1.GM crop ban extended indefinitely in SA

2.No GM, says Bendigo - State Government defied

'History is littered with magic-bullet solutions to crops that have developed unforseen and un-envisaged problems. The point is we are just not sure.' - Mayor David Jones (item 2)

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1.GM crop ban extended indefinitely in SA
Stock and Land, 18 April 2008 http://sl.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/grains-and-cropping/general/gm-crop-ban-extended-indefinitely-in-sa/85116.aspx

The South Australian Government has moved to indefinitely extend its ban on GM crops in that State following Cabinet approval to extend existing regulations under the Genetically Modified Crops Management Act 2004.

The current legislation banning GM crops was due to expire on April 29.

But SA Agriculture Minister Rory McEwen said that under the terms of the Act, the Government was required to undertake a further six week period of public consultation, which included a series of public meetings around the State in March.

'This provided individuals, community organisation and the grains industry with a further opportunity to have their say on GM crops and include any updated information for the State Government to take into account,' Mr McEwan said.

'The six weeks of public consultation showed there's a divergence of opinion about the impact of GM crop cultivation on markets and trade for our produce,' he said.

'This came up in the seven public meetings, the 38 letters and 83 formal submissions.

'However, 81pc of the submissions and 97pc of the letters supported retaining the moratorium.

'Our view is that at present we believe there's no compelling reason to lift the ban for growing GM crops for human consumption in SA.'

Mr McEwen said the Government would be closely watching to see how NSW and Victoria address the key issues of segregation and regulation, as well as monitoring the benefits of keeping the moratorium in WA and Tasmania.

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2.No GM, says Bendigo - State Government defied
The Advertiser, 18 April 2008 http://bendigo.yourguide.com.au/news/local/general/no-gm-says-bendigo-state-government-defied/1225956.html

THE City of Greater Bendigo will defy [the Victorian] State Government policy in an effort to keep the municipality free of genetically modified crops and declare Bendigo a GM-free zone.

The council will request a GM-free zone under Section 21 of the Victorian Gene Technology Act and seek to counteract the State Government's lifting of a moratorium on GM canola in February.

It is not known if any growers plan to sow genetically modified crops within the municipality this season.

Mayor David Jones said reinforcing the strength of the council's position against GM crops was vital when they held such serious implications for farmers' ability to market produce as GM free when contamination could not be contained.

He said the council would also request that the Federal Government investigate the impacts of GM products on local flora and fauna under the 1999 Environment Protection Act.

He said the council's approach in opposing the introduction had been to take a conservative stance and protect the livelihood of organic producers and their right to farm free from products untested over the long term.

'History is littered with magic-bullet solutions to crops that have developed unforseen and un-envisaged problems,' he said.

'The point is we are just not sure.'

Cr Julie Rivendell said lifting the moratorium would lead to the contamination of eastern Australia and once it happened it would be irreversible.

Cr Keith Reynard said he feared the ownership of patents on GM crops by several large multinational companies posed serious dangers for the future viability and freedom of farmers.