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Lightweight single-use plastic bags will be banned in NSW next week with a swathe of other disposable items to follow suit in a bid to stop billions of bits of plastic litter entering the environment over the next 20 years.
Environment Minister James Griffin said the ban which comes into force on June 1, is the first step in a plan to rid the state of many single-use plastic items and packaging which make up 60 per cent of all litter in NSW.
"I think all of us can see the impact plastic pollution is having on our environment," Mr Griffin said on Monday.
The ban on lightweight single-use bags comes into place from June 1, and will be followed by a ban on more problematic plastics, such as cutlery and plates from November.
"Single-use plastic is used by many of us for just a few convenient minutes, but it remains in our environment for many years, eventually breaking into microplastics,," he said.
Stopping the supply of plastic would help prevent it becoming litter or going into landfill, he said.
"I encourage everyone to choose to go plastic-free as often as they can."
The NSW Government passed the Plastic Reduction and Circular Economy Act 2021 in November, and introduced the Plastics Action Plan last year.
The ban will prevent almost 2.7 billion items of plastic litter from entering the environment in NSW over the next 20 years.
From November the ban will include:
* single-use plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls and cotton buds
* expanded polystyrene food ware and cups
* rinse-off personal care products containing plastic microbeads.
* So-called "compostable" and "bioplastic" alternatives to the above items which don't biodegrade unless they're treated in an industrial composting facility
The government is supporting more than 40,000 businesses across NSW to phase-out single-use plastics.
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An incredible day of goal-laden drama in the Premier League has ended with Manchester City champions, Burnley relegated, and Tottenham in the Champions League.
But those bald facts only tell a fraction of the story.
(Photo Credit AAP Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
City came back from a 2-0 deficit at home to Aston Villa with 15 minutes left to win 3-2 with three goals in an extraordinary five minutes.
Meanwhile, at Anfield, Liverpool recovered from an early Wolves goal to win 3-1. It was not enough as City celebrated their fourth title in five years, one as dramatic as the one secured by Sergio Aguero ten years ago.
The drama began early, Pedro Neto stunning a hopeful Anfield as he gave Wolves a third-minute lead, tapping in a cross from Raul Jimenez.
Liverpool lay siege to Wolves' goal and levelled in the 24th minute. Thiago Alcantara's clever backheel in midfield set Sadio Mane away, and he beat Jose Sa at his near post.
Anfield's next roar came when news broke of a goal 40 miles away, at the Etihad, for Aston Villa full-back Matty Cash.
Meanwhile, at the bottom, a 19th-minute penalty from Callum Wilson put Newcastle 1-0 up and dumped Burnley into the relegation zone. Another penalty, from Raphinha at Brentford, gave Leeds a three-point cushion which looked firm when Wilson added a second.
Back at the top former Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho put Villa - managed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard - 2-0 up.
But in a frantic, near-hysterical atmosphere, City came back with two goals from substitute Ilkay Gundogun sandwiching one from Rodri as Villa collapsed.
The news stunned Anfield despite Mo Salah coming off the bench to put them ahead. Andy Robertson added a third, but the quadruple dream is over.
The final whistle in Manchester sparked scenes of unbridled joy at the Etihad with the crossbar giving way during a pitch invasion. But while City players were joyously mobbed Villa 'keeper Olsen was attacked.
Back at the bottom Maxwel Cornet pulled a goal back at Turf Moor to give Burnley hope with 21 minutes left. That hope grew when Sergi Canos equalised for Brentford.
One goal for Burnley or Brentford would have been enough. But Burnley could not find an equaliser and Leeds, facing a Brentford side reduced to nine through injury and a Canos red card, scored in the 94th-minute through Jack Harrison.
The only non-event was the race for the fourth and final Champions League place. Spurs, needing to win at Norwich to secure it, won 5-0, Dejan Kulusevski and Son Hueng-min scoring twice and Harry Kane once.
Son's brace gave him a share of the golden boot with Salah.
That result made for a muted celebration at the Emirates where Arsenal, who hoped to profit from a Spurs slip-up, were forced to settle for a Europa League spot despite thrashing Everton, who had secured their safety in midweek, 5-1.
The minor European places were settled as expected too, though not without threat of a twist.
Manchester United were beaten by a Wilfried Zaha goal at Crystal Palace. So when Michail Antonio gave West Ham the lead at Brighton they were bound for the second Europa League place and Manchester United for the Europa Conference.
However, Brighton then scored three enabling new Old Trafford boss Erik Ten Hag to look forward to a Europa League campaign.
Elsewhere Chelsea beat Watford 2-1 and Leicester defeated Southampton 4-1.
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Scott Morrison has stepped down as leader of the Liberal Party after conceding defeat, saying he accepted responsibility for the result.
Mr Morrison says he will hand over the leadership at the next party meeting.
"To my colleagues who have had to deal with very difficult news, and have lost their seats tonight, I as leader take responsibility for the wins and the losses," he told supporters at Liberal headquarters in Sydney.
"That is the burden and that is the responsibility of leadership."
Mr Morrison said he would continue to represent the people of Cook and serve them to the best of his capability.
"But tonight, it's a night of disappointment for the Liberals and Nationals, but it's also a time for coalition and members and supporters all across the country to hold their highs head," he said.
"We have been a strong government, we have been a good government, Australia is stronger as a result of our effort over these last three years."
Mr Morrison lauded the Australian people for coming through a tumultuous few years as he addressed the party faithful.
