Page 2458 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 31 July 2019
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sustainably sourced and recycled timber can play a role in minimising our impact on the natural environment. The repurposing of the old Tharwa bridge is a fantastic example of how our community and environment have benefited from a sustainably sourced product. In fact, the timber logs at the Giralang community park originated from the old Tharwa bridge and are one of the most loved parts of the new park. I know there are also other nature play areas across Canberra that have received the repurposed timber. This has provided a cost saving to both our landfill management and the delivery of services to the community.
Another obvious area for consideration is single-use plastic. There are a lot of initiatives across Australia and the globe that are starting to make up a lot of ground in reducing our dependence on single-use plastics. The ACT government’s single-use plastic discussion paper has identified areas where we can reduce the ACT’s reliance on single-use plastic, and these opportunities must be looked at in any review of waste reduction. I have been working in my local community to encourage people to ditch single-use plastics where possible, and once again I encourage all members in this place to do the same in their communities.
As part of this conversation and the review which my motion calls for, we need to look at how our economy is structured, and the impact that environmental degradation and climate change are having on it. By identifying the opportunities that could fit within a cleaner economy, we will be able to achieve great outcomes for both the economy and the environment.
We also need to think about whether environmental policies should continue to be analysed through an economic lens or whether it is time to flip the thinking and for economic policies to be examined based on their impacts on our environment. The dangers presented by climate change are known and believed by those on this side of the chamber. It is important that we do everything we can to identify ways to mitigate those dangers and implement the policies that are needed for a cleaner economy.
As I said earlier, business as usual will not provide us with a sustainable future for our environment or our economy. We must look for innovative ways to grow the recycling and waste reduction industry in Canberra. I look forward to the government’s report back to the Assembly in 12 months time. I commend the motion to the Assembly.
MR STEEL (Murrumbidgee—Minister for Community Services and Facilities, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Transport and City Services) (10.16): I thank Ms Orr for bringing to the Assembly this important motion regarding recycling, waste reduction and job creation as we continue our work to responsibly manage waste resources and the environment. Australia is in the midst of a national waste crisis. We have seen the landfilling of recycling material in other jurisdictions as China’s national sword policy and actions by other countries mean our waste can no longer simply be sent overseas. We have to take responsibility for it here in a variety of different ways, and that provides both a challenge and an opportunity.
This crisis has put the issue front and centre, and governments need to act to build recycling processing industries at home. Not only does this have the clear
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