Page 5814 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 7 December 2010
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alternatives. Better alternatives are available—biodegradable bags are available, there are paper bags, there are boxes. There is a whole bunch of things that most of us probably used in childhood that remain available to Canberrans after this legislation is passed. I think Canberrans will cope. I think Canberrans will get the hang of this without too much drama.
My Smyth has told sob stories of people having to pick up groceries on the way home after having gone to buy a couple of things and bought a couple of things extra because they have found a special on. Well, occasionally I go down to the shops and I buy more than fits in the number of green reusable bags that I have taken with me, and I cope. I push the trolley out to my car, I put the bags in, I then maybe have to put one or two extra things in my boot without a bag. It is okay. I have still got my shopping home without too much inconvenience. I think people are rather more sensible than the Liberal Party gives them credit for, and I think they will find ways to get through this.
I commend the government for bringing this legislation forward. Of course, as Ms Le Couteur touched on, we originally suggested a levy, and certainly that was the model I had come to experience living in Europe where the bags were available. Unfortunately, because of the constitutional arrangements in Australia, it became clear that that was not a way for us to be able to proceed.
What was also interesting was the feedback from the business stakeholders that we talked to about this, and I believe the government spoke to them as well. They said a couple of things: one, a levy was probably going to be administratively more complex. We do not have the systems in place, and people said that a ban would be simpler. Certainly the big chains believe a ban would be simpler, because it is what is applied to them in other jurisdictions. They said, “It would actually be far simpler for us to do it this way.” I think it is a good reflection of starting off with an idea but actually listening and working out there was perhaps a more effective, simpler and less costly way to go about this.
I commend the government. I appreciate the discussions we have had over time in finding a way to bring this policy direction to fruition. I am pleased that the Greens will be able to support this legislation today. As I said, it is one incremental step towards improving the sustainability of this city.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water, Minister for Energy and Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (11.47), in reply: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, and I thank those members who have indicated their support for this bill. This bill is an important bill in the journey that our city is continuing to travel in becoming a more sustainable one. By banning single-use polyethylene shopping bags, the bill will reduce unnecessary consumption, reduce waste sent to landfill, reduce litter and reduce other environmental impacts on our community.
It is worth highlighting the experience of other jurisdictions where bans have been put in place. The most closely studied and the most extensively examined has been South Australia. What has been the result of a ban in South Australia? First of all,
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