1.Victory in Western Australia!
2.WA Upper House blocks GM canola trials
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1.Victory in Western Australia!
Greenpeace, 9 April 2009
http://www.truefood.org.au/newsandevents/?news=38

Moves by the Western Australian Government to allow large-scale trials of genetically engineered (GE) canola have been thwarted by the Greens and the ALP. This means that planting GE canola in WA is now illegal.

The trials were sneakily announced by WA Agriculture Minister Terry Redman on 23 December. However, on 10 April a motion by the Greens to disallow the trials passed in the Upper House. This means that planting GE canola in WA is now illegal unless, and until, a new Order is made.

Greens MP Paul Llewellyn, who moved the motion, is happy with the result. He claims that the trials were in fact commercialisation by stealth. The decision should hopefully give the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Terry Redman some breathing space to re-think his approach to GE crops trials

As Paul Llewellyn points out “the arrangements that were proposed by the government simply did not offer an appropriate level of protection to the farmers involved in the trials, to non-GE farmers, or to consumers.”

GE growers were required to sign up to full responsibility and liability for the trials, even though the level of contamination risk is not properly understood. Meanwhile, there is no legal framework in place to ensure strict liability for damage to non-GE growers by the big companies that seek to profit from market domination in GE agriculture.

There is still a danger that the WA Government may ignore the wishes of the public and either make a new Order to allow GE canola field trials, or lift the GE food crop moratorium altogether. Please help make sure they don’t!

Tell Terry to cut the crop and prevent the release of GE canola in WA!

You can contact him at:

Hon. Donald Terrence Redman MLA
Level 11 East, Dumas House
2 Havelock Street
West Perth WA 6005
Ph: (08) 9213 6700
Fax: (08) 9213 6701
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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2.WA Upper House blocks GM canola trials
Media Release - 9 April 2009

The Upper House today supported the motion by Greens MLC for the South West Region, Paul Llewellyn to block GM canola trials in Western Australia.

"This will give the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Terry Redman some breathing space to re-think his approach to GM crops trials," Mr Llewellyn said.

Minister Redman had approved 1,000 hectares of 'GM canola trials' at 20 sites, on the pretext of testing segregation systems but experience in Victoria and NSW shows these do not work.

"The arrangements that were proposed by the government simply did not offer an appropriate level of protection to the farmers involved in the trials, to non-GM farmers, or to consumers.

"GM growers were required to sign up to full responsibility and liability for the trials, even though the level of contamination risk is not properly understood.

"Meanwhile, there is no legal framework in place to ensure strict liability for damage to non-GM growers by the big companies that seek to profit from market domination in GM agriculture.

"These ill-conceived trials were in fact commercialisation by stealth.

"We will continue to work to ensure good and fair outcomes for the environment, consumers and growers," Mr Llewellyn concludes.

For more information contact Paul Llewellyn on 0428 317 182 or 08 9848 1555 or visit http://www.paul-llewellyn.net

Sonia Anderson
Electorate Officer
Paul Llewellyn MLC
Southwest Region
PO Box 541, Denmark 6333
Ph: 08 9848 1555

Hon. Donald Terrence Redman MLA
Level 11 East, Dumas House
2 Havelock Street
West Perth WA 6005
Ph: (08) 9213 6700
Fax: (08) 9213 6701
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.