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1. What was proposedAndrew BraddockGreens · Crossbench
   Read the original wording (430 words)

   That this Assembly: (1) notes that: (a) the increasing prevalence of artificial grasses, which are comprised of polymers and colloquially known as “astroturf”, throughout Canberra’s urban landscape; (b) artificial ground coverings, including artificial grass, prevent the development of vegetation supporting natural water filtration, lead to increased runoff and prevent the storage of water in the landscape; (c) artificial grass contributes to the urban heat island effect, with applicable surfaces in full summer sunlight able to reach temperatures capable of causing severe burns, with young children at particular risk; (d) artificial grass can decompose into microplastic particles, contaminating our waterways and potentially becoming lodged in the digestive systems of local wildlife; (e) risks may be enhanced in more advanced sportsground applications, where these utilise crumb rubber as a loose infill product in conjunction with the artificial grass; (f) artificial grasses create a biodiversity desert, hostile to all forms of wildlife; (g) once degraded, artificial grass is almost never recycled; (h) many of the above stated issues are not well known amongst the Canberra community and, as such, the use of artificial grass is becoming increasingly common across Canberra’s suburbs; (i) where the Government has implemented schemes disincentivising the installation of artificial grass, such as in the Suburban Land Agency’s landscaping rebate schemes for Ginninderry, Jacka and Whitlam, this has proven to be effective at preventing the proliferation of artificial grass within the areas covered by those schemes; and (j) there is precedent internationally for imposing further regulations on artificial grass including in the Netherlands, the European Union, and California; and (2) calls on the ACT Government to: (a) commence a public education campaign about the negative impacts of astroturf and promote the use of more environmentally friendly, easy-care alternatives; (b) set a timeline for phasing out the installation of artificial grass in ACT Government projects and developments, and look to feasibility for replacement on public land; (c) develop a program to support the phasing out of artificial grass products from private use to transition to more sustainable products, including the consideration of subsidies and incentive schemes as appropriate; (d) examine regulation options for artificial grass in the ACT to be used in only limited, specific and environmentally-regulated applications; (e) prioritise, and incentivise where possible, the planting of appropriate vegetation throughout Canberra’s urban landscape, including through fostering gardens for wildlife; (f) explore options to test for the presence of microplastics in the ACT’s waterways, including to identify likely products of origin for any occurring contamination; and (g) report back to the Assembly on progress by no later than 29 October 2025. Debate ensued.

2. Proposed changeSuzanne OrrLabor · Minister6 May 2025

   Grouped by key words as: added a new call or point.

   The exact wording of this change

   Omit paragraphs (2)(b) and (c), substitute: “(b) undertake an analysis of the use of artificial grass on public land and the feasibility for its progressive removal and the phasing out of its installation in the future; (c) develop a program to support the use of alternatives to artificial grass on private land;”.

   Agreed on the voices. No individual votes were recorded. Its wording is in the final text.

3. Change to Suzanne Orr's changeEd CocksLiberal · Opposition6 May 2025

   Grouped by key words as: added a new call or point.

   The exact wording of this change

   to Ms Orr’s proposed amendment: Omit paragraph (2)(b), substitute: “(b) without prejudice, undertake an analysis of the use of artificial grass on public land and the feasibility for its progressive removal and the phasing out of its installation in the future;”. Debate continued.

   Agreed on the voices. No individual votes were recorded. Its wording is in the final text.

4. Proposed changeEd CocksLiberal · Opposition6 May 2025

   Grouped by key words as: added a new call or point.

   Before

   (d) examine regulation options for artificial grass in the ACT to be used in only limited, specific and environmentally-regulated applications

   After this change

   (d) without prejudice, examine regulation options for artificial grass in the ACT.

   The exact wording of this change

   Omit paragraph (2)(d), substitute: “(d) without prejudice, examine regulation options for artificial grass in the ACT.”.

   Agreed on the voices. No individual votes were recorded. Its wording is in the final text.

5. What the Assembly decidedAgreed

   Decided on the voices: no individual votes were recorded, so this doesn’t show that every MLA agreed.

