Plastic bag ban welcome

2019-06-19

The Victorian Greens are delighted the plastic bag ban will come into effect in November, but say we need to follow the rest of the world in banning a range of single-use plastics.

Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens Leader and Acting Spokesperson for Environment, Samantha Ratnam:

“The Greens campaigned hard for this reform, so we are thrilled to see it will soon come into effect. The ban will mean less plastic in our rivers and oceans, putting less marine life at risk.”

“While we strongly welcome the plastic bag ban, the Victorian Government must follow many other countries across the world in banning and reducing a range of other single-use plastics. It’s our collective responsibility to tackle the global plastic pollution problem.”

“In March this year the European Parliament announced a ban on plastic cutlery, cotton buds, straws, stirrers, and polystyrene take away cups by 2021, as well as introducing a range of measures to reduce use of plastic take away food containers, lids, cigarette butts and more. We must join them in this global effort to become free from plastic.”

“In recent weeks Tasmania announced it will be introducing a container deposit scheme, leaving Victoria as the only state in the nation without a scheme. Such a scheme is a critical part of reducing the plastics in our waterways and we call on the Victorian Government to end its inexplicable and baffling resistance and just get on with it.”

“The plastic bag ban is a victory for our creeks, rivers and oceans. It is a victory for our platypuses, whales, seals, fish and all the other marine life harmed by plastics. But there is still more to do to make them safe.”

*The Government announced the plastic bag ban on the eve of the Greens private members bill, Environment Protection Amendment (Banning Plastic Bags, Packaging and Microbeads) Bill 2016, being debated in parliament and during the Northcote by-election, which saw the Greens’ Lidia Thorpe elected to parliament.