"What Australians have endured over these past few years has shown a tremendous depth of character and resilience and strength and each and every day I have had the great privilege to lead this nation," he said.
"On a night like tonight, it is proper to acknowledge the functioning of our democracy. I've always believed in Australians and their judgment and I've always been prepared to accept their verdicts."
It comes after moderate Liberals have suffered major swings in damaging signs for the faction, while some of the party's ministers face losing seats to independents.
Some Liberal supporters have lamented an unpopular prime minister with no large policy targets and antagonistic policies, such as on a federal anti-corruption commission, which cost inner-city votes but had no bearing on outer-suburban seats.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton, who is set to retain his Brisbane-based seat of Dickson, says the nation and the party face many challenges ahead.
"We have, as a Liberal family, suffered a terrible day today. There are some amazing people who supported the Liberal Party day in, day out. Through good times and bad," he said.
"They are hurting tonight. I want to acknowledge them. I want to acknowledge the work of the prime minister and Josh Frydenberg."
Outgoing treasurer Mr Frydenberg remains behind challenger Monique Ryan with a more than nine per cent swing against him and is projected to lose the seat by a three per cent margin, based on progressive tallies.
Addressing his supporters in Kooyong, Mr Frydenberg refused to concede the seat and acknowledged that while difficult, victory was not impossible.
"While it's mathematically possible that we win in Kooyong, it's definitely difficult," he said.
"In what looks to have been my last press conference as treasurer - an unemployment rate at 3.9 per cent, the lowest in nearly 50 years.
"So for me to know that our economy is stronger today than when we came to government, that more people are in work today than when we came to government ... is something that I am eternally proud of that our government has achieved."
© AAP 2022
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Voting has opened in Australia's eastern states as major party leaders make a final pitch to undecided voters and polling tips a change of government.
At ballot boxes on Saturday, votes will be cast for 1203 candidates across the 151 seats in the House of Representatives.
With polls suggesting Australia is likely to get its sixth prime minister in nine years, Mr Albanese told the ABC outside Melbourne's iconic MCG on Saturday morning Labor was kicking with the wind at its back.
"The fourth quarter is what matters and I hope to finish ahead when the siren sounds," he said.
The opposition leader said he aimed to form a majority government, with a minimum target as low as the coalition's thin 76-seat grasp on Parliament House during its term.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Liberal-National government heads into the election holding 75 seats, having lost the WA seat of Stirling in a redistribution.
Labor starts with 68 seats, plus notionally the new Victorian seat of Hawke.
The major parties will need 76 seats for a majority in the lower house.
In the Senate, there are 421 candidates vying for 40 seats across the states and territories.
When 6pm rolls around, the ballots of more than 17 million voters will start to be counted, including those of more than five million people who voted early.
In Sydney's northern beaches, the Liberal Party's Jason Falinski told Sky News there was "no doubt" his party was the underdog.
Across the harbour, Labor's Matt Thistlethwaite said the race would go down to the wire but he was confident.
The so-called 'teal' independents also made their pitch with Kylea Tink, running to usurp moderate Liberal Trent Zimmerman in North Sydney, saying her volunteers were outnumbering those of mainstream parties.
"I'm really excited people in North Sydney want politics done differently," she told Nine.
Allegra Spender, who is facing off against Liberal Dave Sharma in Wentworth, promised to be a voice for her electorate's values "every single time".
Opinion polls are averaging 53.5 per cent to Labor on a two-party preferred basis, according to The Poll Bludger website, which if reflected at the ballot box would result in 83 seats for the ALP.
The latest Newspoll, in the Australian, shows Labor holding a 53-47 lead despite a two point drop in the party's primary vote to 36 per cent.
Mr Morrison, who campaigned in Perth on Friday, said the election would be close.
"Australians weigh up their decision very, very carefully," the Liberal leader said.
"What Australians will be wanting to know is what certainty and security can they have going forward for them and their families?"
Mr Albanese - who campaigned in South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria on Friday - said many people who had voted Liberal all their lives were now walking away from the party.
"There's three more years of the same, or there's myself, who wants to bring the country together, who wants to be inclusive, who wants to end the division," he said.
The campaign has focused on cost of living, economic management, national security, a federal integrity commission, climate and equality and safety for women.
Mr Albanese stumbled on economic questions in the first week of the campaign, playing into the hands of the coalition's attack over his inexperience.
Mr Morrison's economic credentials took a hit with a rise in the cash rate and the latest wages figures coming in well below inflation, while he sought to remodel his personal "bulldozer" style of leadership.
Closely watched will be the success of the teal independents, who have run a well-funded campaign on climate change, integrity and women's safety across a number of Liberal-held seats.
Defeat for Labor will be the fourth successive loss and mean the ALP has won majority government only once in the past 10 elections.
If Mr Morrison wins, he will be the first incumbent prime minister to win two elections in a row since John Howard in 2004.
The Liberal campaign has targeted the seats of Hughes, Gilmore, Parramatta, Hunter (NSW), Lyons (Tasmania), Corangamite (Victoria) and Lingiari (NT).
Labor has in its sights the seats of Pearce, Hasluck, Swan (WA), Chisholm and Hawke (Victoria), Bass and Braddon (Tasmania), Brisbane, Longman, Leichhardt and Ryan (Queensland), Boothby (SA), Reid, Bennelong and Robertson (NSW).
Election day also marks the 60th anniversary of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander citizens being granted the right to vote in federal elections.
© AAP 2022
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