2016-05-06
Ms SPRINGLE (South Eastern Metropolitan) — My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water. Last month the Senate's tripartisan Environment and Communications References Committee published Toxic Tide, its landmark report into the threat of marine plastic pollution in Australia. Amongst its recommendations were that the Australian government support the states in banning the use of single-use plastic bags, ensuring that alternatives do not result in other pollutants entering the environment, and also that the Australian government actively encourage the states that have not done so to implement container deposit schemes. How will the Victorian government respond to the Senate report Toxic Tide?
Mr JENNINGS (Special Minister of State) — I thank Ms Springle for her question and her ongoing concern about these matters. It is not for the first time that she has raised a question in the chamber with me to seek from my colleague the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water in the other place the Victorian government's response to these environmental pressures that have been caused by waste that actually gets into our waterways and across the landscape and that might impact upon environmental values and the amenity of our streets, our suburbs, our neighbourhoods and our countryside.
She is quite right to say that the unfettered use of material that is actually not subject to the appropriate degree of recycling or re-use and contaminates the waste stream is a worldwide phenomenon of quite significant proportion. I am aware of previous studies and examinations of the effect of plastics and other non-biodegradable material that ends up in the oceans and contributes significant threats to environmental values and the sustainability of our waterways in the future. So I share her concern; I note her concern.
In terms of the specific response of the Victorian government to these issues and how we will respond to this national and international challenge, I will rely on fulsome advice from my colleague on the way in which we will respond to these matters.
Ms SPRINGLE (South Eastern Metropolitan) — I thank the minister for his response. The committee heard extensive scientific evidence of the harm that is caused by the proliferation of plastic bags and plastic containers, not only to the marine environment but also to humans who eat seafood. The committee also received evidence that undermined Victoria's claims that its recycling rates are high. The only views that the committee heard in opposition to container deposit schemes were those of industry, which has opposed their introduction everywhere. Will the Victorian government now commit to immediately begin implementation of both a ban on plastic bags and a container deposit scheme?
Mr JENNINGS (Special Minister of State) — In fact I know that Ms Springle actually heard my substantive answer, and I know that she recognised that I know the significance of the issues that she raised. What was implied by my substantive answer is that I will seek the response of my colleague to these matters.