1.Hail storm unleashes more genetically modified canola contamination 
2.Grain handler accused of failing to clean up spill
3.Spill prompts calls for tighter GM rules

EXTRACT: "In order to sell my canola to CBH I have to sign declarations saying it is GM-free. How can I do that with any confidence now? The Government should never have introduced GM canola without legislation in place to protect non-GM farmers from economic loss." (item 1)
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1.Hail storm unleashes more genetically modified canola contamination – highlights need for farmer protection legislation
http://www.lynnmaclaren.org.au/hail-storm-unleashes-more-genetically-modified-canola-contamination-highlights-need-farmer-protectio

Hon Lynn MacLaren MLC, the Greens spokesperson on GMOs, called for legislation to protect farmers from unwanted GM contamination, following a hail storm last week near Cunderdin which resulted in around 100 tonnes of GM canola being knocked to the ground in a GM canola field. This then washed downhill – contaminating the roadside verge and a neighbouring non-GM property.

Ian James, whose non-GM farm has been contaminated, said "GM canola is already starting to germinate in my paddock and along the roadside and drains. What I want to know is who is going to pay to clean up this mess, and stop the GM canola spreading over my whole farm?"

"In order to sell my canola to CBH I have to sign declarations saying it is GM-free. How can I do that with any confidence now? The Government should never have introduced GM canola without legislation in place to protect non-GM farmers from economic loss," said Mr James.

Hon Lynn MacLaren said, "This is just the latest in a string of contamination incidents that have occurred since GM canola was introduced in WA and shows that GM canola contamination can’t be controlled.”

"In question time yesterday the Minister answered that responsibility for the clean-up rested with the farmers who ‘need to liaise with each other to work out the best way to manage any GM canola that may have moved’.”

“Ninety-five per cent of WA’s canola went to Europe last year a market with no tolerance for GM canola. Minister Redman is risking our markets and our farmers’ livelihoods by introducing GM canola with no safeguards in place,” added Ms MacLaren.

"Farmer protection legislation is urgently needed to protect non-GM farmers from economic losses if GM contamination does occur,” concluded Ms MacLaren.
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2.Grain handler accused of failing to clean up spill
ABC News, November 1 2011 
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-01/grain-spill-investigation/3612412?section=wa

A wheatbelt farmer says his calls for the grain handler CBH to remove genetically modified canola, spilt near his farm, have been ignored.

A truck carrying more than 15-tonnes of GM canola caught fire and spilt seed onto Albany Highway, near Williams, in August.

CBH assured local farmers that all the seeds had been removed but a week after the spill, local farmer Geoff Reed says he noticed hundreds of seeds germinating by the side of the road.

Mr Reed says despite a number of calls to CBH, some of the plants are still there and are now fully grown.

"I reckon half a dozen plants there, they've definitely got yellow flowers on them," he said.

"And I know that down by the underpass there's another one with flowers on there and they are only six or seven metres off the main road, like off the highway.

"We were told they would look after it; if there is anything there that you see, report it to CBH in Narrakine and they would look after it, which I have done.

"Well that's probably three or four weeks ago since I first reported it, and nothing's been done."

CBH says it is investigating Mr Reed's claims.
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3.Spill prompts calls for tighter GM rules
BOBBIE HINKLEY
Farm Weekly, 11 Nov 2011 
http://fw.farmonline.com.au/news/state/grains-and-cropping/general/spill-prompts-calls-for-tighter-gm-rules/2352695.aspx

OPPOSITION Agriculture Minister Mick Murray has called for the implementation of emergency spillage procedures for genetically modified (GM) seed and grain spills after a Williams farmer reported GM canola plants growing on the side of Albany Highway after a truck spill in August.

Mr Murray said to minimise the threat of contamination, clean-up procedures for GM needed to be handled with more stringent protocols and not treated the same as non-GM seed spills.

He said strict quarantine and long-term monitoring after clean-ups was needed to ensure GM seed spills were handled better in WA.

"Recently we have seen the case of a GM canola handler who did not take responsibility for a spill on Albany Highway near Williams for nearly three months, resulting in the seed germinating on the side of the road near a farm," Mr Murray said.

Mr Murray said a local farmer had monitored the situation and noticed GM canola had germinated at the site which raised some serious contamination issues.

"Ultimately if GM spills are not quarantined or monitored I envisage non-GM growers finding themselves liable for paying end-point royalties to Monsanto or other GM seed breeders because their crops have been unknowingly contaminated," he said.

Earlier in the year anti-GM campaigners condemned CBH for not taking the proper course of action in the wake of the GM canola spill and said their calls for CBH to remove GM canola plants from the roadside had gone ignored.

But CBH manager of operations Colin Tutt said CBH was being proactive in monitoring and evaluating the site for possible GM canola plants.

"It was pleasing for a grower to bring it to our attention," he said.

"CBH has been back to the site and picked up another three canola plants. We're not sure whether they're GM or not yet but we're doing tests to confirm that.

"We just need to be vigilant and as a whole community we need to keep checking that area to make sure we minimise the contamination process.

"CBH will always be criticised for the incident but at the end of the day it's about us all working together to fix it."