Environmentalist Karen Joynes pressures NSW Government for balloon release ban with petition

New South Wales has not followed Tasmania, Western Australia and Queensland in banning balloon releases. (Flickr: Greg Williams)

South Coast NSW environmental activist Karen Joynes has been trying to have balloon releases banned in Australia for six years.

She said the evidence of birds becoming entangled in balloon ribbons or ingesting balloons is both heartbreaking and constant.

Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania have all banned balloon releases, but it is still legal in her home state.

"New South Wales is behind by allowing up to 19 balloons to be released.

Through Greens MLC Cate Faehrmann, Ms Jones is petitioning the NSW Government to end the practice completely.

"The research has shown that balloons kill wildlife and end up as litter," she said.

"It's [an allowance to release 19 balloons] an anachronistic law that belongs in the last century and we need to have no allowances of any balloon releases."

Fragments of a balloon found inside marine life, including inside the stomach of this green sea turtle. (Marine Environmental Monitoring UK: Rod Penrose)

Getting impatient after years of waiting

Karen Joynes was told to hold off lobbying the NSW Government to ban balloon releases until the NSW Plastics Action Plan was released.

The plan is a document outlining how the state will address the lifecycle of plastic from production, consumption, disposal and recycling.

Ms Jones said when the plan was released, a balloon release ban was not part of it.

"An amendment was then moved by the Animal Justice Party for a ban on the release of balloons and the motion was backed by the Greens and Labor," Ms Jones said.

"It was defeated by one vote and I'm confident if we can get the motion to go again, it will get passed next time.

She said she also hopes the fresh campaign will get the attention of the new environment minister, James Griffin.

Environmental campaigner Karen Joynes says some balloons are treated with chemicals, meaning they cannot biodegrade. (Facebook: Karen Joynes)

Total balloon ban not required

Despite campaigning against the release of balloons outside, Karen Joynes is not calling for balloons to be banned completely.

She said if balloons are used inside and disposed of correctly, they will not pose a danger to wildlife.

"Even some latex balloons have a lot of chemicals added to them so they don't biodegrade, but latex balloons can be legitimately used indoors as air-filled and for decoration.

"As long as they're pinned and binned as the balloon industry recommends, there's no problem with balloons used indoors."