Greens Senator for Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson, have today announced that the Greens will be seeking to use their position in the new Parliament to push for the establishment of a Cooperative Research Centre to investigate and find solutions to the scourge of plastics in our ocean.

Senator Whish-Wilson said that the decision by the NSW Government to adopt a container deposit scheme was a big win for community campaigners around the country, and makes it inevitable that Tasmania will eventually adopt a similar popular scheme.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “With NSW, the state with the largest population, joining in with South Australia and the Northern Territory in adopting a cash-for-containers scheme other states will fall into line like dominos.

Greens spokesperson for Consumer Affairs, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson welcomes the news that NSW has followed in the footsteps of the South Australia and the Northern Territory by announcing plans for a beverage container recycling refund scheme, and is calling on other states to quickly follow suit. [NB: Tasmanian specific comment at end of release]

Today the Senate Environment and Communications Committee has released a landmark report into the causes and impacts of marine plastic pollution in our waterways and oceans.

Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, who initiated the Inquiry, said, “Today, we have seen Senators from Labor, the Liberals and the Greens standing together calling for urgent and immediate action on marine plastic pollution.

Greens spokesperson for Fisheries, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, welcomes the belated announcement by the Environment Minister that a review of the Marine Debris Threat Abatement Plan has been completed.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “Last October, in Senate Estimates, I asked if the review into the Threat Abatement Plan into Marine Debris was underway. The department official replied that the review was underway and would be completed by the end of that calendar year.

Today in Tasmania, Australian Greens spokesperson for waste and recycling, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, announced the Australian Greens' costed plan to fund research that will fill a gap in the Government's approach to the threat of marine debris.

"We are facing a global plastic pollution crisis in our oceans that both starts and ends right here in Tasmania," said Senator Whish-Wilson.

"Plastic pollution is killing our wildlife, choking our waterways and oceans, and hurting our brand as a clean, green destination.