Page 1924 - Week 07 - Thursday, 13 August 2020
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acknowledges that, as global, national and local policy progresses, we may need to regulate beyond the currently identified single-use plastic items. Where a plastic product cannot be easily re-used or recycled, and where there is a viable alternative product, our government will act to phase out those products.
Producers and suppliers of single-use plastic products that are not designed to be economically recycled here in the ACT are now on notice and should begin actively starting to phase out these products and seek out alternatives. The Canberra community has shown their strong support for action in this space and we will support the community and business to reduce their use of plastic through behaviour change programs. While our first preference is education, we recognise that enforcement may be necessary from time to time.
A key approach that the government wants to take is to make sure that there is a level playing field for businesses who are doing the right thing. And we want all Canberrans to rethink whether they need a particular single-use plastic item in the first place—and not just the items we are regulating. We know that the best way to reduce the environmental, social and economic impact of single-use plastic is to reduce our consumption from the outset, rather than just replace it with the next available substitute.
Madam Speaker, in addition to banning certain single-use plastic products, we are committed to promoting “plastic-free” events in this legislation. Ninety per cent of our consultation respondents believed that single-use plastic is a problem at events. We are therefore providing additional leadership by being the first jurisdiction to propose legislation on the ability to phase out other single-use plastic items at public events, both government and non-government. Examples of plastic-free events include Floriade and the National Multicultural Festival, but also major non-government sporting fixtures and festivals. Importantly, an event must be declared to be a single-use plastic-free event, with a requirement to give at least three months notice.
Madam Speaker, the Plastic Reduction Bill 2020 responds to the clear call from our community that government take action to reduce the use of plastic in Canberra. We have consulted with the community and now we are taking action. The release of the exposure bill is a clear signal that the time to reduce our plastic use, or transition to better alternatives, begins now. We will continue to work with stakeholders and the ACT Plastic Reduction Taskforce as we implement the phase-out, with the final bill introduced before the end of the year. I call on all members of the Legislative Assembly to support it.
I present the following paper:
Plastic Reduction Bill 2020—Exposure draft—Copy of tabling statement.
I move:
That the Assembly take note of the paper.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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