❓ Ms. Baker asks the Premier to outline the rationale behind the McGowan government's ban on lightweight plastic bags, citing their devastating environmental impact. The Premier details the environmental benefits, public support, and collaborative process, while expressing disappointment at opposition to the ban.
AnsweredQoN 496Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PLASTIC BAGS —
BAN
496. Ms L.L. BAKER to the Premier:
I refer to the devastating
environmental impact of single-use plastic bags and the action taken by the
McGowan Labor government to join with the major retailers and the majority of
states and territories to ban lightweight plastic bags. Can the Premier outline
to the house why this government has taken this environmentally responsible
action?
BAN
496. Ms L.L. BAKER to the Premier:
I refer to the devastating
environmental impact of single-use plastic bags and the action taken by the
McGowan Labor government to join with the major retailers and the majority of
states and territories to ban lightweight plastic bags. Can the Premier outline
to the house why this government has taken this environmentally responsible
action?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Maylands for
the question. Western Australia will take a major step forward this weekend in
dealing with plastic. The government will join the majority of other states and
territories in banning single-use lightweight plastic bags. As we know, Western
Australia has the largest coastline in Australia, and, I think, one of the
largest coastlines of any sovereign state anywhere in the world. Of course,
plastic and plastic bags are very detrimental to marine life, whether it is
turtles, fish, whales, dolphins or other forms of marine life. It is very
detrimental and potentially deadly. For the sake of our children and
grandchildren, we need to start to take more action in respect of plastic and,
of course, we are starting with plastic bags this weekend.
Last year, 673 million single-use
plastic bags were used by Western Australians. Most ended up in landfill, but
it is estimated that seven million of them were scattered across the
environment of Western Australia, many of them finding their way into waterways
and, hence, the ocean. In coming up with the arrangement this weekend, we have
held six workshops with bag suppliers, retailers and community groups. We have
held 15 information sessions across the state, and 95 per cent of the
submissions received supported the ban on plastic bags that comes in this
weekend. We will be joining Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania,
the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, and we will be
joining Coles, Woolworths and IGA, which are supportive of this decision. The
member for Hillarys does not support it. We are also committed to the container
deposit scheme, which we expect to bring in in 2019 or 2020. This is an
important step forward for environmental protection in Western Australia. It
breaks my heart when I see those images of whales, dolphins, turtles and other
marine life dying because they are choking on the plastics we put into the
ocean.
I am very disappointed that the
Greens and the Liberal Democrats have moved to block this. They have moved a disallowance
motion in the upper house, or at least the Greens have, supported, as I understand
it, by the Liberal Democrat member there. I am very disappointed that the
Greens have sought to do that. I think it is a very strange action on their
behalf. I want to see this ban put in place, and I think the majority of Western
Australians want to see this ban put in place. I urge the Greens and the
Liberal Democrats to withdraw the effort they are putting in place. I also urge
the Liberal Party and the Nationals WA to not support the sort of wrecking
behaviour and conduct that is currently going on in the Legislative Council.
the question. Western Australia will take a major step forward this weekend in
dealing with plastic. The government will join the majority of other states and
territories in banning single-use lightweight plastic bags. As we know, Western
Australia has the largest coastline in Australia, and, I think, one of the
largest coastlines of any sovereign state anywhere in the world. Of course,
plastic and plastic bags are very detrimental to marine life, whether it is
turtles, fish, whales, dolphins or other forms of marine life. It is very
detrimental and potentially deadly. For the sake of our children and
grandchildren, we need to start to take more action in respect of plastic and,
of course, we are starting with plastic bags this weekend.
Last year, 673 million single-use
plastic bags were used by Western Australians. Most ended up in landfill, but
it is estimated that seven million of them were scattered across the
environment of Western Australia, many of them finding their way into waterways
and, hence, the ocean. In coming up with the arrangement this weekend, we have
held six workshops with bag suppliers, retailers and community groups. We have
held 15 information sessions across the state, and 95 per cent of the
submissions received supported the ban on plastic bags that comes in this
weekend. We will be joining Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania,
the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, and we will be
joining Coles, Woolworths and IGA, which are supportive of this decision. The
member for Hillarys does not support it. We are also committed to the container
deposit scheme, which we expect to bring in in 2019 or 2020. This is an
important step forward for environmental protection in Western Australia. It
breaks my heart when I see those images of whales, dolphins, turtles and other
marine life dying because they are choking on the plastics we put into the
ocean.
I am very disappointed that the
Greens and the Liberal Democrats have moved to block this. They have moved a disallowance
motion in the upper house, or at least the Greens have, supported, as I understand
it, by the Liberal Democrat member there. I am very disappointed that the
Greens have sought to do that. I think it is a very strange action on their
behalf. I want to see this ban put in place, and I think the majority of Western
Australians want to see this ban put in place. I urge the Greens and the
Liberal Democrats to withdraw the effort they are putting in place. I also urge
the Liberal Party and the Nationals WA to not support the sort of wrecking
behaviour and conduct that is currently going on in the Legislative Council.
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