Tripartite Support Commits Tasmania to Plastic Bag Ban
The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed the tripartite passing of their motion to ban non-biodegradeable plastic bags in Tasmania, and thanked both the Liberal and Labor parties for their support, as well as Coles Bay baker Ben Kearney who was in the Parliament today to witness the event.
Greens Environment spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said it is well and truly time that Tasmania took steps to ban non-biodegradable plastic bags which cause so much suffering amongst marine species, and which can be found littering Tasmanian roadsides, playgrounds and much of the coastline.
Ms O’Connor also said that this push is part of the Greens’ broader waste campaign that includes Container Deposit legislation, both of which would ensure a vast improvement to Tasmania’s growing littering problem.
“Today’s passing of the Greens’ motion to ban the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags in Tasmania is a fantastic win for the environment, especially marine species which suffer so horribly when caught up in plastic, and I wish to thank both the Labor and Liberal parties for their support on this issue,” said Ms O’Connor.
“I welcome the Minister’s commitment to take an implementation proposal to Cabinet in the coming months as this will secure an action timeframe.”
“Non-biodegradable plastic bags can take up to 1000 years to break down, and with Australians using 3.9 billion bags per year, the accumulated impact on the environment is profound.”
“Congratulations to both the Labor and Liberal Parties for supporting our push to ban non-biodegradable plastic bags, and demonstrating how beautifully a balance-of-power Parliament can work to protect the Tasmanian environment,” said Ms O’Connor.
