Environmental groups have criticised Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett for failing to get agreement on a way to phase out free plastic shopping bags.
Mr Garrett had called for free bags to be banned by the end of the year, but at a meeting of environment ministers yesterday, South Australia was the only state willing to meet the target.
The organiser of the National Plastic Bag Campaign, Jon Dee, says the result is disappointing.
"People were left with the impression from Peter Garrett that he was going to move ahead with a phase out of plastic bags by the end of this year, if necessary with legislation," he said.
"Now that has not happened today. We have wasted a great opportunity."
Total Environment Centre director Jeff Angel agrees.
"I know Peter is not long in the job, but this was his first crucial test because there was a very clear election promise to ban the free supermarket plastic bag by next year and he has patently failed to deliver that," Mr Angel said.
'Slap in the face'
Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt says the failure to organise the phasing out of plastic bags is a slap in the face for Mr Garrett.
He says the Federal Government and the states need to work harder to find an alternative product.
"It's extremely important that we move to biodegradeble bags as quickly as possible," he said.
"We need to decrease the number of bags, but let's not ban them or put a levy on families that are doing it tough."
Retailers laud Vic trial
The chief executive of the Australian National Retailers Association Margy Osmond has praised moves to run a trial where shoppers pay a charge for using plastic bags.
The trial has been supported by the Victorian Environment Minister Gavin Jennings and will be run at a number of supermarkets across the state.
Ms Osmond says plastic bags AM it is a practical step in reducing the use of plastic bags.
"I think this is a sensible move with the retail organisations working with Government, to look at the realities of what will happen if there is a charge, explore the practicalities and come up with the best option for the environment and for shoppers," he said.
Bottle refund scheme
Meanwhile, Queensland's Sustainability Minister Andrew McNamara says he will jointly lead an investigation into a national bottle refund scheme.
At the meeting of environment ministers, it was decided that Queensland and Western Australia will chair an inquiry into a nationwide program.
Mr McNamara says South Australia already offers refunds, and it's something that warrants further investigation.
"Queensland has a bit of an open mind on the issue," he said.
"It might help in reducing waste overall but we don't want to do anything that threatens kerbside recycling."
-abc.net.au
