Bill to ban plastic bags unexpectedly passes NSW upper house in ‘shock’ win for Labor
Labor’s environment spokeswoman says there are only two people standing in the way of banning single-use plastic bags from NSW — Gladys Berejiklian and John Barilaro — after a bill unexpectedly passed the state’s upper house on Thursday.
NSW
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A bill to ban single-use plastic bags has unexpectedly passed the state’s upper house in a “shock” win for Labor.
Legislative Council deputy opposition leader Penny Sharpe moved the legislation which would ban retailers from supplying plastic shopping bags to customers.
The bill was carried 18 votes to 16 — despite being opposed by the government — after two Shooters, Fishers & Farmers parliamentarians didn’t turn up.
Labor’s environment spokeswoman Kate Washington said: “The only people that are now standing in the way of a ban on single-use plastic bags in NSW are Gladys Berejiklian and John Barilaro”.
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“This is the third time this Bill has been introduced by Labor. We are hoping it will be a case of third time lucky,” Ms Washington said.
Ms Sharpe added: “This is embarrassing for the government but it’s an important opportunity for them to do something good for the environment when it hits the Legislative Assembly.
“Through their shambolic running of the House they’ve now put pressure on their Environment Minister by failing to stop it.”
The legislation will return to the Lower House in two weeks.
It’s understood the government could have stopped the bill from proceeding to a vote but Legislative Council members were not paying attention when leave was sought to read the proposed laws for a third time.
NSW is the only state that has not banned single-use plastic bags, which are no longer used in major supermarkets.
Environment Minister Matt Kean has previously flagged his concerns with the use of the bags and his predecessors — Gabrielle Upton, Mark Speakman and Rob Stokes — have also supported reducing plastics.
However the government is expected to oppose the bill when it hits the Legislative Assembly.