered in Question (4).
(4) Western Australia is unable to act on its own in this regard. Since the Hilmer report, and the subsequent adoption of the National Competition Policy, which was entered into in 1995 by the member jurisdictions of the Council of Australian Governments, individual States are no longer in a position to unilaterally enact such legislation. Introduction of a levy on plastic shopping bags would now require a national approach. As a result, all environment ministers through the national EPHC are jointly considering this issue. (5) Answered in Question (4).
(5) Answered in Question (4).
(3) A working group has been set up under the National Packaging Covenant, which is working outside of the regular National Packaging Covenant meeting schedule to deal with this matter. The Working Group is considering three strands of activity, a National Code of Practice, levy options and product options. The Working Group has appointed a consultant to analyse overseas levies on plastic bags and to undertake life-cycle impact. It is anticipated that the consultant will report to the Covenant Council by December 2002. (4) Western Australia is unable to act on its own in this regard. Since the Hilmer report, and the subsequent adoption of the National Competition Policy, which was entered into in 1995 by the member jurisdictions of the Council of Australian Governments, individual States are no longer in a position to unilaterally enact such legislation. Introduction of a levy on plastic shopping bags would now require a national approach. As a result, all environment ministers through the national EPHC are jointly considering this issue. (5) Answered in Question (4).
(4) Western Australia is unable to act on its own in this regard. Since the Hilmer report, and the subsequent adoption of the National Competition Policy, which was entered into in 1995 by the member jurisdictions of the Council of Australian Governments, individual States are no longer in a position to unilaterally enact such legislation. Introduction of a levy on plastic shopping bags would now require a national approach. As a result, all environment ministers through the national EPHC are jointly considering this issue. (5) Answered in Question (4).
(5) Answered in Question (4).
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