Tackling litter is child’s play for a new national committee of under-15s

Tuesday 1 November 2011

Keep Australia Beautiful today announced a new national initiative to tackle Australia’s litter problem. The LITTLE Committee is made up of 10 children under the age of fifteen who will become the new face of tackling the litter issue in Australia – in advertising campaigns, workshops and meeting with key stakeholders.

Research has found that children under the age of fifteen make up only 1.5% of the nation’s litterers. Senator Kate Lundy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, launched the LITTLE Committee at Parliament House, Canberra on Tuesday 25 October with the group’s mentor, former Senator Natasha Stott Despoja.

Ms Stott Despoja said it had been exciting to meet so many committed young Australians during the recruitment process for the Committee.

“I met lots of talented and passionate young people during the interview process for this initiative. The LITTLE Committee represents bright new ideas and enthusiasm for tackling the litter issue in Australia,” said Ms Stott Despoja.

“While the Committee might be little, their job isn’t. Adults do most of the littering in Australia, so we’re putting kids in charge of fixing the problem.”

Mia Vissenjoux from Victoria will Chair The LITTLE Committee and is pleased that every state and territory is represented.

“The good thing is that all of us are learning about the environment at school and are taking the message home. Once the message has spread to everyone I think more people will feel the same way I do about litter. I desperately wanted to be part of The LITTLE Committee because I saw it as a real opportunity to tackle this big issue of litter,” said Mia.

The members of The LITTLE Committee will begin their 12-month term today and their first job will be to start work on a new national advertising campaign, including shooting two commercials while they’re in Canberra. The LITTLE Committee’s website www.little.org.au provides more information about their work and a profile of each of the children.

LITTLE stands for the Leading Integrated Taskforce Tackling Litter Everywhere. The 10 members are:

Mia Vissenjoux, 12, VIC – Chairperson
Charlie Roache, 10, VIC
Timothy Whelan, 12, NSW - Vice Chairperson
Amelia Warde, 10, NSW
Georgia Taylor, 11, QLD
Serena Barton, 10, NT
Elliot Thorp, 12, TAS
Holly Drake-Brockman, 12, SA
Patrick Walker, 12, ACT
Lachlan Moir, 8, WA

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