SA croppers have faced a summer of uncertainty, despite the legal barriers to growing genetically-modified crops being removed on January 1.
On Wednesday, the Legislative Council voted in favour of a motion from Greens MLC Mark Parnell to disallow government regulations lifting the ban. This means SA had 66 days without a moratorium on GM crops, before the ban came back into effect.
Unsurprisingly, the debate on GM crops is set to continue, with SA-Best MLC Frank Pangallo's GM Crops Management (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill also up for debate in the Upper House.
Even if this bill is passed, it will surely be defeated in the House of Assembly by the government's majority.
The government's latest bill to permanently lift the moratorium has been tabled in the Lower House, where it should be easily passed when a vote occurs.
Once again, just as it was during their 16 years in government, the future of GM crops in this state appears to rest with Labor.
We'll face somewhat of a Groundhog Day when the government's bill is debated in the Upper House, where just like late last year, the government will need to win the support of Labor or the crossbench. The Greens will stand firm in their opposition, while SA-Best would appear unlikely to be swayed, given it has gone to the effort of drafting its own bill.
Once again, just as it was during their 16 years in government, the future of GM crops in this state appears to rest with Labor.
Lifting the GM ban has probably been a far more difficult process than the government imagined.
Let's hope the roll-out of the government's expanded drought package is far more straightforward. I'm not a drought-affected grazier, but I think there's a fair bit to like in the measures announced - even if the devil will be in the detail.
Related reading: Expanded drought package targets pastoralists, mental health
It's nice to see a balance between practical measures - such as an extra wild dog trapper, a wild dog bounty, extra funding for baits and the extension of pastoral lease rent rebates - mixed with other vital services, such as $2 million for mental health outreach services.
We've seen what a difference drought recovery events can make at a time like this, so providing $330,000 to help more of these valuable community initiatives get off the ground seems like a great idea.
Add in plans for a Regional Banking Forum, money to address soil drift and a promise to 'work with the Commonwealth to eliminate state-based freight subsidies' and there's a lot to digest. Call me overly pessimistic, but I just can't help but wonder - where was this package 12 months ago?
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