Page 3404 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 22 August 2018
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
in a bin and I take it to Coles or Woolies eventually, but I do not think that plastic should be there. There is also plastic around the Chronicle. Living in a multi-unit building, I do not get the Chronicle, which is probably a plus from my point of view. But many people get the Chronicle left on their front lawn, wrapped in plastic. They cannot just put it in the recycling bin because the paper is wrapped in single-use plastic. It is one of our real plastic problems. I do not want to see the death knell of the Chronicle, but I actually do not know any other solution to that. They are not delivering as many as they used to. They could put them in letterboxes, like they used to. (Time expired.)
MRS KIKKERT (Ginninderra) (11.39): I thank Ms Orr for bringing this motion before the Assembly today. I wish to say a few words in response. Ms Orr’s motion notes correctly that, too often, recyclable plastic ends up in the general waste stream. I made this point last week in this chamber in relation to the lack of recycling bins at suburban shopping centres. As I said then, the ACT government has formally acknowledged that not only are there no recycling options at any local shops but that it has no plans to provide any in future.
This is despite the fact that the current ACT waste management strategy clearly states that the ACT government will “establish public place recycling”. A lack of public recycling bins at shopping centres that are maintained by this government leaves residents confused about the current government’s commitment to preventing recyclable materials, including but not limited to plastics, from entering the general waste stream.
I note that Mr Rattenbury in his proposed amendment raised the issue of recycling bins in town centres. I spoke with the Clerk not too long ago about proposing an amendment to that, but I am not too sure if it will be ready in time for tabling. I will go ahead and make my speech. If it is not ready in time, that is okay.
This is certainly a good thing, but it completely overlooks, as this government often does, the important role of local shops in many Canberra suburbs, including those in my electorate of Ginninderra. Why didn’t Mr Rattenbury add local shops to his amendment? As I mentioned in my petition last week, there are nine rubbish bins at Charnwood shops, yet there are no recycling bins. Providing recycling options in large town centres whilst completely ignoring local shopping centres is an insult to Canberrans who choose to support the small business owners who invest in their suburbs.
I take this opportunity once again to speak up on behalf of the residents who shop, eat and train at their local shops. I am confident that Canberra residents care about protecting our environment. At school we teach our children how recycling helps to accomplish this, and provide recycling bins at schools. Yet this government confuses the message by not providing any recycling options at local shopping centres and admitting that it has no plans to provide any in the future. I certainly hope that this will change.
MS ORR (Yerrabi) (11.42): I thank everyone for their contributions to the debate today. It is safe to say that we would all like to see action taken that results in a
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video