Senator VAN (Victoria) (20:30): I rise to continue my address-in-reply to the Governor-General's speech. Before the break, I was talking about the Minister for the Environment's target to have 100 per cent of Australia's packaging re-usable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. As I said earlier, such a target is absolutely a step in the right direction, but I believe that it should be coupled with a carefully crafted program that both incentivises and pressures industry to adopt cleaner alternatives and better product stewardship, stimulating innovation where cleaner solutions are currently lacking. If products can reasonably be replaced by current alternatives, we should promote the phasing out of single-use plastics. Where this is not immediately possible, mandatory stewardship should actively drive innovative solutions for the effective disposal of waste, whereby producers or importers work hand-in-hand with business to recycle the leftover waste of these pollutants—that is, after the consumer has dealt with them. While the war against single-use plastics is a global one, Australia needs to play its role by confidently setting realistic standards and expectations to limit one of our major pollutants. One of the worst reflections of our global plastics problem has evolved into what has been dubbed 'the great Pacific garbage patch'. This area, with two distinct hubs—one near Japan and the other near Hawaii—is filled with garbage from activities on multiple continents. Over half the plastic in the patch comes from land-based sources, with much of the worst plastic coming from single-use items such as plastic bags, water bottles, bottle caps and foam cups. As the plastic breaks down in the sun it becomes a threat to marine food chains, as well as putting harmful chemicals into the oceans. Responsible, pragmatic actions will do more than just protect our oceans and marine life. It is only with a sense of urgency that we can ensure single-use plastics are phased out responsibly so that we can ensure a clean a future for our nation, our children and those to follow. The work of this government will also mean that we can reduce our carbon emissions and meet our international targets in a way that won't cost people their jobs. In my own state of Victoria, the state government's reckless energy policies have driven baseload and reliable generation out of the market and replaced it with unreliable intermittent power sources. With the closing of crucial coal-fired electricity generators in Victoria, we know that unless action is taken with improved investment in networks and reliable dispatchable power, such as natural gas generation, Victorian households and small businesses will face a future of higher prices and blackouts this summer. The state government's moratorium on natural gas exploration and production is changing Victoria from an energy-rich estate to an energy-poor one. This poses an enormous threat to our manufacturing industry, including, for example, Portland's aluminium smelter in south-west Victoria. The Victorian state government is following a recipe for disaster. We have seen in South Australia what happens: record high prices and black-outs. This government will do what it can to keep the lights on in Victoria and drive prices down. Those on this side are not against renewable energy. It is the balance with reliability and cost that concerns us. We are focused on implementing practical and real energy policies, not unworkable and economy-destroying policies. The coalition government has set down its plan for Australia. As a new senator in the 46th parliament, I support this plan. As I said in my maiden speech last week, I restate my commitment to represent all Victorians and to listen to ideas from all sides of the political divide. I look forward to serving the people in my home state and I thank the senate for its indulgence.