❓ Question regarding progress of commercial-scale GM canola trials in WA. Minister responds, outlining government's cautious approach, ongoing trials, and segregation measures.
AnsweredQoN 180Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GENETICALLY MODIFIED CANOLA — COMMERCIAL-SCALE TRIALS
It is my understanding that the Department of Agriculture and Food research station in my electorate is being considered as a location for a trial of genetically modified canola. Can the minister inform the house as to the progress towards commercial-scale trials of genetically modified canola in Western Australia? Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN
It is my understanding that the Department of Agriculture and Food research station in my electorate is being considered as a location for a trial of genetically modified canola. Can the minister inform the house as to the progress towards commercial-scale trials of genetically modified canola in Western Australia? Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN
AnswerView source ↗
I have not made one decision? I made a stack of decisions within the first 100 days. The member for Albany does not want to talk about not making decisions. I thank the member for Geraldton for his question and particularly for his interest in this matter. There is no doubt that genetically modified canola happens to be a contentious issue. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is; it is a contentious issue. I will get back to the member for Collie-Preston in a minute. There are certainly many concerns; some of those concerns are fuelled by fear and ignorance, but others are valid. Many people recognise the technology and are anxious to adopt it. The government’s role in this situation is to be objective and to take a reasonable look at this sort of technology, and not to bury its head in the sand or stand back and say, “This is out of our control” and not take that step. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: I have not made one decision? I made a stack of decisions within the first 100 days. The member for Albany does not want to talk about not making decisions. I thank the member for Geraldton for his question and particularly for his interest in this matter. There is no doubt that genetically modified canola happens to be a contentious issue. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is; it is a contentious issue. I will get back to the member for Collie-Preston in a minute. There are certainly many concerns; some of those concerns are fuelled by fear and ignorance, but others are valid. Many people recognise the technology and are anxious to adopt it. The government’s role in this situation is to be objective and to take a reasonable look at this sort of technology, and not to bury its head in the sand or stand back and say, “This is out of our control” and not take that step. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: I have not made one decision? I made a stack of decisions within the first 100 days. The member for Albany does not want to talk about not making decisions. I thank the member for Geraldton for his question and particularly for his interest in this matter. There is no doubt that genetically modified canola happens to be a contentious issue. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is; it is a contentious issue. I will get back to the member for Collie-Preston in a minute. There are certainly many concerns; some of those concerns are fuelled by fear and ignorance, but others are valid. Many people recognise the technology and are anxious to adopt it. The government’s role in this situation is to be objective and to take a reasonable look at this sort of technology, and not to bury its head in the sand or stand back and say, “This is out of our control” and not take that step. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
I have not made one decision? I made a stack of decisions within the first 100 days. The member for Albany does not want to talk about not making decisions. I thank the member for Geraldton for his question and particularly for his interest in this matter. There is no doubt that genetically modified canola happens to be a contentious issue. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is; it is a contentious issue. I will get back to the member for Collie-Preston in a minute. There are certainly many concerns; some of those concerns are fuelled by fear and ignorance, but others are valid. Many people recognise the technology and are anxious to adopt it. The government’s role in this situation is to be objective and to take a reasonable look at this sort of technology, and not to bury its head in the sand or stand back and say, “This is out of our control” and not take that step. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
I thank the member for Geraldton for his question and particularly for his interest in this matter. There is no doubt that genetically modified canola happens to be a contentious issue. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is; it is a contentious issue. I will get back to the member for Collie-Preston in a minute. There are certainly many concerns; some of those concerns are fuelled by fear and ignorance, but others are valid. Many people recognise the technology and are anxious to adopt it. The government’s role in this situation is to be objective and to take a reasonable look at this sort of technology, and not to bury its head in the sand or stand back and say, “This is out of our control” and not take that step. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is; it is a contentious issue. I will get back to the member for Collie-Preston in a minute. There are certainly many concerns; some of those concerns are fuelled by fear and ignorance, but others are valid. Many people recognise the technology and are anxious to adopt it. The government’s role in this situation is to be objective and to take a reasonable look at this sort of technology, and not to bury its head in the sand or stand back and say, “This is out of our control” and not take that step. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is; it is a contentious issue. I will get back to the member for Collie-Preston in a minute. There are certainly many concerns; some of those concerns are fuelled by fear and ignorance, but others are valid. Many people recognise the technology and are anxious to adopt it. The government’s role in this situation is to be objective and to take a reasonable look at this sort of technology, and not to bury its head in the sand or stand back and say, “This is out of our control” and not take that step. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
There are certainly many concerns; some of those concerns are fuelled by fear and ignorance, but others are valid. Many people recognise the technology and are anxious to adopt it. The government’s role in this situation is to be objective and to take a reasonable look at this sort of technology, and not to bury its head in the sand or stand back and say, “This is out of our control” and not take that step. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: I have not made one decision? I made a stack of decisions within the first 100 days. The member for Albany does not want to talk about not making decisions. I thank the member for Geraldton for his question and particularly for his interest in this matter. There is no doubt that genetically modified canola happens to be a contentious issue. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is; it is a contentious issue. I will get back to the member for Collie-Preston in a minute. There are certainly many concerns; some of those concerns are fuelled by fear and ignorance, but others are valid. Many people recognise the technology and are anxious to adopt it. The government’s role in this situation is to be objective and to take a reasonable look at this sort of technology, and not to bury its head in the sand or stand back and say, “This is out of our control” and not take that step. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: I have not made one decision? I made a stack of decisions within the first 100 days. The member for Albany does not want to talk about not making decisions. I thank the member for Geraldton for his question and particularly for his interest in this matter. There is no doubt that genetically modified canola happens to be a contentious issue. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is; it is a contentious issue. I will get back to the member for Collie-Preston in a minute. There are certainly many concerns; some of those concerns are fuelled by fear and ignorance, but others are valid. Many people recognise the technology and are anxious to adopt it. The government’s role in this situation is to be objective and to take a reasonable look at this sort of technology, and not to bury its head in the sand or stand back and say, “This is out of our control” and not take that step. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
