Bill gains support to extend state GM ban

And given the pro-moratorium government’s majority, it is almost certain to pass.

Greens MLC Mark Parnell’s bill to extend the GM moratorium passed the Upper House on Wednesday last week by a single vote.

If the Lower House accepts the bill, SA will be the only mainland state prohibited from growing GM crops for at least six more years.

“Once genetically-modified crops are in the environment, they’re here for good,” Mr Parnell said.

“You can’t release GM and then decide later on that we should be a GM-free state.”

In explaining the lack of formal consultation regarding the extension, Mr Parnell said if he had not acted, the present moratorium could have expired in 2019, without debate or consideration from the next elected government.

“My thinking was this is a too important decision just to leave up to the calendar,” he said.

“It needs to be a deliberative decision and needs to involve the whole community.

“I’m very confident as time goes by, people will thank us for taking this stance.”

But what shocked Opposition agricultural spokesperson David Ridgway was the amendment, put forward by Labor MLC Tung Ngo on behalf of the government, to extend the ban into 2028.

The amendment did not pass, but Mr Ridgway said it was a “disgraceful” move by the government.

“They released their policy late on Wednesday night in parliament, with no consultation with the grain sector or agricultural sector at all,” he said.

“I’m not necessarily in favour of lifting the moratorium, but I’m in favour of making sure that we make a decision to extend it, or not, with all the best information.”

Mr Ridgway warned farmers should be “worried and concerned” about the lack of respect for their industry.

“It should be alarming for anyone involved with agriculture in SA, with the total lack of consultation and the arrogant way in which this has been carried out,” he said.

Agriculture Minister Leon Bignell said the GM-free status had “huge marketing advantages”.

“We need to get more for what we can produce now, and we can do that by going loudly and proclaiming that we are GM-free,” he said