BREAKING: FARMERS will be left in limbo in January, with the moratorium on genetically-modified crops on mainland SA lifted, but likely to be reinstated once parliament returns in February.
The state government announced today it would publish regulations in the last Government Gazette of the year, lifting the GM ban from January 1 and not providing those in opposition a chance to disallow them.
The Greens have already announced their intentions, saying a disallowance of the regulations will be their first item of business when parliament resumes in the new year.
Greens MLC Mark Parnell described Minister for Primary Industries Tim Whetstone's actions like those of "a bull in a china shop".
"Having been twice defeated in the Legislative Council, the Minister has instead decided to unilaterally introduce regulations that he must know are likely to be disallowed again next year," Mr Parnell said.
"This doesn't provide any certainty to farmers, who would be very unwise to assume that parliament will simply ignore serious concerns raised by MPs about GM contamination and liability.
If the Minister thinks that showing contempt for parliament is the best way to influence the outcome, he is likely to come a cropper for the third time when parliament resumes in February.
- MARK PARNELL
"After all, that is precisely why some MPs voted down the government's last attempt to lift the moratorium.
"If the Minister thinks that showing contempt for parliament is the best way to influence the outcome, he is likely to come a cropper for the third time when parliament resumes in February.
"The Greens will move that disallowance of these new regulations will be the first item of business when Parliament resumes."
Mr Parnell said he believed the moratorium should remain in place to allow SA to develop and capitalise on its clean, green and natural food reputation.
But Mr Whetstone said farmers had twice been denied this choice by the Labor Party and SA-Best playing petty politics.
"The government is standing with our farmers to lift the GM moratorium on mainland SA and as such we have today introduced new regulations, which come into effect on January 1," he said.
The government previously moved to lift the ban through a regulatory change in November, prompting SA-Best and the Labor Party to support a disallowance motion, saying change should happen through legislation, giving all MPs the chance to vote on the issue.
Within days the government introduced legislation into parliament, which passed through the Lower House before being blocked in the Upper House.
"What we've seen from Peter Malinauskas, the Labor Party and SA-Best is a complete disregard for South Australian farmers and our regional communities," Mr Whetstone said.
"When we first introduced regulations, the Labor Party and SA-Best made the petty excuse that they didn't agree with the process and that legislation should be introduced.
"The state government did exactly that and inexplicably the Labor/SA-Best alliance voted against the legislation to again show they are not the farmers' friend."
Decision allows graingrowers to plan ahead
Grain Producers SA has welcomed the news, with chairman Wade Dabinett saying it meant farmers could plan for next season.
"Getting these regulations in for January 1 means industry can crack on and start planning all the stewardship programs that are required in order to grow GM crops," he said.
"So if this plans succeeds, we will be able to grow GM crops in 2020.
"If it gets blocked again, farmers will not have access to all the breeding options available, when GM crops have been proven to be safe and legal.
We know we have won the policy debate on this - the science, the evidence is clear.
- WADE DABINETT
"We know that the opponents that have knocked down the regulations and the bill this year was only off the back of politics.
"It wasn't off the back of any great political policy footing because we know we have won the policy debate on this - the science, the evidence is clear, it's just a matter of getting this through.
"The government are giving their opponents the summer to think about whether they are going to back farmers in this state, who are battling climate change and drought, and actually give them a win on something.
"Or are they going top continue to play politics with the farmers of SA livelihoods?
"The industry has been calling for this for a long time and we appreciate the government backing the industry and working hard to get this done."
Our farmers are also being denied the extra tools such as new and improved future crop varieties.
- TIM WHETSTONE
Mr Whetstone said lifting the GM crop moratorium would give SA farmers the same opportunities as those in neighbouring states, "which will increase productivity and create jobs".
"Our decision to lift the GM crop moratorium followed extensive industry and community consultation, as well as the findings of the high-level independent expert review undertaken by Professor Kym Anderson and the recommendations of the GM Crop Advisory Committee," he said.
"The independent review found that the so-called price premiums for being GM-free were a myth and the moratorium has cost South Australian grain growers at least $33 million since 2004 and will cost farmers at least a further $5m if extended to 2025.
"Our farmers are also being denied the extra tools such as new and improved future crop varieties to help them deal with drought and tackle climate change."
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