❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the WA Government on its stance regarding plastic bag bans and levies, seeking information on potential state and federal collaboration. The government rejects a ban/levy, citing a broader waste management strategy and existing local government powers.
AnsweredQoN 3500Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Will the State Government seek to place a ban on the retail use of plastic shopping bags? (2) If no to (1), why not? (3) If yes to (1), when? (4) Will the State Government seek to place a levy on the retail use of plastic shopping bags? (5) If no to (4), why not? (6) If yes to (4), when? (7) Has the State Government considered developing a local law making power for local governments to enable the control of plastic bag usage or plastic bag bans? (8) If no to (7), why not? (9) If yes to (7), when is that likely to be rolled out? (10) Has the State Government had any dialogue with the Federal Government in relation to a national uniform scheme for the control of plastic bag usage or plastic bag bans? (11) If no to (10), why not? (12) If yes to (10), when? (13) Will the State Government commence dialogue with the Federal Government in relation to a national uniform scheme for the control of plastic bag usage or plastic bag bans? (14) If no to (13), why not? (15) If yes to (13), when? (16) Has the State Government had any dialogue with the Western Australian National Party in relation to a state scheme for the control of plastic bag usage or plastic bag bans? (17) If no to (16), why not? (18) If yes to (16), when?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 December 2015
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
42 days
The Minister for Environment has provided the following response.
(1) No
(2) The Liberal-National Government is implementing the Western Australian Waste Strategy:
Creating the Right Environment
to reduce waste, including litter, by encouraging recycling through a strategic approach to waste management with a broader focus than single product streams.
Recently announced initiatives in support of this include the $20 million Better Bins
Kerbside Collection Program
to encourage local governments to introduce best practice kerbside waste and recycling services, and the $10 million
Construction and Demolition Product Procurement Incentive Program
to support the use of a range of recycled construction and demolition products in civil engineering and road construction applications.
(3) Not applicable
(4) No
(5) See response to (2).
(6) Not applicable
(7) The Waste
Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007
sets out powers available to local governments for waste services, including waste local laws. Waste local laws are subject to the normal processes for subsidiary legislation including tabling and possible disallowance by Parliament.
(8)-(9) Not applicable
(10)-(15) Environment Ministers from States and Territories and the Australian Government met on 26 February 2015 and their discussions included the issue of plastic bags. New South Wales agreed to advance further work on practical solutions for jurisdictional approaches to dealing with light-weight plastic bags. This work will be progressed through the Meeting of Environment Ministers forum.
(16) No
(17)-(18) See responses to (1)-(3).
(1) No
(2) The Liberal-National Government is implementing the Western Australian Waste Strategy:
Creating the Right Environment
to reduce waste, including litter, by encouraging recycling through a strategic approach to waste management with a broader focus than single product streams.
Recently announced initiatives in support of this include the $20 million Better Bins
Kerbside Collection Program
to encourage local governments to introduce best practice kerbside waste and recycling services, and the $10 million
Construction and Demolition Product Procurement Incentive Program
to support the use of a range of recycled construction and demolition products in civil engineering and road construction applications.
(3) Not applicable
(4) No
(5) See response to (2).
(6) Not applicable
(7) The Waste
Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007
sets out powers available to local governments for waste services, including waste local laws. Waste local laws are subject to the normal processes for subsidiary legislation including tabling and possible disallowance by Parliament.
(8)-(9) Not applicable
(10)-(15) Environment Ministers from States and Territories and the Australian Government met on 26 February 2015 and their discussions included the issue of plastic bags. New South Wales agreed to advance further work on practical solutions for jurisdictional approaches to dealing with light-weight plastic bags. This work will be progressed through the Meeting of Environment Ministers forum.
(16) No
(17)-(18) See responses to (1)-(3).
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