<P> The phase - out of lightweight plastic bags in Australia is being pursued at local and state / territory level rather than nationally, with plastic bag bans implemented or pending in all states and territories except New South Wales . Environmental groups have expressed their concern that Australia was lagging other countries in the phase - out of lightweight plastic bags, including Botswana, Somalia and Tanzania . In 2016 it was estimated that of the 5 billion plastic bags used annually by Australians, 150 million ended up as litter . </P> <P> In 2003 the Tasmanian town of Coles Bay was the first location in Australia to ban plastic bags . Although in 2008 the then - Environment Minister Peter Garrett announced the Rudd Government's goal of a nationwide plastic bag ban by year's end, he later abandoned the initiative due to cost of living concerns and disagreement about the policy among state and territory governments . This led to states and territories pursuing their own approaches . </P>

Which states have banned plastic bags in australia