Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Bill 2021

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-119993

Hansard session: Fifty-Seventh Parliament, First Session (57-1)

Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Bill 2021

Second Reading Debate

Debate resumed from 20 October 2021.

Ms KATE WASHINGTON (Port Stephens) (12:51:18):

As Labor's representative of the hardworking shadow Minister for the Environment, the Hon. Penny Sharpe in the other place, I am honoured to respond to the Government's long-awaited, much‑discussed and much-needed Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Bill 2021. I will start with a quote from the Minister for Energy and Environment, who has just left the Chamber. In 2019 the Minister said, "Some 50 million plastic bags end up in our oceans and waterways every year, so we have to ban the bag." He said those words only weeks before the Liberals and Nationals voted down Labor's bill to ban single‑use plastic bags. The plastic problem members are debating today is big. According to a study conducted by the Minderoo Foundation last year, Australia generates more single-use plastics per person than any other country in the world. We are worse than the United States. I will say it again to let it sink in for members: We are worse than every other country in the world. What the means for our precious environment and waterways is significant. It shows the importance of acting on plastics and that we should have acted well before now.

Let me be clear about the bill: New South Wales has come last. Scott Morrison said the rollout of the COVID vaccines was not a race, and Minister Kean has made it very clear that banning plastic bags was not a race for his Government. Those of us who value our waterways, marine life and environment know that it is a race and New South Wales has come last. According to Minister Kean's own figures, up to 150 million plastic bags will have ended up in our oceans and waterways between when the Liberals and Nationals voted down Labor's bill in 2019 and when the bill before the House today comes into effect in 2022. I am being kind to the Minister with that figure. I could have used the date when the Government voted against Labor's 2016 bill to ban single-use plastic bags. That was five years ago. I could have also used the date the Government voted against Labor's 2017 and 2018 bills to ban single‑use plastic bags. It allowed those bills to lapse without debate because it was too ashamed to bring them to a vote. To make matters worse, Labor's 2019 bill had already been supported by the Legislative Council before the Liberals and The Nationals used their numbers in this place to vote it down. Every Government member who will be speaking on the bill today voted against Labor's bill in 2019 to ban single-use plastic bags.

What changed between the Liberals and The Nationals voting against this policy every previous year—most recently in October 2019—and this bill being introduced today? What roadblock was removed? The sections in the bill about banning single-use plastic bags are largely identical to Labor's bill so it is not those. The time frame for businesses to adjust is the same—just add two years of delay and unfettered plastic pollution courtesy of the Government. The Australian Retailers Association has supported this policy for years so there was no pushback from industry. The Minister cannot admit it but it was no coincidence that the bill was introduced just days after the resignation of John Barilaro as Deputy Premier. For years action to protect our environment has been held hostage by The Nationals. Whether it was water policy, brumbies in Kosciuszko, climate change, koalas or plastic bags, The Nationals declared themselves the enemy of the environment and the Liberal Party was happy to hold their hand all the way along.

It is this Government's legacy that New South Wales has come last in the race to ban single‑use plastics and that action on plastics was behind the rest of the world, let alone every other Australian State and Territory. In 2009 South Australia became the first State to ban single-use plastic bags. That is 13 years before New South Wales's ban will come into effect. Most members were not even in Parliament that long ago. The Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory moved next, bringing in bans in 2011. Tasmania acted in 2013. Queensland introduced a ban in 2018. Western Australia's ban came into effect at the start of 2019 and Victoria's ban started late 2019. Internationally, countries have been acting on plastics for decades. Seventy‑seven countries have fully or partially banned single‑use plastic bags, including Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Ethiopia and Uganda. The list goes on. The New South Wales Government has come last because the environment is its lowest priority.

Plastic shopping bags Options paper, Practical actions for plastic shopping bags

The Premier says acting on climate change is a gratuitous waste. He does not understand what net zero is and does not understand what his Government is doing about it. The Government has increased land clearing across the State, has started an internal war over koalas, has wound back protections in marine parks and has come last in the race to ban single‑use plastics. What is even worse is that it did not have to be this way. In 2015 the Environment Protection Authority prepared a discussion paper titled . We are told that draft legislation was prepared in 2015. New South Wales could have beaten Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria in the race to ban single‑use plastic bags. But for this Government it was not a race. And the consequences have been felt across our waterways and in our oceans. All of our marine environment has been impacted by the Government's lack of position on plastics.

In the absence of Government action, community groups and individual businesses have been leading on this issue. Major supermarkets have phased out single‑use plastic bags and introduced soft plastics recycling programs. Community groups and entire communities have been leading the way in the absence of a government that would do it. Look at the impressive Boomerang Bags movement across the State and groups like Plastic Free Port Stephens, Plastic Free Bronte and Plastic Free Kiama, which have built armies of people on the ground working against the tide of plastic waste in the vacuum coming from the Government. In the absence of any leadership from the Government, communities have stepped up as well. Entire communities like the pretty town of Dungog in the Hunter Valley have worked hard to educate and support people to live plastic free. From Lismore to the South Coast, I have heard from and met with residents who wanted to see coordinated action and support from this Government and a level playing field for businesses. Instead their Liberal and Nationals MPs said one thing to the communities they represented and then came into this place and failed to take action.