   Final agreed wording, with changes marked

   That this Assembly: (1) notes that: (a) the increasing prevalence of artificial grasses, which are comprised of polymers and colloquially known as “astroturf”, throughout Canberra’s urban landscape; (b) artificial ground coverings, including artificial grass, prevent the development of vegetation supporting natural water filtration, lead to increased runoff and prevent the storage of water in the landscape; (c) artificial grass contributes to the urban heat island effect, with applicable surfaces in full summer sunlight able to reach temperatures capable of causing severe burns, with young children at particular risk; (d) artificial grass can decompose into microplastic particles, contaminating our waterways and potentially becoming lodged in the digestive systems of local wildlife; (e) risks may be enhanced in more advanced sportsground applications, where these utilise crumb rubber as a loose infill product in conjunction with the artificial grass; (f) artificial grasses create a biodiversity desert, hostile to all forms of wildlife; (g) once degraded, artificial grass is almost never recycled; (h) many of the above stated issues are not well known amongst the Canberra community and, as such, the use of artificial grass is becoming increasingly common across Canberra’s suburbs; (i) where the Government has implemented schemes disincentivising the installation of artificial grass, such as in the Suburban Land Agency’s landscaping rebate schemes for Ginninderry, Jacka and Whitlam, this has proven to be effective at preventing the proliferation of artificial grass within the areas covered by those schemes; and (j) there is precedent internationally for imposing further regulations on artificial grass including in the Netherlands, the European Union, and California; and (2) calls on the ACT Government to: (a) commence a public education campaign about the negative impacts of astroturf and promote the use of more environmentally friendly, easy-care alternatives; (b) without prejudice, undertake an analysis of the use of artificial grass on public land and the feasibility for its progressive removal and the phasing out of its installation in the futureCocks; (c) develop a program to support the use of alternatives to artificial grass on private land; (d) without prejudice, examine regulation options for artificial grass in the ACTCocks; (e) prioritise, and incentivise where possible, the planting of appropriate vegetation throughout Canberra’s urban landscape, including through fostering gardens for wildlife; (f) explore options to test for the presence of microplastics in the ACT’s waterways, including to identify likely products of origin for any occurring contamination; and (g) report back to the Assembly on progress by no later than 29 October 2025.

   Original and final wording compared

   taken out put in

   That this Assembly: (1) notes that: (a) the increasing prevalence of artificial grasses, which are comprised of polymers and colloquially known as “astroturf”, throughout Canberra’s urban landscape; (b) artificial ground coverings, including artificial grass, prevent the development of vegetation supporting natural water filtration, lead to increased runoff and prevent the storage of water in the landscape; (c) artificial grass contributes to the urban heat island effect, with applicable surfaces in full summer sunlight able to reach temperatures capable of causing severe burns, with young children at particular risk; (d) artificial grass can decompose into microplastic particles, contaminating our waterways and potentially becoming lodged in the digestive systems of local wildlife; (e) risks may be enhanced in more advanced sportsground applications, where these utilise crumb rubber as a loose infill product in conjunction with the artificial grass; (f) artificial grasses create a biodiversity desert, hostile to all forms of wildlife; (g) once degraded, artificial grass is almost never recycled; (h) many of the above stated issues are not well known amongst the Canberra community and, as such, the use of artificial grass is becoming increasingly common across Canberra’s suburbs; (i) where the Government has implemented schemes disincentivising the installation of artificial grass, such as in the Suburban Land Agency’s landscaping rebate schemes for Ginninderry, Jacka and Whitlam, this has proven to be effective at preventing the proliferation of artificial grass within the areas covered by those schemes; and (j) there is precedent internationally for imposing further regulations on artificial grass including in the Netherlands, the European Union, and California; and (2) calls on the ACT Government to: (a) commence a public education campaign about the negative impacts of astroturf and promote the use of more environmentally friendly, easy-care alternatives; (b) [taken out: set a timeline for phasing out][put in: without prejudice, undertake an analysis of]the [taken out: installation][put in: use]of artificial grass [taken out: in ACT Government projects and developments, and look to feasibility for replacement]on public land [put in: and the feasibility for its progressive removal and the phasing out of its installation in the future;](c) develop a program to support the [taken out: phasing out][put in: use]of [put in: alternatives to]artificial grass [taken out: products from][put in: on]private [taken out: use to transition to more sustainable products, including the consideration of subsidies and incentive schemes as appropriate;][put in: land;](d) [put in: without prejudice,]examine regulation options for artificial grass in the ACT; [taken out: to be used in only limited, specific and environmentally-regulated applications;](e) prioritise, and incentivise where possible, the planting of appropriate vegetation throughout Canberra’s urban landscape, including through fostering gardens for wildlife; (f) explore options to test for the presence of microplastics in the ACT’s waterways, including to identify likely products of origin for any occurring contamination; and (g) report back to the Assembly on progress by no later than 29 October 2025. [taken out: Debate ensued.]

   Compared word by word by computer, ignoring punctuation. It shows what differs, not which change made each difference; the steps above show that.