2nd June 2006
Mr. Philip Weickhardt,
Presiding Officer for the Inquiry into Waste Generation,
Productivity Commission
PO Box 80, 
CANBERRA, ACT, 2616

Dear Mr. Weickhardt,
I write to you with regards to the phasing out of plastic bags in supermarkets.
I note that the Productivity Commission has now released its Draft Report and the deadline for entering submissions in this public inquiry, is Friday 7th of July.
Please except this letter as a brief submission to the inquiry, as stated above.
I believe that there is an overwhelming argument to better manage Australia's generation of waste, particularly in a post-consumption environment such as today.
I would encourage the Australian Government to adopt a regulatory framework with the aim of completely phasing-out the supply of plastic bags from all major supermarkets and other commercial uses of plastic bags, by the year 2009.
Obviously, a legislative ban would be required to achieve such an aim, but in the interests of conservation and preservation of our marine environment in particular, I believe a legislative ban on the supply of all plastic bags, is urgently required.
I would be grateful for your response and follow up with the Inquiry's Recommendations to the Australian Government. 
Yours sincerely,

Mr. Ben Blackburn