NSW now the only state which is not banning single-use plastic bags

A DECISION by Victoria means NSW is now the odd one out in Australia. And Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has a challenge to his northern rival.

The Victorian government says the ban will be implemented as soon as possible.

SINGLE-USE plastic bags could be a thing of the past before long — after the Victorian government announced it will ban them “as soon as possible”.

It is hoped the phasing out of lightweight bags will slash waste, reduce litter and help protect marine life in the state.

The move means every state and territory in Australia has now banned or promised to ban lightweight plastic bags, except NSW.

The environmental policy will be phased in after consultation with community and business groups, and will not include small bags used to carry meat and fruit and vegetables.

South Australia was the first to phase them out back in 2009. It slapped retailers with fines of up to $5000 for distributing banned bags and retailer suppliers could be fined up to $20,000.

ACT and the Northern Territory followed suit in 2011. Tasmania banned them in 2013. Queensland and Western Australia will ban them from next year.

The Victoria ban will not cover individual bags for fruit and vegetables.

Victoria’s Energy, Environment and Climate Change Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said: “We will work closely with Victorian communities and businesses to design the ban, we’re proud that we’re doing our bit to reduce the impact plastic bags have on our environment.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews called on NSW counterpart Gladys Berejiklian to follow suit with a ban.

“I’m not the Premier of NSW, something I’m eternally grateful for,” he said. “Hopefully Gladys Berejiklian will be convinced to do what NSW does so well: follow Victoria’s lead.”

Green groups have renewed pressure on NSW to act.

“NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, is now lagging behind every other state in Australia and even behind the major supermarket chains who have also taken action to ban the bag,” said Greenpeace senior media campaigner, Simon Black.

The NSW Government’s responded to the presssure saying its current anti-litter priority is the implementation of a 10-cent container deposit scheme, scheduled to roll out across the state in December.

“More than one billion bags in NSW will not be covered by the voluntary action by supermarkets. That’s billions of bags that Berejiklian is letting end up in our waterways and landfill.”

Major supermarkets — Coles, Woolworths and IGA — have already announced they will phase out single use plastic bags over the next 12 months.

Woolworths customers will instead be required to either pay 15 cents for a reusable bag or bring their own.

“We currently give out more than 3.2 billion lightweight plastic bags a year and hence can play a significant role in reducing overall plastic bag usage,” Woolworths Group chief executive Brad Banducci said, announcing the decision in July.

A spokesman for the Victorian Government said plastics in the environment break up into smaller and smaller pieces over time, becoming increasingly difficult to manage.

“They can end up in our waterways, lakes and oceans — contributing to litter and posing a significant hazard to our marine life,” he said.

“Experience in other jurisdictions shows that banning lightweight plastics ban can lead to undesirable results, including increased use of heavier duty plastics, which can have an even greater environmental impact.

“That is why the Labor Government will work with the community on how to best manage plastic pollution, and deliver a workable scheme that doesn’t unfairly impact on consumers, retailers, industry or the environment.”