Canberrans will soon be putting their shopping into fabric or paper bags, with heavyweight plastic bags set to be banned in the ACT from 2024. Photo: Chris Steel MLA Facebook.
A ban on heavyweight and boutique plastic bags, reforms for the hospitality sector to improve the night-time economy and new tree protection laws will take effect from 1 January 2024.
From Monday, all single-use shopping bags that are made fully or partially of plastic are banned, including soft plastic bags greater than 35 microns in thickness and bags made from plastic-laminated paper or cardboard.
“The ban on heavyweight and boutique plastic bags builds on the ACT Government’s successful ban of lightweight plastic shopping bags that was introduced in 2021,” City Services Minister Tara Cheyne said.
The ban also follows the phase-out of other single‑use plastic items, which have been introduced in three stages since July 2021. These include single-use plastic plates and bowls, plastic microbeads in rinse-off personal cosmetics and cleaning products, cotton buds with plastic sticks, single-use straws and cutlery and expanded polystyrene takeaway containers.
Minister Cheyne said that the National Retail Association has completed more than 1600 visits to retailers across Canberra on behalf of the ACT Government to raise awareness about the changes. Retailers will continue to be provided with ongoing support now the new law is in force.
The ACT Government will monitor exemptions that will apply for certain plastic bags, such as bags without handles, unsealed bags used to package perishable food such as fruit or cooked poultry, shopping bags made of nylon, polyester or woven polypropylene and non-woven polypropylene bags.
“Whilst heavyweight plastic bags may be re-used, many are being treated as single-use products ending up in landfill or littering our environment,” Minister Cheyne said.
“Canberrans have really embraced the phase-out of single-use plastics to date. Remembering to bring reusable and non-plastic paper bags when heading to the shops is a great way for all Canberrans to participate in the circular economy.”
New tree protection laws under the Urban Forest Act 2023 will also take effect from 1 January to provide a stronger legal framework to protect, grow and manage Canberra’s trees.
The new laws protect more trees by classifying all public trees as protected and reducing the size requirements for protected trees on private land from 12 metres to 8 metres in height or canopy width.
The new laws also classify dead native trees with a circumference of 1.88 metres or more as protected to provide essential habitat elements for local fauna.
The legislation will encourage existing trees to be retained, and will introduce new requirements to ensure trees that have to be approved to be removed are replaced or, where new planting is not possible, a financial contribution to support tree planting elsewhere.
“If a protected tree is eligible and approved for removal, the applicant will be required to enter into a canopy contribution agreement with the ACT Government,” Minister Cheyne said.
“This disincentivises developers to remove trees in the first place, and if trees have to be removed, it ensures that the canopy cover is replaced, either onsite or through a financial contribution to grow the canopy across Canberra.”
A tree bond system will also be introduced to ensure trees are not damaged during construction work as the city continues to grow.
The ACT Government will expand the ACT Tree Register, which protects Canberra’s most significant trees.
There will also be new measures to encourage compliance, such as the introduction of penalties for people caught damaging a tree or breaching a tree protection plan or direction.
“Trees are one of the reasons Canberra is such a great place to live. They provide significant benefits like shade, cooler temperatures in summer and reduced air pollution,” Minister Cheyne said.
“These new laws will not only retain the leafy character of our city, but make it more resilient to a changing climate by reducing the urban heat island effect.”
In addition, changes will be introduced to further enhance the ACT’s night‑time economy and foster a more vibrant hospitality sector.
From 1 January 2024, the ACT Government will automatically allow smaller licensed restaurants and cafes to trade until 2 am, reduce liquor licensing fees for smaller restaurants, cafes, bars and general licences, and remove the requirement for general licensed businesses to have separate areas for the sale of liquor for on-premises and off-premises consumption.
“Changes to the licensing requirements for smaller hospitality businesses in the ACT aim to reduce costs and the administrative burden on businesses, encourage extended trading hours and foster innovative business models. This will ultimately contribute to a more dynamic and diverse night-time experience for Canberrans,” Minister Cheyne said.
“These reforms will also encourage new entrants into the market which will drive economic growth and create jobs in the Canberra community.
“Further reforms to be delivered by July 2024, subject to the passage of legislation, will incentivise venues to showcase artists, musicians and other cultural activities and allow all licensed businesses to extend trading hours up to ten times a year at no cost.”
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