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Retailers not consulted over plastic bag ban - Debate uses “populist emotive rhetoric”: ARA

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has called latest debate about phasing out plastic bags by Minister Garrett by 1 January 2009 as “populist emotional rhetoric.”

According to the ARA’s Executive Director Richard Evans, Australian retailers will respond to any change in legislation, but Minister Garrett is supporting an increased burden on Australian consumers, who are already struggling under interest rate rises and increased petrol prices.

“As the peak representative body for retail, we should be consulted as we are concerned about the level of misinformation being spread in the media about the environmental impacts of plastic bags,” Evans said.
Minister Garrett was to consult broadly during March prior to the Environment Protection and Heritage Council meeting on 17 April 2008 but to date the ARA has not been contacted for comment.

“According to reports in The Australian (10 March 2008, Scientists trash plastic bag ban), scientists and environmentalists have questioned the case against the use of plastic shopping bags as based on flawed science and misreporting.

“In addition, The Times newspaper in Britain has quoted scientists, including an expert who advises environmental group Greenpeace, as saying plastic bags pose only a minimal threat to most marine species, including seals, whales, dolphins and seabirds.

“Retailers are concerned about environmental damage too, and while the ARA agrees more should be done to reduce plastic bag litter, it does not agree with legislation or increased taxes. Ultimately the consumer will pay. This latest attack on plastic bags as a major environmental issue is overly emotive and needs to be looked at from an economic perspective. Retailers have been leading on this issue for over six years and the phasing out is just more emotional rhetoric and populist politics.

The ARA supports a system of voluntary compliance. The use of plastic bags in supermarkets has reduced by 45% between 2002 and 2005. The issue here is not about the availability of plastic bags, it is about litter management. Consumers need to take greater responsibility of how they reuse and dispose of plastic bags… it’s a litter issue,” Evans said.

“Legislation won’t fix the problem. Where do you draw the line on plastic bags … which plastic bags; what exemptions will apply; what are the alternatives? Is the Minister suggesting we should go back to paper? Surely this will add greater problems to global warming?

“What the ARA wants is leadership and further dialogue on this very important issue, not populist rhetoric and the heavy hand of legislation about plastic carry bags. Retailers have been leading on this issue for over six years and the proposed ban is just more emotional rhetoric and populist politics.

“The Productivity Commission has already warned against the dangers of non-targeted solutions, such as bans, taxes and levies, with estimates of the economic cost approximately $1 billion. It has proposed much more targeted and effective solutions, leaving plastic bag use where it is the best option,” 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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