Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697632370476.pdf (Australia)
Terms of Reference (b) Sources of marine plastic pollution I would like to see helium balloon releases banned Australia wide.

It is disappointing to see many well-meaning charities and support organisations use mass balloon releases to symbolise and highlight their causes.

Balloons return to the land and sea where they can be mistaken for food and eaten by animals.
Sea turtles, dolphins, whales, fish and birds have been reported with balloons in their stomachs and plastic tie clips, ribbons and strings can lead to entanglement, causing injury and death.

Many balloon manufacturers produce latex balloons which they claim are "biodegradable" and "environmentally friendly" however experiments have shown latex balloons can take years to degrade and can wreak havoc in the marine environment before, or if, they do eventually degrade.
In addition the frivolous and wasteful use of a scarce resource such as helium - required for medical procedures - for balloon releases, is irresponsible and should also be a reason to ban balloon releases.

Please consider recommending the complete ban of all balloon releases in Australia.

I applaud the Senate for conducting this important Inquiry.

Yours sincerely Andrea Woods Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 83