WASTE COLLECTION

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON (15:06): Will the minister explain why a trial was necessary when, in fact, fortnightly waste collection has been trialled in Queensland, in Great Britain and in a number of other jurisdictions and failed, simply because of the health reasons that have been raised?

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) (15:06): I can only emphasise that I am not the Minister for Environment and I no longer have—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: —responsibility for this policy area. I already answered this question when I said that there are other countries in the world that have developed their waste management to a much more sophisticated level than we have. This is about trying to improve the environment. That is the principle underpinning this. It is very important that, as a government, we continue to explore all possible ways of improving our environment. Millions and millions of tonnes of waste are going to landfill causing greenhouse gas emissions in the form of methane and CO₂. We have materials that we use only once—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: We have millions of tonnes of raw materials that we use only once and then dump into landfill. It is most important that, as a responsible government, we continue to explore all possible ways of improving our impact on the environment, by reducing our environmental footprint. I think that is a really good thing. Trials are, as a general premise, a good thing because they enable us to try things out and amend and accommodate accordingly. I think that is a positive thing. What are we so scared of? People have had a chance to raise their concerns, they have raised them, and my understanding is that the councils are considering feedback from local residents–and that is exactly how it should be. I commend them for that.