Saffin urges government to support plastic bag ban
MP Janelle Saffin has welcomed the passing of Labors bill in the NSW Upper House last month to ban single-use plastic bags, and calls for the Berejiklian-Barilaro Government to support a state-wide ban.
The bill comes to the Lower House at this month's sitting of Parliament.
I know that the majority of locals in the electorate of Lismore support this ban and have stopped using single-use plastic bags," Ms Saffin said.
"Local groups, including the Lismore Boomerang Bags, have advocated for this for a long time.
The fact that NSW is the only state in this country that has not banned single-use plastic bags reflects shamefully on this government. My office is doing our bit to support this initiative by gradually phasing out using plastic folders, sleeves and other plastic stationeries.
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Ms Saffin said while Labor is ready to pass the bill, the Liberal/National Government will likely to oppose this latest bid to ban single-use plastic bags and instead release a discussion paper on 'tackling plastic waste'.
The government can release a discussion paper, but in the interim, the government should support this bill and ban single-use plastic bags.
When it comes to anything to do with sensible environmental policy, the Liberal/National Government is always dragging the chain.
Shadow Minister for the Environment Kate Washington MP said Labor had introduced the Bill three times, and hoped it would be a case of third time lucky.
Labor will be campaigning around the clock with environmental groups across the state to make this happen, she said.
Most people are already on board when it comes to single use plastic bags. This government needs to catch up.
Ms Washington said plastic pollution was killing the worlds marine life.
Australians use more than four billion plastic bags every year - 10 million or so each day - and an estimated 50 million of these end up in our waterways and ocean, she said.
Thirty per cent of the worlds turtles and 90 per cent of seabird species have now ingested plastic debris. By 2050, it is predicted there will be more plastic in the ocean, by weight, than fish.
Globally this issue has gained momentum, yet this Government has been disgracefully slow to act.
A legislative ban on single use plastic bags is supported by the National Retailers Association as well as non-government organisations.