Last week the NSW Liberals and Nationals voted en masse against a Labor-introduced Bill which would have banned single-use plastic bags within the next six months.



A roll call of senior Liberals and Nationals many of whom have publicly supported a ban voted as a bloc against Labors bill. It is the fourth time that the Government has refused to support Labors legislation. The hypocrites include the current Environment Minister, Matt Kean, as well as three of his predecessors and other senior MPs:




Rob Stokes Member for Pittwater;
Mark Speakman Member for Cronulla;
Gabrielle Upton Member for Vaucluse;
Shelley Hancock Member for South Coast;
Gareth Ward Member for Kiama;
Melinda Pavey Member for Oxley; and
Victor Dominello Member for Ryde.


Premier Berejiklian had an opportunity to stand with Labor and take strong and meaningful action to end plastic pollution across NSW and bring our state into line with the rest of Australia. Instead, the Premier and her Government squibbed their responsibility to preserve the environment and kicked the can down the road by committing to a so-called plastics discussion paper.



I join with my colleague, NSW Labor Shadow Minister for Environment and Heritage, Kate Washington MP who has said: Matt Kean and three former Liberal environment ministers have all called for single-use plastic bags to be banned. We know that nearly all of the Government MPs who spoke on the Bill actually support a ban, but they didnt back that up with their vote.

The Governments reasoning for opposing the Bill is illogical. They could have taken this important step, like every other state and territory, and tackled other plastic pollution as well. Its not one or the other.