Hon Lynn MacLaren questions the Minister for Agriculture and Food regarding a potential crisis due to halted wheat hay exports to Japan, allegedly caused by GM canola contamination. The Minister denies a crisis and clarifies the reasons for rejections.

AnsweredQoN 1047Legislative Council
Asked
22 September 2015
Portfolio
Agriculture and Food

QuestionView source ↗

WHEAT HAY — JAPAN EXPORTS
1047. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the Minister
for Agriculture and Food:
(1) Is the
minister aware of the developing crisis among Western Australian farmers as
exports of wheat hay to Japan have been stopped?
(2) Can the
minister confirm that this is due to volunteer GM canola in the wheat hay?
(3) Is the
minister aware that farmers exporting wheat hay earn a 35 per cent discount on
the value of wheat hay if the wheat crop is grown on a GM canola stubble?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) I am not
aware of a developing crisis in WA among farmers regarding the export of wheat
hay.
(2) I have
information from my department that one Australian consignment to Japan may
have been rejected due to soil contamination. Another consignment did have
visible traces of canola, and I am informed that the importer/exporter may not
have agreed on final pricing.
(3) Any load
not meeting client specifications may be rejected or discounted for a range of
reasons. I understand there is no specific discounted rate for growing wheat on
GM stubble.

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