I have not made one decision? I made a stack of decisions within the first 100 days. The member for Albany does not want to talk about not making decisions. I thank the member for Geraldton for his question and particularly for his interest in this matter. There is no doubt that genetically modified canola happens to be a contentious issue. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is; it is a contentious issue. I will get back to the member for Collie-Preston in a minute. There are certainly many concerns; some of those concerns are fuelled by fear and ignorance, but others are valid. Many people recognise the technology and are anxious to adopt it. The government’s role in this situation is to be objective and to take a reasonable look at this sort of technology, and not to bury its head in the sand or stand back and say, “This is out of our control” and not take that step. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
I thank the member for Geraldton for his question and particularly for his interest in this matter. There is no doubt that genetically modified canola happens to be a contentious issue. Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is; it is a contentious issue. I will get back to the member for Collie-Preston in a minute. There are certainly many concerns; some of those concerns are fuelled by fear and ignorance, but others are valid. Many people recognise the technology and are anxious to adopt it. The government’s role in this situation is to be objective and to take a reasonable look at this sort of technology, and not to bury its head in the sand or stand back and say, “This is out of our control” and not take that step. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
Several members interjected. Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is; it is a contentious issue. I will get back to the member for Collie-Preston in a minute. There are certainly many concerns; some of those concerns are fuelled by fear and ignorance, but others are valid. Many people recognise the technology and are anxious to adopt it. The government’s role in this situation is to be objective and to take a reasonable look at this sort of technology, and not to bury its head in the sand or stand back and say, “This is out of our control” and not take that step. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : It is; it is a contentious issue. I will get back to the member for Collie-Preston in a minute. There are certainly many concerns; some of those concerns are fuelled by fear and ignorance, but others are valid. Many people recognise the technology and are anxious to adopt it. The government’s role in this situation is to be objective and to take a reasonable look at this sort of technology, and not to bury its head in the sand or stand back and say, “This is out of our control” and not take that step. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
There are certainly many concerns; some of those concerns are fuelled by fear and ignorance, but others are valid. Many people recognise the technology and are anxious to adopt it. The government’s role in this situation is to be objective and to take a reasonable look at this sort of technology, and not to bury its head in the sand or stand back and say, “This is out of our control” and not take that step. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
The SPEAKER : Member for Collie-Preston! Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : The government is taking a responsible, considered approach to this. Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
Mr M.P. Murray interjected. The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
The SPEAKER : I realise that this is an issue the member for Collie-Preston is very interested in. Perhaps he might want to ask a question on another day during question time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your protection. In December— Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
The SPEAKER : I made a suggestion to the member for Collie-Preston, and I realise that he might not always want to take my advice, but I call the member to order for the first time. Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : In December I signed an exemption order to allow commercial trials of GM canola for this season in Western Australia. That amounts to 1 000 hectares on 20 different sites in Western Australia, largely centred on a rectangular area between Northam, Cunderdin, Borden and Cranbrook. There may well be some sites outside that area, but that is the target zone. Similarly, there will be trials at the Esperance and Geraldton agricultural research stations, as the member highlighted in his question. It is important to recognise that we are taking a very cautious, considered approach to this. We are in the process of identifying the farmers who will run those trials on their properties. They are required to engage in a number of undertakings that must be endorsed by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food. We are also managing a very close relationship between the Department of Agriculture and Food and my office, Monsanto Australia, as one of the stakeholders, and the industry to ensure that what is happening in this trial will not fall outside government policy. We are taking a very cautious, considered approach to that. The two targets in this will be to look at the agronomic performance of GM canola in Western Australian conditions, and to look at our capacity to maintain segregation of non-GM canola within our handling systems. It is very important that we are able to maintain that. If we were to look at and seriously consider the notion of having GM canola in Western Australia, we would need to maintain our capacity to manage a segregated system to maintain a non-GM line. The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
The location of those sites will be determined by the end of this month. I intend to make the location of those sites totally transparent; there is nothing to hide. The trial will be managed under a closed loop arrangement, with designated CBH receival sites able to receive that canola. It will then be managed under a closed loop arrangement to an export market, which is what is happening in New South Wales and Victoria. It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
It is interesting that the honourable member opposite raised the issue yesterday in a media release titled “Labor stands firm on anti-GM trials”. I do not know what an anti-GM trial is. I wonder whether the member has any seed that is anti-GM seed that we could use to undertake some trials. Anti-GM trials worry me. The media release stated — “I will be encouraging my colleagues to vote in support of the disallowance motions, which effectively revokes orders that made Western Australia a GM free State,” He is pushing his colleagues to revoke orders to make Western Australia a GM-free state. Do members opposite want this or do they not want it? I am confused.
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