http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/10/2135624.htm

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has confirmed he wants a 
phase-out of plastic shopping bags introduced within the year.

The Government is under pressure to act quickly after the Chinese 
Government yesterday announced plans to ban free plastic bags within six 
months.

Mr Garrett will meet his state and territory counterparts in April to 
discuss introducing a phase-out by the end of the year.

"We think it's absolutely critical that we get cracking on it," he said.

"There are some 4 billion of these plastic bags floating around the 
place, getting into landfill, ending up affecting our wildlife, [and] 
showing up on our beaches while we are on holidays.

"I think most Australians would like to see them rid."

Mr Garrett told Sky News it is unacceptable that Australia generates so 
many plastic bags a year.

"We'd like to see a phase out implemented by [the end of] 2008," he 
said. "And I think that's absolutely critical for us given that there's 
been a fair amount of discussion already between the states.

"We've certainly had a system in place that's been voluntary up to now, 
where you've got people coming in to the supermarkets and they have the 
opportunity to take up those canvas bags."

The Opposition's environment spokesman, Greg Hunt, says plastic bag 
pollution is a significant problem and the Coalition is willing to 
examine the idea.

"We've made good inroads on plastic bags through the existing scheme but 
we are open-minded and we look to be constructive, and we look to 
examine proposals on their merit," he said.

"Not only will we examine the Government's proposals, we will be putting 
forward our own proposals for further reductions in plastic bag usage 
and waste."

The goal of phasing out plastic bags by the end of 2008 was first set 
out in a COAG communique in June 2007.




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