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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 3 Hansard (12 March) . . Page.. 939 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

At Lake Ginninderra, there were a lot of butts near the college. The rationale for not having ashtrays around the lake was because it would encourage the young people at the college to smoke. I do not agree with that argument. I think that, if young people are going to smoke, they are going to smoke, and that providing ashtrays is not going to make them smoke, or stop them from smoking. What we are doing by not providing ashtrays, or something for them to put their cigarette butts into, is causing a double problem. Now not only do we have young people smoking, but we have serious litter going into the lake. I think that is something that could be addressed.

I believe it is good for us to have these sorts of debates-I am pleased that Ms MacDonald raised this matter. It is important to see how we can build this debate into one about a real process for changing behaviour through legislation and commercial practices, as well as through these kinds of community events. That means pricing according to the real costs, instead of continuing to support the throwaway society in the way we do, with the pricing signals we send.

MS MacDONALD (3.23), in reply: I thank all members who have risen in the course of this debate to support the motion. It would be a bit hard to oppose it, I am sure.

I will respond briefly to a few things which have been said in this place, going in reverse order. As to what Ms Tucker said, it is true that this is bigger than just one day. As a society, we do need to consider the amount of throwaway things we have. At times, I am guilty of forgetting to take something other than a plastic bag to the shops, or to re-use the plastic bags I already have.

There are concerns over things like cigarette butts. There are also concerns over things like disposable nappies not breaking down in the environment. There are plenty of other things for which we need to stop, think and say, "How can I make a personal contribution, every day of the year?"

Turning now to what Ms Dundas said, I picked up on the issue she was talking about. That is about ownership and pride in all our public areas-I agree wholeheartedly with that statement. I thank the minister for his comments in relation to the debate.

That brings me to Mr Cornwell's comments. Mr Cornwell said that we should be cleaning up every day. I wholeheartedly agree with this, and not only verbally-I also try to put it into practice. When I see litter on the streets, I pick it up. If I am able to carry it away and put it into a rubbish bin in my own home or somewhere on the street, I will do that. My car attests to the fact that I rubbish my own car before I will rubbish the streets.

Regarding the other things Mr Cornwell said, I do not know that I would necessarily do that. I am not such a confrontational person, Mr Cornwell, that I would try to perform a citizen's arrest. I was too busy picking up rubbish that day to go and confront the lady who had just stubbed out the cigarette butt.

MR SPEAKER: Bumper shooting!

MS MacDONALD: However, there have been other points where I have pulled up people who have dumped stuff in the streets. As recently as in the past couple of months,

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