BIOCOMPOSTABLE CONTAINERS

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:03): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister For State/Local Government Relations, representing the Minister for Environment and Conservation, a question regarding biocompostable containers.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: Recently, I had a meeting with David Thompson, the CEO of a company called Goody Environment, regarding the company's terrific South Australian product—biocompostable beverage containers.

In conjunction with researchers from Flinders University, this local company based in Burnside has come up with several additives that cause plastics to become biocompostable. Goody is currently the only company in the world to have technology independently proven for a plastic additive that is truly compostable and biodegradable to Australian and international standards.

This fantastic green technology is being rolled out all around Australia. Indeed, Woolworths has placed the Billabong brand water bottles (which use the Goody plastic) in over 650 stores interstate. Radisson hotels give out bottles (using the Goody technology) to its hotel clients. A multimillion-dollar export business is now launching here in South Australia; however, the one state which does not have these bottles is its home state—South Australia. Several recycling depots are uncertain how to recycle the product, or are wrongly concerned that recycling them with other products will contaminate the plastic.

The company has apparently made attempts 'on numerous occasions' to have meetings with the former minister, and now the current Minister for Environment and Conservation, without any luck. My question is simply this: will the minister agree to meet with the representatives from Goody Environment and Billabong Beverages and do all that is necessary to resolve this issue and encourage this new South Australian initiative which will benefit both employment in this state and, indeed, the environment as well?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) (15:05): I thank the honourable member for his question and will refer it to the Minister for Environment and Conservation in another place and bring back a response.