Victoria announces review of GE canola moratorium

30 May 2007

It is disturbingly easy for GE pollen matter to enter into the food chain. There is not enough known about the ramifications of this occuring.

Enlarge Image

Australia — Those of you that don't live in Victoria may not be aware of the shock revelations on the front page of the Sunday Age a few weeks ago that the Victorian agriculture minister, Joe Helper, wanted to lift the moratorium on genetically engineered (GE) canola. The announcement, which left many people choking on their cornflakes, was followed by a huge public backlash which left the Sunday Age letters editor drowning in letters from angry consumers.

Joe Helper issued a speedy retraction the next day, in which he promised to consult with business. He later amended this statement and promised to consult the community as well! This was followed by the announcement on 22nd May of an 'independent' panel to review Victoria's moratorium on the commercial planting of GE canola. According to the Premier, Steve Bracks, "The panel will consult key stakeholders and invite public submissions before preparing a report to Government later this year."

The three-person panel is to be chaired by GE advocate Professor Sir Gustav Nossal who argued on Country Hour that the NSW canola moratorium was "crass populism, bad politics and bad policy". The other panel members include Ms Merna Curnow, also a GE crop advocate. Ms Curnow is from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) which “spends at least $100,000 a year to promote acceptance of GM” according to Bob Phelps from GeneEthics. “Merna was also an officer of the Victorian Farmers Federation when it actively campaigned against the GM bans." said Mr Phelps.

The other panelist is Christine Forster, a recent Chairperson of the Victorian Catchment Management Council. According to Joe Helper “the panel will assess the economic impact on Victoria of the moratorium and recommend whether the Government should allow the moratorium to expire or a new moratorium order be signed” - yet none of the panel have any expertise in marketing issues.

The Victorian moratorium on GM canola was introduced in March 2004 to protect farmers from the inevitable financial losses that would result from the introduction of GE canola. It is currently due to expire on February 29, 2008, unless a new moratorium order is introduced. Greenpeace and GeneEthics are calling for an extension of the moratorium until 2013.

Take Action! Email Joe Helper and ask him to extend the moratorium