Students from Winters Flat Primary School have had their campaign against plastic fruit stickers
raised in State Parliament.
The students contacted The Nationals Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad who has formally
asked the Minister for the Environment to step in to resolve the issue.
“I was contacted by Aurora and Georgie, who are in grades 5 and 6 at Winters Flat Primary School,”
Ms Broad told Parliament.
“They sent me a letter on behalf of the school about those annoying plastic fruit stickers that end up
in compost and take hundreds of years to break down.
“Students have written articles, won awards, and made movies trying to encourage people to collect
their fruit stickers on a piece of paper instead of putting them in the compost, but they are finding
things still are not changing.
“New Zealand has banned plastic fruit stickers, and Aurora and Georgie would like Victoria to as well.
South Australia is also working towards banning different single-use plastic products in the near
future.
“The students pointed out environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic that could be made edible,
recyclable or biodegradable.”
After hearing from the students, Ms Broad contacted the industry group, Fruit Growers Victoria, who
are keen to explore the options to find a solution.
“I commend the students at Winters Flat Primary School on their work and ask the minister to help
Aurora and Georgie achieve their goal and to work with industry to find a solution to see the end of
plastic fruit stickers in Victoria.”
Ms Broad said she was pleased to hear that the students had learned about how the parliamentary
system works, and how their actions could make a difference. Most importantly, they felt they had
been heard.
Ms Broad said she would contact the school again once she has a response from the Minister.
Media contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764
