WASTE MANAGEMENT

The Hon. S.W. KEY (Ashford) (15:24): My question is directed to the Minister for Environment and Conservation. Minister, could you advise the house on recent international recognition confirmed on South Australia as a world leader in the area of waste management?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for the River Murray, Minister for Water) (15:25): I thank the honourable member for Ashford for her question and acknowledge her keen interest on all matters associated with the environment. Zero Waste is recognised as a leader in better waste management in Australia, and that reputation can now be said to extend internationally.

Zero Waste has been recognised internationally through its inclusion in the United Nations' UN-HABITAT publication Solid Waste Management in the World's Cities, and by receiving a Gold Quill award from the International Association of Business Communicators for its plastic bag ban communications campaign.

UN-HABITAT is the United Nations agency for human settlements and promotes socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. The UN-HABITAT report was compiled by more than 25 experts on waste management and it profiled 20 cities worldwide, ranging across developing, transitional and developed economies. The report addresses aspects of policy, as well as good and bad practice in the context of waste management.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: I am not going to succumb to their interjections; I am not going to do it. This is a very important issue and, clearly, members opposite are not interested in what it is that Zero Waste and the people of South Australia do well.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: The Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and executive director of UN-HABITAT, Anna Tibaijuka, explained that:

This publication looks at what drives change in solid waste management, how cities find local solutions and what works best under different circumstances.

Adelaide is featured as one of the 20 cities in the UN-HABITAT report, having been assessed by an independent expert using a comprehensive and detailed set of data. This data includes landfill surveys, annual recycling activity statements and achievements and strategies identified in Zero Waste South Australia's annual report, business plan and South Australia's Waste Strategy 2005-2010. The report also notes that South Australians are highly environmentally conscious and states:

Adelaide and South Australia's waste and resources management system is in some respects global best practice. South Australia has demonstrated a high level of political commitment and willingness to 'stick its neck out' and implement some policies and legislation upon which other administrations take a more conservative position.

The report goes on to add that:

The Zero Waste Act and plastic bag ban are two excellent examples of SA's politicians showing leadership by putting in place the institutional structures, financing mechanisms, organisational capacity, and actions to support a major drive towards the three Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle).

In addition to Zero Waste's recognition by the United Nations, I am proud to inform members that last month Zero Waste received a Gold Quill award from the International Association of Business Communicators, in the Social Responsibility category of the Communications Management Division, for its plastic bag ban communications campaign.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: Ma'am, I just cannot understand it. What is it about the opposition that it does not like good news that highlights what it is that we do here in South Australia that is global best practice. I just do not get it. The Gold Quill Communications Management Social Responsibility award recognises communications campaigns of an international standard that address sustainable development, economic, social or environmental issues. South Australia's—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: —ban on lightweight single-use plastic bags keeps an estimated 400 million plastic bags out of the waste system every year. Madam Speaker, despite the opposition, these awards truly show that South Australia is highly regarded and recognised as being at the forefront of waste resource management anywhere in the world.