PLASTIC BAGS — BAN
101. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the news article ''Plastics
packaging overkill irks WA Environment Minister Stephen Dawson'',
published in The West Australian of Saturday, 13 October 2018.
(1) Given that
the minister stated he would not rule out going it alone and banning the
packaging of products such as fruit and
vegetables, would the minister also not rule out going it alone and banning all
single-use plastic bags, not just lightweight single-use plastic bags?
(2) If not, why not?
Hon STEPHEN
DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) As I responded
to the honourable member's question without notice 904 on 9 October
2018, Western Australia and other states and territories are working with
retailers to explore options to reduce use of thicker plastic shopping bags. I will
consider further action on this issue if there is not sufficient progress
through the Meeting of Environment Ministers forum. I have also stated publicly
on several occasions that we can do more to reduce other single-use plastics in
our community, and I have asked the Department of Water and Environmental
Regulation to establish a register of interested community members to help
facilitate further consultation on this matter.
(2) Not applicable.