7 February 2019

The Honourable Mark McGowan MLA
Premier of Western Australia

CC: The Honourable Stephen Dawson MLA
Minister for the Environment

CC: Members of Parliament

Call for Effective Legislation to Ban the Deliberate Release of Balloons

Dear Premier,

I am writing to you to request a meeting to discuss options to introduce legislation prohibiting the deliberate release of balloons into the environment. I am a member of the balloon industry, a balloon professional, a local business owner and a Director of the Pro Environment Balloon Alliance (PEBA). We wrote to you on 20 June 2018 introducing PEBA and calling for effective legislation to ban releases, not balloons. A copy of the letter is available here.

Current legislation and policy pertaining to balloons is adhoc and fragmented making it unmanageable for our industry, the public, the environment and regulators.

There are over 540 Local Government Areas and 8 States and Territories having different legislation and policies and many have no regulation at all. We need uniformity at a state-wide level to provide consistency and surety for all stakeholders and jurisdictions. 

The Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales have similar regulations permitting 19 balloons to be released. In Queensland, the release of balloons is not permitted under the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011.

Our understanding is that under the Western Australian Litter Act 1979, the releasing of balloons is not an offence. We are requesting that the Western Australian Government adopt a policy like that of Queensland. We are also requesting that the other states and territories to do the same, as a ban on the deliberate release of balloons would be much more effective at a state-wide level rather than a local government level.

Western Australian's should be proud that PEBA was conceived and incorporated in WA. Within 18 months and with over 700 members, PEBA has grown into the largest balloon industry association in the world. PEBA has members in 37 different countries and new chapters have opened in the UK, Norway and the US. I am also happy to add that, per capita, WA has the highest percentage of members anywhere in the world.

Major associations around the world have adopted our policies and the largest balloon manufacturers are introducing packaging, advertising and policies in line with PEBA’s views on balloons and the environment.

In 2018, PEBA co-signed the Zoo's Victoria submission to State & Territory Environment Ministers, along with 20 peak environmental organisations, calling for uniformity in state legislation that supports a ban on balloon releases. Whilst PEBA is driving responsible change in the industry and doing its best to educate the public, industry alone cannot make the necessary changes without government support. 

We draw your attention to our Fact Sheet below explaining that balloons form a small fraction of marine debris and litter. Balance is required to develop policies that are environmentally responsible, are commensurate with the actual level of impact and do not unnecessarily deprive balloon artists and small business owners of their livelihoods.

We are requesting a meeting with your office to find out how the Western Australian Government can help the industry and the community progress into an environmentally and economically responsible future.

Yours faithfully 
Brian Gray
Founding Director - PEBA
Ph. 0402 341 950
admin@peba.com.au
www.peba.com.au