After voting down Labor's 2019 bill, the Government issued a second discussion paper, but there was no discussion about plastic bags. The Government's discussion paper said that plastic bags would be banned, with no further consultation and without seeking feedback. We voted against it a few months ago, but now we are committed to doing it. This tired Government has been dragged to the point that it cannot delay any longer. After 10 years in office with multiple opportunities to take action on plastics, and with reams of discussion papers, we are finally seeing some action. Having delayed and delayed, it is no surprise that community attitude moved on.

The bill seeks to ban single-use plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, cotton buds, chopsticks, microbeads and polystyrene food containers. The provisions apply from 1 November 2022. On most of those items, bans in Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia have already come into effect, and bans in Victoria and Western Australia have been legislated, with future start dates. Even on those measures, New South Wales is coming last. Given that New South Wales desperately needs to act on plastics, Labor supports the bill. In doing so, we remind the Government that protecting our environment is a race. It is a race to save koalas from land clearing approved by this Government. It is a race to save our rivers from the bungled, irresponsible water policies of this Government. It is a race to save our State from a Premier who says that any action on climate change is a gratuitous waste. It is a race, and New South Wales keeps coming last. Sadly, today is no different.

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (13:01:32):

It is an honour to speak in the debate on the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Bill 2021. Reducing plastic litter in the environment is dear to millions right across the electorates, and it is dear to my heart as well.

Ms Kate Washington:

It wasn't in your heart in 2019.

Mr MARK COURE:

You have had your turn; now it is my turn. I am pleased to speak in support of the bill, which will give effect to some key reforms outlined in the NSW Plastics Action Plan. It is a plan that I doubt the previous shadow Minister or the shadow Minister ever read. The plan outlines how the New South Wales Government is taking firm leadership in our global war on waste.

TEMPORARY SPEAKER (Mr Greg Piper):

The member for Port Stephens will come to order.

Mr MARK COURE:

The member for Port Stephens can laugh as much as she wants, but we are taking it seriously. A key action in the bill is to phase out some of the most highly littered single-use plastic items in New South Wales. I am particularly pleased to note that the phase-out will prevent an estimated 2.7 billion plastic items from entering our local community areas, bushland and waterways over the next 20 years. Those items include lightweight plastic bags, single-use plastic straws, stirrers and cutlery, expanded polystyrene food service items and single-use plastic cotton buds. Lightweight plastic bags will be phased out a minimum of six months after the bill has been assented to, with the other items phased out from 1 November 2022.

In selecting the items to be phased out, the Government carefully considered the availability of sustainable alternatives, as well as the cost of transition for businesses and consumers. I acknowledge the level of consultation. Unlike members opposite, I provided a report in the discussion paper on the NSW Plastics Action Plan. I wrote to the Minister about my concerns and the concerns of my community. The Government also sought the views of the public, industry and environmental groups in response to a discussion paper released in March 2020. I was one of those people. I am pleased to note that the Government received more than 16,000 submissions from the public, retailers, peak bodies, local councils and community groups. I was one of them.

Public support for a phase-out of single-use plastics was overwhelming, and I supported that. Of the 16,000 submissions, 98 per cent supported a phase-out of this type of plastic. Mine was one of them. Single‑use plastic items are designed or intended to be used once and then thrown away. They can be cheap and convenient, but they can also pose an enormous threat to our environment—a bit like those opposite. It is highly alarming to note that plastic packaging and single-use plastic items make up 60 per cent of all litter in New South Wales. Around 575 million plastic items were littered in New South Wales in 2019. Many of those were single-use, lightweight items such as plastic bags, straws and cutlery. Those items break into smaller pieces of plastic over time and can be ingested by our wildlife, killing or injuring them and even entering our own food chain.

Earlier this year I had the privilege of meeting with the World Wide Fund for Nature [WWF] Australia to look at and obtain a better understanding of alternatives to single-use plastics. Examples include bamboo straws as well as mushroom-based styrofoam for packaging purposes. This was an insightful experience, and it showcased the practical alternatives to single-use plastics. Much like the Government's container deposit scheme Return and Earn, which has collected more than six billion containers, the bill will prevent problematic and unnecessary plastic items from entering our precious environment and harming our wildlife.

I note the good member for Rockdale is in the Chamber. In the Georges River alone, more than 145 million containers have already been deposited since December 2017 across the seven local Return and Earn points. Most of them are in my electorate, but some are in Kogarah and Rockdale as well. Our economy and our health and wellbeing fundamentally depend on the services that functioning ecosystems provide—namely, clean air, water and food. I wholeheartedly extend my support for the New South Wales Government's commitment to do better and to win our war on waste.

The Government understands the unacceptable intergenerational threat that such pollution poses for the people of New South Wales, as well as for our environment, and we are determined to take action. As responsible citizens, parents, elected representatives and caretakers of this beautiful State of ours, it is our duty and the Government's commitment to protect our natural environment for generations to come. This legislation is another example of our Government's commitment to implementing practical environmental policies and ensuring that we leave a better world for our children.

