❓ Hon Giz Watson questions the Minister for Agriculture and Food regarding audits of genetically modified (GM) canola plantings in Western Australia, raising concerns about accuracy, audit selection, and transparency. The Minister provides answers, citing data sources and reasons for audit procedures.
AnsweredQoN 3243Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the answer to my question on notice No. 2868, which was asked on 12 October 2010, and ask -
(1) Regarding the first answer to No. 2868, will you please table a copy of the Audit Checklist of 23 criteria?
(2) Regarding the third answer to No. 2868 -
(a) why was Albany audited when the list of 2010 commercial plantings of genetically modified (GM) canola in Western Australia provided on the Department’s website shows no GM canola growers in that region this year;
(b) why was Northamptonshire audited 4 times when there are only 3 growers shown on that list;
(c) why was Kojunup not audited despite having 17 growers shown on that list;
(d) why was Victoria Plains audited 4 times despite having only 5 growers shown on that list;
(e) how many individual growers have been audited more than once; and
(f) regarding the answer to (2)(e), what are the reasons for this?
(3) Does the list of 2010 commercial plantings of genetically modified (GM) canola in Western Australia provided on the Department’s website accurately record -
(a) every Shire where GM canola is being grown in Western Australia;
(b) the number of properties where GM canola is grown in each of those Shires; and
(c) the number of hectares within each Shire where GM canola is being grown?
(4) If no to (3)(a) and/or (b) and/or (c) -
(a) will you please now table an accurate list of this information;
(b) will you ensure that the information on the Department’s website is updated to include this information;
(c) if no to (4)(a) and/or (b), is this information able to be obtained by you or your Department;
(d) if yes to (4)(c), why will you not provide it; and
(e) if no to (4)(c) -
(i) why not; and
(ii) why have you permitted GM canola to be grown in Western Australia without reliable means for getting accurate information about exactly where it is grown?
(5) What percentage of Shires where GM canola is grown have had at least one audit?
(6) What percentage of GM canola growers have had at least one audit?
(7) Regarding the fourth answer to question on notice No. 2868 -
(a) separately from the Minister’s written request of May 2010 asking for volunteers to participate in audits, have you or the Department separately encouraged any particular GM canola grower/s to accept the invitation; and
(b) if yes to (7)(a) -
(i) which growers; and
(ii) why?
(8) Did the Department encourage the GM canola grower near the organic farm of Steve Marsh in the Shire of Kojonup to participate in an audit?
(9) If yes to (7)(c), why?
(10) How many audits have occurred in respect of properties where the GM canola grower has not volunteered to participate in an audit?
(11) How does the Department decide -
(a) which Shires in which GM canola is grown are to have an audit; and
(b) which particular GM canola growers in those Shires are to have an audit?
(1) Regarding the first answer to No. 2868, will you please table a copy of the Audit Checklist of 23 criteria?
(2) Regarding the third answer to No. 2868 -
(a) why was Albany audited when the list of 2010 commercial plantings of genetically modified (GM) canola in Western Australia provided on the Department’s website shows no GM canola growers in that region this year;
(b) why was Northamptonshire audited 4 times when there are only 3 growers shown on that list;
(c) why was Kojunup not audited despite having 17 growers shown on that list;
(d) why was Victoria Plains audited 4 times despite having only 5 growers shown on that list;
(e) how many individual growers have been audited more than once; and
(f) regarding the answer to (2)(e), what are the reasons for this?
(3) Does the list of 2010 commercial plantings of genetically modified (GM) canola in Western Australia provided on the Department’s website accurately record -
(a) every Shire where GM canola is being grown in Western Australia;
(b) the number of properties where GM canola is grown in each of those Shires; and
(c) the number of hectares within each Shire where GM canola is being grown?
(4) If no to (3)(a) and/or (b) and/or (c) -
(a) will you please now table an accurate list of this information;
(b) will you ensure that the information on the Department’s website is updated to include this information;
(c) if no to (4)(a) and/or (b), is this information able to be obtained by you or your Department;
(d) if yes to (4)(c), why will you not provide it; and
(e) if no to (4)(c) -
(i) why not; and
(ii) why have you permitted GM canola to be grown in Western Australia without reliable means for getting accurate information about exactly where it is grown?
(5) What percentage of Shires where GM canola is grown have had at least one audit?
(6) What percentage of GM canola growers have had at least one audit?
(7) Regarding the fourth answer to question on notice No. 2868 -
(a) separately from the Minister’s written request of May 2010 asking for volunteers to participate in audits, have you or the Department separately encouraged any particular GM canola grower/s to accept the invitation; and
(b) if yes to (7)(a) -
(i) which growers; and
(ii) why?
(8) Did the Department encourage the GM canola grower near the organic farm of Steve Marsh in the Shire of Kojonup to participate in an audit?
(9) If yes to (7)(c), why?
(10) How many audits have occurred in respect of properties where the GM canola grower has not volunteered to participate in an audit?
(11) How does the Department decide -
(a) which Shires in which GM canola is grown are to have an audit; and
(b) which particular GM canola growers in those Shires are to have an audit?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 March 2011
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Response time
102 days
(1) Yes. [see tabled paper no.]
(2)(a-b) The list on the Department's website shows the number of GM growers in each Shire. The Department's audit list shows the grower's postal addresses. A difference between the location of the grower's property and the grower's postal address has led to the discrepancies.
(c) Two growers from Kojonup volunteered to be audited and these growers were audited after harvest.
(d) Four growers in Victoria Plains volunteered to be audited.
(e) None.
(f) Not applicable.
(3) The 2010 commercial GM canola planting data on the Department's website is supplied by Monsanto Australia to the Department.
(a) Yes
(b) The website records the number of GM canola growers in each Shire.
(c) Yes
(4)(a-e) Not applicable
(5) 45 per cent
(6) 16 per cent
(7)(a) Yes, the Department has invited growers to participate in the audits.
(b)(i) The Department has made a commitment not to identify individual GM canola growers.
(ii) The Department has encouraged growers to participate in the audit program to ensure the audits were carried out in a wide range of areas and included a diversity of production systems, and that sufficient growers were audited to provide confidence in the results of the audits.
(8) Please refer to (7)(b)(i)
(9) Not applicable
(10) None
(11) Please refer to (7)(ii).
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(2)(a-b) The list on the Department's website shows the number of GM growers in each Shire. The Department's audit list shows the grower's postal addresses. A difference between the location of the grower's property and the grower's postal address has led to the discrepancies.
(c) Two growers from Kojonup volunteered to be audited and these growers were audited after harvest.
(d) Four growers in Victoria Plains volunteered to be audited.
(e) None.
(f) Not applicable.
(3) The 2010 commercial GM canola planting data on the Department's website is supplied by Monsanto Australia to the Department.
(a) Yes
(b) The website records the number of GM canola growers in each Shire.
(c) Yes
(4)(a-e) Not applicable
(5) 45 per cent
(6) 16 per cent
(7)(a) Yes, the Department has invited growers to participate in the audits.
(b)(i) The Department has made a commitment not to identify individual GM canola growers.
(ii) The Department has encouraged growers to participate in the audit program to ensure the audits were carried out in a wide range of areas and included a diversity of production systems, and that sufficient growers were audited to provide confidence in the results of the audits.
(8) Please refer to (7)(b)(i)
(9) Not applicable
(10) None
(11) Please refer to (7)(ii).
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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