WHILE many grain and seed industry bodies have welcomed Primary Industries Minister David Basham's decision to knock back genetically-modified free regional applications from eleven councils, Greens MLC Mark Parnell is leading the stinging criticism coming from anti-GM lobbyists.
Mr Parnell described the decision as a "cruel hoax" that would anger many local communities.
"Under a deal stitched up between the Liberal and Labor parties earlier this year, local councils were given six months to consult their communities and decide whether or not they wanted to allow GM crops to be grown in their region," he said.
"Many councils consulted their communities and eleven councils applied to remain GM-free. All of these applications have now been rejected.
"This means that whatever new GM crops might be approved by Federal authorities in the future, they will legally be able to be grown throughout mainland SA, regardless of the wishes of other food producers and the broader community.
"Despite Councils presenting strong economic evidence of the benefits of staying GM-free, the Government ignored it all."
Mr Parnell said SA councils were led to believe they would be able to determine their own futures, but the government were "hell-bent" on opening all of mainland SA to GM crops, regardless of community views.
"This sham Government process has wasted the time and resources of local councils, who in good faith, consulted with their communities, only to see their hard work thrown back in their faces," he said.
"The Premier needs to step in to repair the damage done by his Minister and allow local communities to determine their own food futures. It's not too late."
Narrung dairyfarmer and veterinarian, and part of the Keep South Australia GM-Free Coalition, Dr Cathie Harvey said the government's decision-making process was a "hoax and a sham", and betrayed the consultation process councils undertook.
"It is now obvious that the state government, the Minister and the GM Crops Advisory Committee were all committed to unconditionally adopting and promoting GM crops all along," she said.
"We call on Premier Marshall and his Minister to honour their promise of GM-free crop zones for all of those councils that applied after consulting their communities.
"Councils put in a big effort and applied in good faith, but Minister Basham debased democratic processes when he rejected the applications from all eleven Councils and their residents without giving any valid or credible reason.
"He just says 'there wasn't sufficient evidence to recommend designation' as a GM-free Crop Zone, but there is scant evidence that GM canola will produce any benefits for growers, with GM canola discounted everywhere."
Mrs Harvey said the Advisory Committee was stacked with pro-GM advocates and the Minister had ignored thousands of petitioners.
Owner of The Food Forest in Gawler, farmer Graham Brookman said Minister Basham had betrayed councils and residents.
"A Green Arc of GM-free councils around Adelaide city and suburbs would sustain the measures needed to protect our clean, green council regions from GM crop intrusions, now and into the future," he said.
"My council called on the government, Minister Basham and his GM Crops Advisory Committee to decide in good faith to approve all council GM-free applications, but they failed us."
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