Page 151 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 14 February 2018

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mechanism to do that. Of course it will be a 10c refund to those people who are returning the container.

MS CHEYNE: Minister, what are the benefits for the territory under the scheme?

MS FITZHARRIS: I thank Ms Cheyne for the question because this is a scheme that will benefit the ACT as it has benefited South Australia for many years, and many people in New South Wales are also looking forward to this. It has a number of benefits. One is to take a significant stream of litter out of our environment. Something that so many people right across our community often speak to me about is littering in our community, and they see clearly a number of particular containers that are the main cause of this littering.

Mr Wall interjecting—

MS FITZHARRIS: It will have an impact on the litter in our environment and will also have an environmental benefit for the—

Ms Cheyne: On a point of order, Madam Speaker, I would like to hear the answer to my question.

MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you, Ms Cheyne. I think she is referring to your interjections, Mr Wall, so can you cease them, thank you. Minister, you have a minute left.

MS FITZHARRIS: In addition to the public amenity benefits there are also significant environmental benefits through those containers no longer being in the public litter stream and clogging up our waterways and our parks. In some cases they potentially pose a danger to users of our waterways and parks. It also has significant benefit for community groups. As we have seen in South Australia over a number of decades, they have benefited greatly from the scheme. They use the scheme as a fundraising opportunity and community-building activity. It is an important source of fundraising for community groups.

New South Wales is also benefiting from the scheme. I see today that there is a call from the opposition to have more vending machines available across New South Wales so more people can participate in the scheme. More people in the community want to participate in the scheme. There is a call for it in New South Wales because more communities right across New South Wales want access to this scheme.

Of course, it is also an important part of product stewardship and industries taking responsibility for their waste. (Time expired.)

Planning—affordable housing

MR PARTON: My question is to the Minister for Planning and Land Management. Minister, the Canberra Times recently reported: “Canberrans flocking to Queanbeyan as rent prices surge”. The same report observed a “massive influx of Canberrans at inspections” over the border. Another report said that rents skyrocketed eight per cent


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