Ms BYRNES (Cunningham) (10:12): I rise to speak to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water's final report of the inquiry into the impact of plastic pollution on Australia's oceans and waterways. The report is titled Drowning in waste: plastic pollution in Australia's oceans and waterways.
This inquiry was requested by the Minister for the Environment and Water, the Hon. Tanya Plibersek, in October 2022. It has had a particular lens on the impact of plastic pollution in oceans and waterways, including microplastics. The terms of reference set by the committee covered consideration of the effectiveness of Australia's management framework under the National Plastics Plan; the effectiveness of the Australian government's engagement with states, territories, industry and non-government organisations; the effectiveness of community campaigns; and current global initiatives. The committee received 71 submissions from around the country, representing a broad cross-section of government; the science and academic community; industry, including manufacturing, retail and peak organisations; environmental organisations; and community groups.
One submission that I would like to draw particular attention to is that of one of my constituents, Susie Crick. Susie is the CEO of the Oceanic Research Institute and branch president of the Surfrider Foundation. She is passionate about transitioning from plastics to more sustainable materials, and through her submission there is a harrowing quote that I thought of often during the inquiry. She said:
It will be challenging to make the shift from the convenience of plastic because we touch plastic more than we do our loved ones.
In June 2023 the committee travelled to Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney to make site visits and engage in four of the six public hearings that were conducted. During the Adelaide site visits, we met with AUSMAP, who are a nationwide citizen science program that aims to quantify microplastic pollution, with the primary goals of identifying litter hotspots and assisting in source reduction. Separate from participating in the inquiry, AUSMAP were awarded a National Science Week grant in 2023 and took their passion on the road. Their first two events of National Science Week 2023 were held in Wollongong, with AUSMAP's research director, Dr Scott, and Juniper, their science officer, running an AUSMAP training day and community day, inspiring and engaging the local community. Sampling at a Belmore Basin beach site in my electorate saw rubber crumb fragments coming from local playgrounds, raising important conversations around the issue.
While this report primarily reflects evidence dating from late 2022 into early 2023, the committee recognises this report does not encompass the full story of plastics pollution. Since the Senate Environment And Communications Reference Committee inquiry into the then-current research and understanding of plastic pollution reported in 2016, evidence documenting the extent and impact of plastic pollution has grown exponentially. Plastic undoubtedly plays a significant role in almost every area of life. It is the most prevalent of human-made products and is used across diverse sectors. It is lightweight, mouldable, durable, cheap to produce and performs critical functions, including within the medical industry and for food protection and preservation.
However, its environmental impact is now a source of great concern. The persistence of plastic in the environment after disposal has created a significant problem globally. Pertinently said by DCCEEW in their submission, plastics can leak into the terrestrial environment at various stages of their lifecycle and end up in our oceans. They can easily spread all over the world via air, natural and manmade waterways and oceans. From terrestrial environments, large river systems have been identified as the main pathways that spread plastics into our oceans, and plastic has been found in every corner of the earth. From the Arctic Ocean to the sea ice around Antarctica and in the deepest oceanic trench on earth, the Mariana Trench, estimated to be over 10,000 metres deep, there is plastic to be found.
Toothbrushes, bottle caps, cigarette lighters and other hard plastic items and fragments are found in the stomachs and remains of many marine species that have died slowly and painfully from starvation. The most common entanglement injuries to sea turtles, seabirds, whales and marine mammals occurred from discarded fishing gear or ghost nets, plastic bags, clothing, rope and sixpack rings, causing restricted mobility, scoliosis, starvation, smothering and wounding, which in turn leads to infections, amputation of limbs and death. While some microplastics are intentionally produced for use in consumer products, through weathering and wave action, larger pieces of plastic in the ocean can break down over time, becoming microplastics—fragments smaller than five millimetres in diameter. This means that plastic can enter the lower level of the food chain, consumed by smaller marine wildlife such as fish, crustaceans and plankton, and then in turn move up the food chain. Adding to the complexity of their environmental impact, plastics contain a diversity of chemical additives that can leach into the air, soil and water at every phase of the product's lifecycle. The current estimation of 150 million metric tonnes of waste plastic in the ocean is expected to quadruple by 2040, just 16 years away. If no action is taken, it is predicted that, in only 26 years' time, the amount of plastic in the ocean will outweigh fish.
Australians consume plastic at three times the global average, and this rate continues to grow. Except for Singapore, Australia's consumption of single-use plastics per person is higher than in any other country in the world. This is not a new problem, but it is an enduring and insidious problem. It will not be solved overnight, but it cannot be ignored. We need to take decisive steps towards making a real difference now and into the future. The committee has therefore made 22 recommendations that emphasise collaboration, consistent national standards, bolstering existing schemes and developing new approaches, research and measures to mitigate the complexity of challenges we face.
The recommendations draw attention to challenges faced in remote areas of Australia and to engagement and collaboration with overseas institutions. The committee recommends that the Australian government, through DCCEEW and in consultation with state and territory governments, industry and the community, develop an updated National Plastics Plan. The updated plan, based on an overarching circular economy, should contain reporting and transparency measures to monitor progress and accountability and should be in place within 12 months of the tabling of this report. The department should report to parliament on the progress of key actions through its annual report. To be included in the plan, we recommend developing policies that track and limit polymer production in Australia, aim to reduce and enable visibility of the composition of imported plastics and, in collaboration with industry, strengthen product stewardship and the use of recycled content.
The department should also engage with industry to revise and strengthen the goals included in the 2025 National Packaging Targets. We recommend that the Australian government take a leadership role in coordinating and tracking the reduction of the use of plastics; harmonise, standardise and expand programs already in place, such as single-use plastic bans, the container deposit system and waste collection systems; standardise and simplify plastic packaging and labelling; and develop and fund a comprehensive and nationwide public awareness and education campaign that includes impacts and risks associated with microplastics.
Giving further regard to microplastics, the department should commission comprehensive research to determine the impacts of microplastics ingestion, inhalation and skin contact, including of absorbed toxins on humans, with the initial research to be made public in July 2026. Additionally, the government should engage with the environment ministers meeting to prioritise a national microplastic reduction strategy.
As a matter of urgency the Australian government should prioritise a sustainable end market for recovered plastics, considering incentives or mandates and including options for rural and remote areas. Additionally, the department should conduct a feasibility study into appropriate plastic disposal options for rural and regional areas, with the development of pilot programs by December 2025. In the development of any targeted solutions, the department should ensure that First Nations peoples are included, consulted and actively involved.
I want to thank those who brought to this inquiry their expertise, passion and time, through hearings and submissions, and the committee secretariat for their hard work. I commend the report to the Chamber.
