CONTAINER DEPOSIT LEGISLATION

Mr O'BRIEN (Napier) (14:50): My question is to the Minister for Environment and Conservation.

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for MacKillop is warned!

Mr O'BRIEN: Can the minister update the house on the benefits of the South Australian container deposit system?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Early Childhood Development, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister Assisting the Premier in Cabinet Business and Public Sector Management) (14:51): I can, and I thank the honourable member for his question. The South Australian container deposit legislation, as all members would be aware, came into force in 1977. It has been recently amended, with bipartisan support, to take the deposit up to 10¢. That bipartisan support demonstrates the desire of both sides of this house to invest in keeping South Australia beautiful.

However, I am pleased to inform the house that there is now further evidence of the outstanding success of the South Australian container deposit scheme. Keep Australia Beautiful has today released its branded litter study, which was developed in consultation with government and industry to provide accurate information on the national litter debate. The purpose was to provide information about the nature, extent and distribution of branded litter across Australia.

The litter study shows that, nationally, non-alcoholic beverage containers and packaging equated to 21.4 per cent of branded litter—the largest category. However, in South Australia non-alcoholic beverage containers and packaging accounted for only 11.2 per cent. So, 21.4 per cent nationally but only 11.2 per cent here in South Australia. In a particular example, South Australia had by far the lowest proportion of a leading soft drink manufacturer's litter which, nationally, was the most frequently identified litter in any state or territory, and it was a dramatic reduction in that particular brand. That is an indication of the success of the container deposit legislation.

The results of the survey are backed up by the Senate report entitled 'Management of Australia's Waste Streams' which was released earlier this month and which pointed to South Australia and the benefits of a national container deposit system. The Senate committee referred to the South Australian deposit scheme as a success, and it was convinced by evidence before it that a national scheme would be desirable.

The chairman of Clean Up Australia and Clean Up the World, Ian Kiernan, is also convinced by the evidence of South Australia's scheme. He notes:

We know that South Australia has enjoyed a recycling rate of cans and bottles of up to 85 per cent, while the rate in other states is less than half of this. The incentive works there. South Australia is the only state where beverage containers are not among the five most commonly collected types of rubbish on Clean Up Australia Day.

It is clear that South Australia is a national leader in its container deposit legislation, and we are well on the way to reaching our target of reducing waste to landfill by 25 per cent by 2014.

It is important to note that the container deposit legislation that has provided these incredible results was initially met with opposition when it was introduced. We were told we should not go it alone, that it would cause massive problems for industry, and that it would cause a massive amount of dislocation. That did not happen, and we need to realise that when we consider the next great initiative we are about to embark upon—the banning of plastic bags. We hope those sitting opposite will be with us in promoting another South Australian first.