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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 8 Hansard (28 October) . . Page.. 2318 ..

By Mr (continuing):

2. In the event of the Bill being put we urge members to `Vote No!' to the Osborne Bill and show respect for women's abilities to make informed decisions about reproductive health matters.

Petition received.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, I seek leave to present a petition which does not conform with standing orders.

Leave granted.

MR BERRY: Mr Speaker, I present an out-of-order petition from 70 residents concerning the suspension of the Downer Preschool.

MS TUCKER (10.32): I present the Food (Amendment) Bill (No. 3) 1998, together with its explanatory memorandum.

Title read by Clerk.

MS TUCKER: I move:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

Mr Speaker, this Bill inserts a new division in the Food Act 1992 to require eating houses such as cafes and restaurants to reuse or recycle the packaging, plates, cups and cutlery they provide for food consumed within the eating house or in outside areas controlled by the eating house. This Bill is consistent with the Government's target of eliminating waste going to landfill by the year 2010. We believe that to achieve this target we need to steadily reduce the wasteful practices that abound across the ACT. The Greens think it essential that we lessen opportunities for businesses and individuals to just throw away their rubbish and not consider the costs of waste generation to the broader community.

This Bill makes the first inroad into regulating waste generation in the commercial sector, which is lagging behind the admirable recycling efforts of householders in the ACT. It complements the Greens' efforts to reduce construction waste through the Bill I tabled earlier this year, which will require waste management plans for demolition and building approvals. It will also complement another Bill I am planning to table soon to regulate the free provision by retailers of plastic shopping bags to shoppers.

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