Page 153 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 13 February 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
The contamination rate of the green bins has been only 0.01 per cent by weight, which is an outstanding performance and reflects the commitment by Canberra residents to using their green bins correctly.
The contents of around 300 bins are checked every week with friendly labels to encourage proper use. Education officers have been completing follow-ups with any households showing contamination in their bins to ensure it is removed before the next collection. This process has been working. As of yet no fines have been issued and just two bins have been returned.
MS ORR: Can the minister please advise the Assembly about how the green bins program is helping to reduce waste in the ACT?
MR STEEL: I thank Ms Orr for her supplementary. There are a few reasons why the government is rolling out the green bin program. Firstly, the green bins are helping Canberra households to maintain their gardens and retain the character of our bush capital. But also, importantly, by rolling out a large-scale garden organics collection service we are reducing the amount of waste going into landfill, turning into methane and contributing to climate change. The green waste collected is instead processed into high quality mulch and compost for landscaping.
As of December 2018, 6,277 tonnes of organic garden waste have been collected from green bins since the pilot commenced in April 2017. While the green bin program provides kerbside collection for garden waste only, we will continue to look at how we can use the bins as a vessel to support other types of waste collection in the future, like food organic waste.
Crime—motorcycle gangs
MR WALL: My question is to the minister for police. Minister, Victoria Police made a submission to a federal royal commission that stated:
Victoria Police has identified Outlaw Motor Cycle Gang (OMCG) members being used by union officials as ‘hired muscle’ for debt collection, with ‘standover’ tactics used to intimidate victims. Victoria Police intelligence has identified a number of known members of OMCGs such as the Rebels MC, the Comancheros MC and the Bandidos MC, being members of trade unions, participating in industrial activities such as strikes and picket lines, or engaged in ‘debt collecting’.
Minister, has ACT Policing identified any similar links of OMCG members being members of unions in the ACT, as they were in Victoria?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Wall for the question. The police have not briefed me on any connection between union membership and criminal gang activity. I will say that ACT Policing are tackling the issue of serious criminal gangs, and they are doing this because of the resources provided by the government, along with the enhanced legislative powers that the Attorney-General has shepherded through this
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video