World Environment Day - Motion
Wednesday 4 June 2025
S.E. ANDREWS (Gibson) (11:03): I rise to support this motion and acknowledge a day of immense global significance—World Environment Day, celebrated annually on 5 June. This year, we recognise this important occasion as it is hosted on Jeju Island in the Republic of Korea under the powerful and timely theme of ending plastic pollution.
World Environment Day is more than a date on the calendar. It is a reminder of our shared duty to protect the one planet we all call home. This year's theme brings into sharp focus one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time: the overwhelming and escalating crisis of plastic pollution. The statistics are sobering. Each year, the world produces over 430 million tonnes of plastic. Of that, more than two-thirds consist of short-lived products—packaging, wrappers, single-use containers—items designed to be used for a moment and then discarded.
Much of this waste does not simply vanish. Instead, it clogs our landfills, chokes our rivers, litters our oceans and poisons our wildlife. Increasingly, microplastics are being found in the most remote corners of the globe and, disturbingly, in the very food we eat and the water we drink. This is not just an environmental issue; it is a human health issue, a biodiversity issue and a challenge for future generations.
I am proud to say that South Australia has not stood idly in the face of this crisis. We are fortunate to live in a state that has long been a pioneer in environmental reform, and I would like to take a moment to celebrate the nation-leading work of our state government in substantially reducing plastic waste. I recognise the significant contributions of the Malinauskas Labor government in continuing this tradition of environmental leadership.
Under this government, South Australia has not only continued to ban harmful single-use plastics but also invested in circular economy solutions, supported green innovation and strengthened environmental protections. This government's comprehensive approach ensures we are not only reducing waste but also creating new opportunities in sustainable industries, local manufacturing and clean technologies.
However, we must also acknowledge that government action alone is not enough. Our state's natural beauty—its rugged coastlines, ancient forests, rivers and unique native wildlife—is protected every day by the efforts of countless environmental volunteer groups, one of which, the Friends of Sturt River Landcare, Tom and I joined again on Sunday for their annual planting. They got 260 people out to plant around the Oaklands Wetland and Reserve. That included community groups—I saw the Dover Gardens Girl Guides there—as well as individuals and families. It is a credit to the work of that Landcare group and what they do every year and all across the year.
These groups, often composed of everyday Australians, donate their time, energy and expertise to care for our parks, restore degraded habitats, remove invasive species and rehabilitate wildlife. Their contribution is immeasurable, and their passion is the heartbeat of our conservation movement. Without their tireless work, our flora and fauna would not be thriving. They are the quiet achievers, the local heroes who help transform policy into reality, and on this World Environment Day we celebrate them.
As we stand at this critical crossroads, it is incumbent upon each and every one of us to reflect on the kind of world we want to leave behind. Do we want a world clogged with plastic, stripped of biodiversity and plagued by preventable environmental harm, or do we want a future where South Australia and the world embrace innovation, sustainability and respect for nature? I believe we must choose the latter. We all share a duty, a moral obligation to future generations.
South Australia has proven time and again that it can lead on environmental reform. Let us continue to do so with pride, with purpose and with passion. Let World Environment Day 2025 be not just a day of reflection but a renewed call to action. Let it strengthen our resolve to end plastic pollution, protect our natural heritage and secure a more sustainable future for all. I commend this motion.
