2020 THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY Letter to the Speaker regarding Government Response to the Legislative Assembly Resolution of 31 October 2018 – Single-use plastics Presented by Andrew Barr MLA Chief Minister August 2020 Respect > Integrity > Collaboration > Innovation Andrew Barr MLA Chief Minister Treasurer Minister for Social Inclusion and Equality Minister for Tourism and Special Events Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment Member for Kurrajong Joy Burch MLA Speaker Legislative Assembly for the ACT Civic Square, London Circuit CANBERRA ACT 2601 Dear Speaker In reply to your correspondence of 12 November 2018 to Shane Rattenbury MLA, Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, I am writing to provide information related to Section 3 of the single-use plastics resolution passed by Assembly on 31 October 2018. A copy of this letter will also be tabled in the Assembly. Under Section 3, the single-use plastics resolution called on the ACT Government to: a) deliver the first ACT Government-run plastic-free event before the end of the parliamentary term; b) continue to find meaningful and significant ways to reduce single-use plastic usage in the ACT; and c) work with other jurisdictions to phase out problematic and unnecessary plastics. I am pleased to report back on the following outcomes: a) Deliver the first ACT Government-run plastic-free event before the end of the parliamentary term FYI Canberra – which was to be delivered in winter 2020 – was to be the ACT Government’s first plastic-free event. The event was unfortunately cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Events ACT has been steadily reducing the waste produced by its events over time, including through careful planning and the introduction of recycling points at some events. Under the theme “Together in Your Home”, the 2020 Reconciliation Day event in Canberra was successfully adapted and delivered in an online format due to COVID-19 While “Together in Your Home” was mainly a virtual event, the specially curated video workshop content and the production, packaging and distribution of the pledge postcards were all carried out in a manner that remained ACT Legislative Assembly London Circuit, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia GPO Box 1020, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia Phone +61 2 6205 0011 Fax +61 2 6205 0157 Email [email protected] @ABarrMLA AndrewBarrMLA andrewbarrmla free of single-use plastics. The community response to the event has been very positive, with feedback praising the creative initiatives introduced this year. Events ACT will continue to build on its concerted efforts to plan and deliver future events as plastic- free, while also providing due consideration to the changing events landscape as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. b) Continue to find meaningful and significant ways to reduce single-use plastic usage in the ACT Plastic reduction remains a key priority of the ACT Government. It is important to note that we were the third Australian jurisdiction to ban plastic shopping bags, which saw a 1,132-tonne reduction in plastic bag use in the ACT between 2011 and 2018. In April 2019, the ACT Government became one of the first jurisdictions to consider options to phase out certain problematic and unnecessary single-use plastics. Between April and July 2019, consultation was undertaken with the community and business via the Phasing out single-use plastics discussion paper. This discussion paper received more than 3,300 interactions and showed clear support for phasing out select single-use plastic items. In December 2019, the ACT Government announced that it would introduce and commence the Plastic Reduction Bill 2020. This would have driven the phasing out of single-use plastic stirrers, cutlery and polystyrene food and beverage containers in 2020, followed by further items in subsequent tranches. However, implementation will now be delayed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with new timeframes still under consideration. c) Work with other jurisdictions to phase out problematic and unnecessary plastics The ACT Government, through Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS), is leading a strong, collaborative cross-jurisdictional network to support the single-use plastic phase out. This network shares insights, research and proposals where feasible and appropriate, given that most jurisdictions are working towards their own plastic-related policies. While each jurisdiction is committed to their respective first tranche phase-out items, the collaborative framework has been integral to supporting national harmonisation wherever possible. The ACT Government looks forward to continued collaboration with partners across Australia on phasing out unnecessary and problematic plastic. We congratulate our colleagues in South Australia and Queensland on the introduction of their plastic-related legislation and look forward to following suit in due course. Yours sincerely Andrew Barr MLA Chief Minister .