Page 2682 - Week 07 - Thursday, 2 August 2018
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globe participate in the Plastic Free July challenge annually. It is a movement that is beginning to make huge social change. Here in Australia we have seen programs like the ABC’s War on Waste shine the national spotlight on the rising issues of waste and consumption, particularly single-use plastic.
The aim of the Plastic Free July challenge is pretty simple and self-explanatory. However, being disciplined enough to commit to the challenge actually proved to be more difficult than I first assumed. Making the switch to a reusable keep cup, refusing straws at cafes and restaurants and bringing my own bag to the supermarket instead of using the thicker, less biodegradable bags were just some of the behavioural changes I made over the 31 days.
After a few days of taking part in the challenge I realised that some of my colleagues in this place needed a bit of encouragement to get on board as well. In budget estimates hearings I noticed that the Chief Minister was drinking out of a disposable coffee cup. I was not going to let that slide, considering I was going to be spending a few days sitting across from him. I thank and congratulate the Chief Minister for quickly making the switch to a reusable coffee cup after I placed one on his desk for him to use. I note that I have seen him walking across the road with a disposable cup a few times since then, so I would like to put it on the record that I will be holding him to his commitment to use a reusable cup.
Minister Ramsay and Mr Steel also committed to take part in the challenge, and I will be checking up on both of them to see how they went. Mr Steel did mention to me in passing the other day that he did not do as well as he would like to have done, so he might need some encouragement from his staff and constituents to make the behavioural change that will help the environment.
While a number of Assembly members took up the challenge, I know that local residents and businesses in my electorate of Yerrabi have also made the switch from single-use plastic to reusable materials. Frankies at Forde, a popular café in Yerrabi’s north, is continuing to implement changes in the way it provides food and beverage services to customers. On 1 July last year Frankies banned takeaway cups in favour of reusable cups and encouraging people to sit down and enjoy their coffee. A year on, Frankies have done the numbers. They have saved 45,000—yes, 45,000—disposable cups from going into Canberra’s landfill. This is an incredible saving. I congratulate Frankies for taking the initiative to make such a substantial positive impact on our environment.
Although Plastic Free July has now ended, I will be continuing to say no to plastics as often as I can, and I strongly encourage all members as well as my constituents to get on board as well.
ACTION bus service—network
MISS C BURCH (Kurrajong) (5.24): I rise today to speak on behalf of all the Canberrans who feel let down by this government, the many Canberrans who rely on buses to get around our city and the many parents who rely on dedicated school buses to get their kids safely to school, as well as the many Canberrans who were promised
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