Berejiklian Government's "reckless" Refusal to Ban Plastic Bags Challenged by Port Stephens MP

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Local Labor members are calling on the State Government to protect marine life by matching their pledge to ban single-use plastic bags in NSW.

Labor has been calling on the Liberal party to 'ban the bag' since 2015, but the party is yet to support any laws being introduced.

Data shows approximately 10 million bags will still be littered in NSW each year under the current system with the Labor party calling for an outright ban.

With many thousands of smaller outlets still allowed to distribute, light-weight, single-use plastic bags, the Labor party believes the current voluntary ban instated by major supermarket chains fails to fix the issue

"We've already seen some of the larger providers having to go back to the use of plastic bags," said Port Stephens MP Kate Washington.

"Unless the Government implements legislation that makes single-use plastic bags illegal in NSW, then we will not see the market addressing the problems that the environment so desperately needs."

NSW remains the only state yet to introduce a bag ban, with many residents of areas like Port Stephens concerned about the effect this has on marine life.

"The risks posed by single-use plastic bags to our environment are enormous and they are well known, the risks to our marine life particularly," said Ms Washington.

"People of Port Stephens really want to see the use of single-use plastic bags banned because we do know the impact this has on marine life, we see it off our shores every day so it is an important issue."

Labor party members believe the marketplace cannot successfully address this issue on its own and the Government must act.

"The Berejiklian Government continues to fail to understand what the priorities should be for our state and that is not stadiums in Sydney," said Kate Washington.

 "Time and again we see their recklessness when it comes to our environment, and quite frankly everyone is fed up with it."

Image: The Advocate

World Oceans Ceremony

BY ARIANA GATTI

In honour and celebration of World Oceans Week, a ceremony open to the public will be held tonight along Merewether Beach.

The ceremony and in conjunction with World Oceans Day aims to bring awareness and support against the continual seismic testing and offshore drilling planned off Newcastle and the Central Coast.

With oil and gas companies still trying to test off the coastline of Newcastle, marine life such as whales and dolphins passing through are being affected by the constant stream of chemicals.

Countless amounts of peer-reviewed research articles have shown that underwater blasting is partly the cause of injury and death to surrounding marine life, while also impairing communicative abilities between dolphins and whales in particular.

The World Oceans Day get-together will be held between 5:00pm and 6:30pm, outlining the event as a twilight lantern ceremony, bringing the community together in support of the peaceful future of our marine life and that physical state of the coast.

All attendees have the chance to make their own lanterns by decorating their own paper bag, which will become available with a candle following a gold coin donation.

Earlier on in the evening, face-painting will be on offer for the kids, ocean-themed of course, and the opportunity to wander through eucalyptus-scented smoke following a traditional fire ceremony.

Image Sourced: 2NURFM News Director - Ian Crouch - 2017 Protest

20,000 kingfish escape off Port Stephens

BY MARISSA ALEXIOU

There are growing concerns for wild fish populations after 20,000 kingfish escaped a fish farm last week off Port Stephens.

The pens in the fish farm, jointly run by the NSW state-government and Tasmania based Huon Aquaculture, were destroyed in rough seas, releasing the predatory fish into the marine park.

Marine Parks Association Chairman, Frank Future said it is difficult to predict how other fish will be affected due to the lack of an impact assessment on the farm.

"These are top end predators who will be starving and looking to feed on anything," he said.

The pen, damaged by ocean swells and allowing the fish to escape, was designed to withstand waves of up to 15 metres.

Frank Future said he questions whether the waters were close to this height when the pen was damaged.

"They said it was an 11-metre sea that was measured by one of their boys but when I searched the Bureau site the highest seas were six metres. I couldn't see the pen properly engineered, there was massive damage to them."

The project was 18-months into a five-year research project. The breach of the pen has resulted in the farm losing half its stock, with a retail value of more than $2 million.

Only 3,000 fish were able to be recaptured after the escape.

Commercial and recreational fishermen attempted to make the most of the situation, trying to catch the fish in the surrounding area. 

Authorities have since closed down the area for fishing until the 7th February.

The kingfish trial site located off Port Stephens.
Source: The Herald