Page 5816 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 7 December 2010

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MR CORBELL: That is a clear and compelling issue for the government to have regard to. A clear majority of Canberrans, 58 per cent of Canberrans, support some form of restrictive action.

Mr Seselja: How many want a ban?

MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Ms Seselja, question time is later today.

Mr Hanson: Thirty-three per cent, I think, for restrictive action.

MR CORBELL: The restrictive action, of course, is either a levy or a ban.

Mr Seselja: It is an embarrassing number, isn’t it?

MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Members!

MR CORBELL: Other speakers in this debate have highlighted the problems with a levy here in the territory and the government has ruled out the use of the levy for the constitutional reasons that other speakers have highlighted. The only other form of action available is, therefore, a ban, and the government has decided to take that step.

We have heard the Liberal Party in their debate on this trying to characterise this as an anti-capitalist, anti-consumption activity. If that is the case, I am proud to be in the anti-capitalistic, anti-consumption characterisation which is shared by a range of other similar anti-capitalistic organisations such as Aldi stores which, of course, do not make plastic shopping bags available here in the ACT. That renowned socialist organisation, Aldi, and, indeed, that renowned hotbed of communist thought, Target Australia, no longer offer plastic shopping bags at their checkouts.

Mr Hanson: You can buy them. The consumer bears the cost.

MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Hanson!

MR CORBELL: So there you have it.

Opposition members interjecting—

MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Members of the opposition will cease interjecting.

MR CORBELL: There you have it, Madam Deputy Speaker.

Mr Hanson: They make lots of money out of it.

MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, I am going to warn you if you keep interjecting.

MR CORBELL: Two large national retailers operating here in the ACT have already voluntarily banned the provision of lightweight plastic shopping bags in their centres


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