Page 3394 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 22 August 2018
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Of course, we have just launched the container deposit scheme under Minister Fitzharris. She may speak to that today. It is something that is very popular amongst our community. I think it will make a significant difference, particularly on the litter front. I also think that when people return bags full of plastic bottles and the like to the drop-off points, perhaps it will start to remind them just how much plastic waste is accumulated. I note the Actsmart work, both in terms of reducing waste, particularly in the commercial sector, but also the important waste education role that they play.
I thank Ms Orr for bringing this motion to the Assembly today and for giving us the opportunity to speak to it. I am really encouraged by the community conversation that is occurring on this. I would like to acknowledge also the role that the ABC program War on waste has played in igniting the public imagination on this and in sparking the debate. It is bringing the issue into people’s lounge rooms in a way that is very practical, very real. It has a degree of humour and it has enabled people to understand the significance of waste and the challenge that we face to address it. It highlights, literally, the sheer wastefulness of some of the systems in the way that they discard valuable resources with little care.
In addition to supporting Ms Orr’s motion, I commend my amendment to the Assembly. It is in two parts. I seek leave to move the two parts of my amendment together.
Leave granted.
MR RATTENBURY: I move the amendments circulated in my name:
(1) In paragraph (1)(f), omit “January 2018”, substitute “December 2017”.
(2) Insert new paragraph (1)(i):
“(i) initiatives in successive Parliamentary Agreements between the Greens and the ALP have resulted in action to reduce plastic waste, including:
(i) banning plastic bags;
(ii) new street level recycling bins in town centres;
(iii) installation of new drinking fountains in town centres and other areas to reduce plastic bottle usage;
(iv) a container deposit scheme;
(v) additional ACTsmart funding to reduce waste in the commercial sector;
(vi) increased waste education;”.
MR STEEL (Murrumbidgee) (11.04): I am really pleased to speak today in support of Ms Orr’s motion about plastic reduction. Talking about the reduction of plastic is not a waste of time; it is a waste of our planet’s resources. The ACT government is Australia’s most environmentally conscious government. We are working towards a 100 per cent renewable electricity target. We are working to encourage increased take-up of battery storage and innovation in renewables. We are working to encourage zero-emission vehicles, starting with our public transport system and our transition to zero-emission vehicles action plan.
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