Australia's largest states have delayed for at least a year any action banning or restrictions on plastic shopping bags, a policy already in force across Australia's four smallest states and territories.

Queensland and NSW were understood to have discussed working on a joint deal banning the common grey supermarket bags, already banned by South Australia, Tasmania and the territories.

New Attorney-General Mark Speakman says he will be consultative but decisive. Credit:Jane Dyson

But a meeting of Australia's state and federal environment Ministers at Taronga Zoo on Monday instead resolved to review options for a coordinated approach with Victoria to reducing the 50 million bags littered nationally each year.

Objections from national retailers who complained about the cost of navigating different regulations across the states are believed to have scotched a bi-lateral deal. The NSW government is believed to have made action on the ban a second-order priority.