GM Watch comment: The Victorian Farmers Federation appears to be pushing for a State Government moratorium on GM crops to be lifted, despite the fact that the last time anyone actually asked Victorian farmers what they thought about it 70-80% wanted the moratorium!

This kind of spin and sleight of hand amongst farmers' union big wigs in cahoots with pro-GM lobbyists has been going on across Australia. When Western Australia Farmers Federation had a cautious policy calling for an end to the State moratorium only "when markets clearly indicate their preparedness to accept GM produce", this was spun to the media as a demand for an immediate end to the moratorium because markets were ready to accept GM produce!
http://www.lobbywatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=6296

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Farmer rejects GM crops support claim
ABC News, 13 April 2007
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200704/s1896509.htm

A suggestion that most Wimmera farmers in western Victoria would support a resumption of trials of genetically modified (GM) crops in the region is being disputed.

The Victorian Farmers Federation is pushing for a State Government moratorium on GM crops to be lifted.

The moratorium is set to end in February next year and the Government says industry will be involved in a review of the ban.

But West Wimmera farmer Geoff Carracher, from the anti-GM lobby group, the Network of Concerned Farmers, says he does not believe the push has community support.

"As far as I know there's been no questionnaire sent out to people, there's been no independent survey done of farmers to see whether they have changed their attitudes from between 70 and 80 per cent of those who said they wanted a moratorium," he said.