Within Australia and globally, there is unprecedented job loss and economic instability. Australian Government initiatives that can be implemented immediately to create jobs and ‘boost’ the Australian Economy and provide other tangible benefits should be considered as a priority. Stormwater NSW and Ocean Protect are calling on the Federal Government to establish and work towards a ‘Zero Litter to Ocean’ target for Australia. Achieving this target would mean that any pollutant larger than five millimetres (like a cigarette butt) would be prevented from flowing to any waterway or ocean from any currently ‘high litter generating area’ within Australia.
The policy paper is available:
This policy paper outlines proven, ‘shovel ready’, scalable, and cost-effective actions to achieve a ‘Zero Litter to Ocean’ target for Australia – and help create an estimated 7400 Australian jobs and stop approximately 600 wheelie bins of plastic entering our oceans and upstream waterways every day. Implementing the recommended actions associated with this target will deliver a highly cost effective ‘win’ for the Australian environment and economy. There is also unlikely to be a more opportune moment for Australia to deliver in this space.
Providing ‘in principle’ support to the policy paper
To date, over 50 local governments, not-for-profit organisations and private industry groups have provided ‘in principal support’ to this policy paper – and logos of these groups are provided on pages 16 and 17 of the policy paper. If your organisation/ group is interested in providing in principle support too, please contact us. To clarify, this ‘in principle’ support would demonstrate that your groups supports the ‘Zero Litter to Ocean’ program and the proposed funding request to Federal and State governments to achieve this target.
Advocating for ‘Zero Litter to Ocean’ for Australia
We encourage you to ask our federal and state government politicians to help commit to and work towards a ‘Zero Litter to Ocean’ target for Australia, including those listed below.
Example text is available here:
Federal Government:
Scott Morrison (Prime Minister) – https://www.pm.gov.au/contact-your-pm
Sussan Ley (Federal Minister for the Environment) – https://minister.awe.gov.au/ley/contact
NSW Government:
Gladys Berejiklian (Premier) – https://www.nsw.gov.au/premier-of-nsw/contact-premier
Matt Kean (Minister for Energy and Environment) – https://mattkean.com.au/contact-matt-kean-mp
Victorian Government:
Daniel Andrews (Premier) – https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/contact-us/
Lily D’Ambrosio (Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change) – https://www.lilydambrosio.com.au/contact/
South Australia:
Steven Marshall (South Australia) – https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/contact
David Speirs (Minister for Environment and Water) – https://davidspeirs.com.au/contact
Tasmania:
Peter Gutwein (Premier) – http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/contact_your_premier
Roger Jaensch (Environment and Parks) – http://www.rogerjaensch.com.au/contact-roger/
Western Australia:
Mark McGowan (Premier) – https://www.premier.wa.gov.au/Ministers/Mark-McGowan/Pages/Contact.aspx
Stephen Dawson (Minister for the Environment) – https://www.premier.wa.gov.au/Ministers/Stephen-Dawson/Pages/Contact.aspx
Northern Territory:
Michael Gunner (Chief Minister of the Northern Territory) – https://chiefminister.nt.gov.au/ministry
Lauren Moss (Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources) – https://chiefminister.nt.gov.au/ministry
Queensland:
Annastacia Palaszczuk (Premier) – https://www.thepremier.qld.gov.au/tools/contact.aspx
Leeanne Enoch (Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef) – https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/members/current/list/MemberDetails?ID=3451737636