Plastic Shopping Bags (Waste Avoidance) Repeal Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 30 October 2024.)

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:52): I want to thank members for their contributions on this bill. This bill is a simple bill in terms of repealing one act, but the scheme that sits under the need to repeal this bill is indeed an important one for South Australia, and I look forward to the passage of the committee stage.

Bill read a second time.

Committee Stage

In committee.

Clause 1.

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS: Just to make clear, I am not asking any questions. I just want to put on the public record the Greens' support for this bill—which is hardly surprising—as I missed my opportunity to speak during the second reading stage yesterday.

I particularly want to recognise the leadership of the minister, the Hon. Susan Close, and her team, but I also note that actually it has been a multiparty effort in South Australia to move away from single-use plastics. I recognise as well the leadership of the former environment minister, the Hon. David Speirs, for his work in this space and also the Hon. Heidi Girolamo, who recently chaired the committee looking at trying to reduce waste in this area as well.

There are lots of members of parliament who are passionate about this issue. We have a good track record of working together to reduce the scourge of plastic waste in our state. I see this bill as being yet another positive advancement. I commend the government for the leadership in this area and indicate that it has the Greens' support.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: We must have been busy that day because I, too, did not get the opportunity at the second reading to speak on this bill but would like to echo the sentiments expressed by the Hon. Robert Simms and indicate my support for the bill, and in so doing this might be something the Attorney addresses when he speaks at clause 1.

Whilst I am supportive of the bill, one of the things that struck me when we were having discussions about this bill was now the increased use of paper bags. There seems to be an explosion of paper bags everywhere. Yes, they are different. They are certainly not as sturdy as plastic bags, as we have all heard in this place. The straws are getting better.

I guess one of the issues I am keen to hear from the minister on is the sort of education campaign that is going to accompany this bill in terms of getting us into the habit of taking our bags with us because now, if you pop over to Myer, you are going to get a nice big heavyweight paper bag instead of the plastic bag and we are ending up with cupboard loads of paper bags, particularly those of us who are always forgetful when it comes to taking their bags with them when they return to the shops—we do not always do that. If you go for a walk down the mall, you are not likely to take a bag with you. You might drop into Myer and you might make a purchase and end up with these bags.

Yes, we are doing our bit to recycle them, but I am mindful of the fact that we are now using a whole lot of other bags, and they may be more sustainable and environmentally friendly but I would like to know from the Attorney what we are doing in terms of reminding people to take their bags, if you like, or whatever we are doing in that space to ensure that we are not blowing out paper bags in place of plastic bags.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I am getting a little bit of advice on education campaigns, but speaking from my experience, and I am guessing many other people's experience, it will be their experience that will dictate their behaviour in the future. I know when you go shopping now and have a paper bag, it is not as convenient as your many-use bag that you buy for a couple of bucks from a supermarket. I think South Australians are well used to reusable bags after 15 years of banning the lightweight single-use plastic bags.

I think many South Australians, when they go shopping now, take bags with them. I think many of us will have a selection of bags in our car, from having forgotten once or twice before, or, particularly when you have teenage kids at home, some of whom are now on their Ps and driving in each car that you have at home, many accumulated reusable bags.

On your question specifically of any further education, this probably goes some way to answering the question: I have advice that there was research commissioned by Green Industries South Australia in July 2023—so reasonably recently—that found that 98 per cent of South Australian survey respondents already use their own reusable shopping bags and 25 per cent of respondents do not use plastic shopping bags at all. I know if I only have half a dozen things at a shop I think I can just carry them out without needing a bag, which sometimes is the case. Often I find it is not the case, and I have to pick one up as I fumble with them on the way out. Prior to the 1 September 2024 ban—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Sorry; I think interjections are out of order, sir.

The Hon. J.E. Hanson interjecting:

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I might need your protection here, sir; I am getting it from each side. Prior to 1 September 2024 the three major Australian supermarket chains had already moved to offering paper bags to customers instead of heavyweight plastic bags, as well as a large variety of sturdy, reusable bags made from a range of materials. Our national retailers have also moved to offering non-plastic shopping bags in response to bans on plastic bags in Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.

The following shopping bags will be permitted under the single-use plastics act, providing a range of alternatives:

AS-certified compostable, bioplastic carrier bags clearly labelled with certification details;

shopping bags made wholly from nonplastic material such as paper, calico, hemp, canvas and jute; and

reusable bags made in whole or part of one or more of the following fabrics—nylon, polyester, woven polypropylene and nonwoven polypropylene if the bag has sewn rather than heat-welded seams and the fabric has a minimum weight of 90 grams per square metre measured as a single layer of fabric.

South Australians are leading the nation, as they often have in these sorts of environmental initiatives, and are very well used to these measures. I know that if I am in another jurisdiction it is almost a shock to see items in the supermarket put into another bag, after being used to the situation here.

Clause passed.

Remaining clauses (2 to 4) and title passed.

Bill reported without amendment.

Third Reading

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (16:02): I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.