I note before I conclude that the programs the Government has implemented over time, like the Return and Earn container deposit scheme, have seen a major reduction in plastics in our waterways. Like many of us in this Chamber—including the shadow Minister, the member for Rockdale—I volunteer once a year in March for Clean Up Australia Day. We have, no doubt, seen the results of the implementation of that policy along the Georges River waterfront and in parks in the Rockdale electorate. I know the member for Rockdale would agree with me that the number of bottles that we pick up now is dramatically less than what it was a decade ago.

A couple of weeks ago I gave a speech in this place about baby wipes. Many of us in this Chamber have kids. I have two young kids, and we are still using baby wipes. The national standard for baby wipes needs to change, and better packaging needs to be included. We are seeing baby wipes in our waterways. I would never for a minute think to flush them down the toilet, but people are unfortunately doing so. They are not biodegradable. They are clogging our sewerage, which is a massive cost to Sydney Water. I do not have the figure in front of me at the moment, but there is a massive cost in clogging up our waterways, our drains, our parkland, our riverfronts and our waterfronts. I have written to the environment Minister and last year I wrote to industry groups as well saying that we want better packaging of baby wipes. Sydney Water has also been educating and warning everyone by way of information provided on the back of recent water bill notices that not every wipe—or any wipe for that matter—is flushable. These wipes are not biodegradable, they do not break down in our water system, and they have a huge impact on our environment. Fish are eating them and birdlife and animals are eating them on our water banks.

I spoke passionately in this Chamber about a return and earn policy before the Government implemented its Return and Earn program. I have also been passionate about plastic waste and I took up the fight to the Minister and supported the discussion paper last year. My next campaign towards a cleaner environment is targeted at wipes, baby wipes in particular. The debate on the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Bill 2021 is a rare and historic moment in this Chamber. Opposition members might laugh, but it is something that I am passionate about. We are making sure that our environment is a better place to live and work and, of course, a better place to hand to the next generation, not just in my electorate but right across Sydney. I commend the Minister on this legislation. I am sure the Opposition supports the bill. It is a big day for the environment. Many States and Territories have followed our lead and some, such as South Australia last year, have also led in this area.

Ms Kate Washington:

Like every State and Territory.

Mr MARK COURE:

No, don't make fun of me. This is very important legislation. Opposition members might not think it is important, but it is important to me and to our community. For all these reasons, I commend the bill to the House.

Mr TIM CRAKANTHORP (Newcastle) (13:11:34):

It is about time. Twelve and a half years after the first Australian State banned lightweight plastic bags, New South Wales is finally—finally—catching up to what every other State and Territory has done since the ban commenced in South Australia on 4 May 2009. It is not for lack of trying. Twice the Opposition has tried to make this happen, and twice this Government has blocked it. Last time, in 2019, the Government claimed it was because it wanted to release its discussion paper about plastic waste. Labor was just as keen to act on plastics more broadly, but our bill would have seen immediate action on one of the State's largest sources of plastic pollution. Instead, we have had another two years of plastic bags littering our streets, our waterways and our oceans.

Labor will seek to move amendments to the bill in the other place to bring it into line with stronger regulations in Queensland and Victoria. Like the Government did in 2019, we do not think the bill goes far enough. But unlike the Government in 2019, we are not going to play politics with a devastating environmental issue and block some progress, and then take two years to draft new legislation. That is because we understand the imperative to take action. The country's two largest supermarket chains understood the imperative and voluntarily took flimsy plastic bags out of their stores. Coles believe that in just one year it prevented 1.7 billion bags ending up in landfill, while Woolworths reckons that in its first year the chain issued three billion fewer bags.

Non‑retail businesses saw the imperative and introduced paper straws, cafes offered discounts for people who utilised reusable cups for their coffee, and more and more people have taken up reusable water bottles, reusable cutlery and reusable food packaging. Why? It is because every year one million seabirds and 100,000 sea mammals die as a result of eating or being trapped in a plastic bag. It is because 80 per cent of rubbish in our oceans is plastic. It is because plastic straws can take up to 200 years to decompose. It is because a 2016 report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation found that without serious anti-pollution policies, based on the world's projected growth in consumption, by 2050 our oceans would contain more plastics than fish by weight.

In 1998 a pelican found dead in Kiama was discovered to have eaten 17 plastic bags. In August 2000 an eight‑metre Bryde's whale died after it became stranded on a Cairns beach. An autopsy found that the whale's stomach had become tightly packed with six cubic metres of plastic. In May 2003 a platypus was rescued from the Don River in Tasmania after a plastic bag had become so tightly wound around its body it was cutting deep into the animal's skin. The bill is not an opportunity for the Government to pat itself on the back. It has had more than one chance to take action on plastic waste. Each time it refused, and this bill has come far too late.

The ASSISTANT SPEAKER:

It being 1.15 p.m. I will now leave the chair. The House will resume at 2.15 p.m.