Mrs BRAHAM - 2006-08-24
We are all aware of the damage that plastic bags can do to our environment. Your Labor colleagues in the Victorian government recently announced that the Victorian government will legislate to ban single use plastic bags by 2009. This move was applauded by KAB and environmental groups. The New South Wales Labor government is now considering doing the same. Will you bite the bullet, like your interstate Labor colleagues, and move to ban single use plastic bags in the Territory? Go on, do it, minister!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. The Deputy Premier of Victoria, Hon John Thwaites, who is the minister with carriage for that with his New South Wales counterpart, has always been a signatory to the National Packaging Covenant. We have not been a signatory to that covenant. Both of those states, being part of that covenant, made moves towards the elimination of plastic bags.
The second stage of the National Packaging Covenant will be on the agenda for the next Environment ministers’ meeting at the end of the year in which they are looking at the scheme, which was voluntary for all states, becoming a compulsory covenant which includes all states and territories. That is something we will have to discuss.
There are a number of trials already in the Northern Territory which we have funded through the Litter Abatement Scheme. For instance, places like Kakadu have said no plastic bags in Kakadu. There have already been a number of small initiatives in communities. Many of those communities have got rid of plastic bags. They are using paper bags and other resources. If you look at where this is already happening in many of our remote communities, yes, we still have a long way to go. We need to look at the whole issue of plastic bags. I will discuss with my colleagues the second stage of the National Packaging …
Mrs Braham: Come on, minister, you can make the decision yourself.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: … Covenant at the end of the year - you asked me the question, member for Braitling …
Mrs Braham: Yes I know, come on! Yes or no?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, cease interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: There are some initiatives happening. The second stage will be happening towards the end of the year. We need to get all the facts about whether our population is at a size where industry can also participate. We have to include the retailers in this, that is who generate most of the plastic bags, and we have to include the retail industry in partnership with this. It is the same thing with the beverage industry.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for her question. The Deputy Premier of Victoria, Hon John Thwaites, who is the minister with carriage for that with his New South Wales counterpart, has always been a signatory to the National Packaging Covenant. We have not been a signatory to that covenant. Both of those states, being part of that covenant, made moves towards the elimination of plastic bags.
The second stage of the National Packaging Covenant will be on the agenda for the next Environment ministers’ meeting at the end of the year in which they are looking at the scheme, which was voluntary for all states, becoming a compulsory covenant which includes all states and territories. That is something we will have to discuss.
There are a number of trials already in the Northern Territory which we have funded through the Litter Abatement Scheme. For instance, places like Kakadu have said no plastic bags in Kakadu. There have already been a number of small initiatives in communities. Many of those communities have got rid of plastic bags. They are using paper bags and other resources. If you look at where this is already happening in many of our remote communities, yes, we still have a long way to go. We need to look at the whole issue of plastic bags. I will discuss with my colleagues the second stage of the National Packaging …
Mrs Braham: Come on, minister, you can make the decision yourself.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: … Covenant at the end of the year - you asked me the question, member for Braitling …
Mrs Braham: Yes I know, come on! Yes or no?
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, cease interjecting.
Ms SCRYMGOUR: There are some initiatives happening. The second stage will be happening towards the end of the year. We need to get all the facts about whether our population is at a size where industry can also participate. We have to include the retailers in this, that is who generate most of the plastic bags, and we have to include the retail industry in partnership with this. It is the same thing with the beverage industry.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016