The Berejiklian Government is out of step with growing community support for NSW to join the majority of other Australian states and ban single-use plastic bags, according to Greens marine spokesperson Justin Field.
Momentum has grown during the past month of #plasticfreejuly with:
- thousands of individuals and families choosing to refuse single-use plastic during July.
- Woolworths, Coles and Harris Farm announcing plans to phase out single-use plastic bags over the next 12 months
- more than 117,000 signatures on a petition supporting Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi’s Bill before NSW Parliament that would ban lightweight plastic bags being distributed in NSW.
An estimated 50 million plastic bags end up as litter in the environment each year in Australia, mostly in waterways and the ocean, where they kill and injure dolphins, turtles and other marine life.
NSW Greens marine spokesperson Justin Field said, “the wave of support for action on plastic pollution will keep surging beyond Plastic Free July and cannot be held back by Premier Berejiklian.
“Every year in NSW thousands of marine animals are injured and killed by plastic pollution in our oceans. There is one way to fix it - it's time to put an end to single use plastics.
“NSW is falling behind the rest of the country and the rest of the world when it comes to reducing litter and protecting our marine life. While most other states have banned or are on their way to banning single-use plastic bags, Premier Berejikilan has refused to act.
“The community is ready for change, the big supermarkets have announced plastic bag bans, now we need action from the NSW Premier.
“The Greens will stand with the community and keep up pressure for the change needed.
“Every day we delay a ban on plastic bags is a missed opportunity for reducing pollution, protecting marine life and creating a healthier future for NSW,” he said.
