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ARA slams Gago’s plastic bag ban

Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has slammed Minister for Environment and Conservation (SA) Gail Gago’s recent comments that South Australia is leading the nation by banning single use plastic bags.

ARA Executive Director Richard Evans said the South Australian Government should be working with other Governments to find a uniformed national approach to plastic bag litter management.

"While COAG is committed to tackling issues on a national scale, it seems the South Australian Government has its own agenda to create disharmony across state borders.

"Rather than favoring heavy handed legislation, perhaps the South Australian Government should be working with other Governments to resolve the complex issue of plastic bag litter management and their supposed impact on the environment.

"The issue is not about plastic bags, it is about litter management and requires national consideration and industry participation

"There are over 4.5 billion bags used by consumers each year in Australia, 75 percent of which are reused. Plastic makes up only 5 percent of landfill and 50 percent of that is packaging so we need to place this debate into context as opposed to the emotional rhetoric that can be applied.

"Minister Gago's comments about marine and wildlife deaths from plastic bags are wrong and typical of misleading statements on this issue," Evans said.

Evans added as the peak representative body for retail in Australia the ARA is yet to be consulted by the South Australian Government regarding the phase out.

"Minister Gago said the South Australian Government would continue to work with retailers to get ready for the ban but we are still waiting for her call," Evans said.

For over 104 years, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body in Australia's $292 billion retail sector which employs over 1.2 million people. As an incorporated employer body under the Workplace Relations Act and with a range of member services including business consulting, policy development, advocacy and education, the ARA promotes and protects over 5000 independent and national retailers throughout Australia. Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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