Greens NSW MPs Mehreen Faruqi, Environment spokesperson, and Tamara Smith, Marine Environment spokesperson and Ballina MP, will today introduce bills into both houses of NSW Parliament that would ban the retail supply of single-use plastic shopping bags so as to reduce the impact of plastic bags on the environment.
Greens NSW Environment spokesperson Mehreen Faruqi MLC said: "About 50 million plastic bags end up in the Australian environment each year. This has undeniably devastating impacts on our wildlife and waterways.
"South Australia, Tasmania, and both Territories have already reformed their laws to ban retailers from supplying these lightweight bags.
"This was a Greens election promise and it's really exciting to see this bill go onto the parliamentary notice paper today," said Dr Faruqi.
Greens NSW Marine Environment spokesperson and Ballina MP Tamara Smith said: "We must take action against the wasteful use of plastic bags.
"Tens of thousands of marine animals die each year from ingesting plastic bags, which can look like jellyfish and other food often consumed by dolphins, turtles, whales and other marine life.
"We need to get with the program as other Australian states and territories and countries took this action years ago," said Ms Smith.
Media Contacts:
For Tamara Smith 6686 7522
For Mehreen Faruqi 0413 681 482