NEW ROADSIDE LITTER LAWS APPROVED
Published Wednesday, 10 October, 2007 at 03:46 PM
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew McNamara
Queensland Parliament has passed tougher littering laws, aimed primarily at addressing the increased incidence of roadside littering.
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, said latest available figures show Queensland’s rate of roadside littering is above the national average.
Mr McNamara said to litter count figures issued by Keep Australia Beautiful earlier this year showed 55 percent of the volume of litter in Queensland is found along our roadsides. This is higher than the national average of 49 percent.
“The Environmental Protection Amendment Bill 2007 introduces new littering offences and penalties to better reflect the seriousness of some types of litter,” Mr McNamara said.
“In addition to the existing general littering and illegal dumping offences, the new offences are depositing litter from a vehicle and dangerous littering.
“As the bulk of Queensland’s litter is found along our highways and roadsides, the ability to enforce littering from vehicles is fundamental to changing behaviour and reducing roadside litter.
“Littering from a vehicle will incur an on-the-spot fine of $225, and dangerous littering will cost $300, with a maximum penalty ten times that if a matter goes to court.
“Dangerous littering might include:
• throwing a lit cigarette onto dry grass during extreme fire danger conditions;
• smashing a bottle and leaving the broken glass on the footpath;
• leaving a hypodermic needle in a garden bed or near a children’s playground; or
• throwing an item from a car at another road user or a pedestrian.
“The new laws will allow an authorised person to send an infringement notice to the registered operator of a vehicle from which a littering offence has been observed.
“This is similar to camera-detected speeding offences, where the owner of the vehicle receives the infringement notice in the mail.”
“The vehicle littering offences will link to the existing State Penalties Enforcement Registry processes, and provide for a passenger to be nominated as the person who committed the offence.
“The changes will make enforcing littering offences in Queensland significantly easier and safer, particularly when litter is thrown from a vehicle.
Mr McNamara said further research will be undertaken to look at options for public reporting as another tool to strengthen litter prevention measures.
“Enforcement will also extend to helping keep our waterways free of litter, as a vehicle also includes a boat,” he said.
“All kinds of litter, including plastic packaging, fishing line, bottles and shopping trolleys, enters our waterways each year.
“This contributes to the declining water quality of many of our creeks and rivers and endangers our iconic wildlife.”
Mr McNamara said the legislation will commence in 2008 following a three-month amnesty period.
“During the three months, communication material will be released to inform people about the changes, as well as provide information on the impacts of litter,” he said.
“Good enforcement needs to be supported by education and awareness to change people’s attitudes to littering.
“The majority of people do the right thing and don’t litter, but these laws will send a strong message to the hip pocket of those who think littering is okay and that they can get away with it."
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3666 8004
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, said latest available figures show Queensland’s rate of roadside littering is above the national average.
Mr McNamara said to litter count figures issued by Keep Australia Beautiful earlier this year showed 55 percent of the volume of litter in Queensland is found along our roadsides. This is higher than the national average of 49 percent.
“The Environmental Protection Amendment Bill 2007 introduces new littering offences and penalties to better reflect the seriousness of some types of litter,” Mr McNamara said.
“In addition to the existing general littering and illegal dumping offences, the new offences are depositing litter from a vehicle and dangerous littering.
“As the bulk of Queensland’s litter is found along our highways and roadsides, the ability to enforce littering from vehicles is fundamental to changing behaviour and reducing roadside litter.
“Littering from a vehicle will incur an on-the-spot fine of $225, and dangerous littering will cost $300, with a maximum penalty ten times that if a matter goes to court.
“Dangerous littering might include:
• throwing a lit cigarette onto dry grass during extreme fire danger conditions;
• smashing a bottle and leaving the broken glass on the footpath;
• leaving a hypodermic needle in a garden bed or near a children’s playground; or
• throwing an item from a car at another road user or a pedestrian.
“The new laws will allow an authorised person to send an infringement notice to the registered operator of a vehicle from which a littering offence has been observed.
“This is similar to camera-detected speeding offences, where the owner of the vehicle receives the infringement notice in the mail.”
“The vehicle littering offences will link to the existing State Penalties Enforcement Registry processes, and provide for a passenger to be nominated as the person who committed the offence.
“The changes will make enforcing littering offences in Queensland significantly easier and safer, particularly when litter is thrown from a vehicle.
Mr McNamara said further research will be undertaken to look at options for public reporting as another tool to strengthen litter prevention measures.
“Enforcement will also extend to helping keep our waterways free of litter, as a vehicle also includes a boat,” he said.
“All kinds of litter, including plastic packaging, fishing line, bottles and shopping trolleys, enters our waterways each year.
“This contributes to the declining water quality of many of our creeks and rivers and endangers our iconic wildlife.”
Mr McNamara said the legislation will commence in 2008 following a three-month amnesty period.
“During the three months, communication material will be released to inform people about the changes, as well as provide information on the impacts of litter,” he said.
“Good enforcement needs to be supported by education and awareness to change people’s attitudes to littering.
“The majority of people do the right thing and don’t litter, but these laws will send a strong message to the hip pocket of those who think littering is okay and that they can get away with it."
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3666 8004