❓ Mr. Redman asks the Premier to review the moratorium on GM crops, especially for non-food uses like biofuels. The Premier acknowledges the question but states the moratorium will remain until 2008, citing market benefits of WA's GM-free status.
AnsweredQoN 224Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS - MORATORIUM
Given the Premier’s pledge in February to strengthen the government’s focus on biotechnology innovation, research and development, and considering confirmation that Grain Biotech Australia Pty Ltd’s field trial of genetically modified wheat varieties at Corrigin was a success - (1) Will the Premier consider reviewing the current moratorium, which expires in 2008, on commercial GM crops in Western Australia? (2) If not, will the Premier at least consider reviewing the moratorium to allow the growth of GM crops for non-food consumption in recognition of the fact that there is significant potential, for example, in the agriculture and energy sectors, especially the fledgling biofuels industry? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
Given the Premier’s pledge in February to strengthen the government’s focus on biotechnology innovation, research and development, and considering confirmation that Grain Biotech Australia Pty Ltd’s field trial of genetically modified wheat varieties at Corrigin was a success - (1) Will the Premier consider reviewing the current moratorium, which expires in 2008, on commercial GM crops in Western Australia? (2) If not, will the Premier at least consider reviewing the moratorium to allow the growth of GM crops for non-food consumption in recognition of the fact that there is significant potential, for example, in the agriculture and energy sectors, especially the fledgling biofuels industry? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. It is obviously a very interesting area. He quite rightly said that the state government has put in place a moratorium on genetically modified crops until 2008, and that will remain. Obviously in the meantime there will be all sorts of discussions about what possibilities might arise in the future. I echo the comments of the Minister for Agriculture and Food on this matter. We must be very careful, as we begin exploring the path of GM crops, about the places in which we seek to market our crops and the premium those markets place on GM-free crops. Maybe the member can formulate a position and put it in the form of some sort of a submission to the government. I would be very interested to know the National Party position on this matter. He will find that amongst the party’s constituency as well as amongst its members, there will be a degree of diversity of opinion about where we should go on this. I am not an expert on the agricultural sector, but as I understand it, Western Australia’s GM-free status in the market delivers the state great benefits. We would need to be very careful about taking steps that would see that benefit disappear.
(1) Will the Premier consider reviewing the current moratorium, which expires in 2008, on commercial GM crops in Western Australia? (2) If not, will the Premier at least consider reviewing the moratorium to allow the growth of GM crops for non-food consumption in recognition of the fact that there is significant potential, for example, in the agriculture and energy sectors, especially the fledgling biofuels industry? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. It is obviously a very interesting area. He quite rightly said that the state government has put in place a moratorium on genetically modified crops until 2008, and that will remain. Obviously in the meantime there will be all sorts of discussions about what possibilities might arise in the future. I echo the comments of the Minister for Agriculture and Food on this matter. We must be very careful, as we begin exploring the path of GM crops, about the places in which we seek to market our crops and the premium those markets place on GM-free crops. Maybe the member can formulate a position and put it in the form of some sort of a submission to the government. I would be very interested to know the National Party position on this matter. He will find that amongst the party’s constituency as well as amongst its members, there will be a degree of diversity of opinion about where we should go on this. I am not an expert on the agricultural sector, but as I understand it, Western Australia’s GM-free status in the market delivers the state great benefits. We would need to be very careful about taking steps that would see that benefit disappear.
(2) If not, will the Premier at least consider reviewing the moratorium to allow the growth of GM crops for non-food consumption in recognition of the fact that there is significant potential, for example, in the agriculture and energy sectors, especially the fledgling biofuels industry? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. It is obviously a very interesting area. He quite rightly said that the state government has put in place a moratorium on genetically modified crops until 2008, and that will remain. Obviously in the meantime there will be all sorts of discussions about what possibilities might arise in the future. I echo the comments of the Minister for Agriculture and Food on this matter. We must be very careful, as we begin exploring the path of GM crops, about the places in which we seek to market our crops and the premium those markets place on GM-free crops. Maybe the member can formulate a position and put it in the form of some sort of a submission to the government. I would be very interested to know the National Party position on this matter. He will find that amongst the party’s constituency as well as amongst its members, there will be a degree of diversity of opinion about where we should go on this. I am not an expert on the agricultural sector, but as I understand it, Western Australia’s GM-free status in the market delivers the state great benefits. We would need to be very careful about taking steps that would see that benefit disappear.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. It is obviously a very interesting area. He quite rightly said that the state government has put in place a moratorium on genetically modified crops until 2008, and that will remain. Obviously in the meantime there will be all sorts of discussions about what possibilities might arise in the future. I echo the comments of the Minister for Agriculture and Food on this matter. We must be very careful, as we begin exploring the path of GM crops, about the places in which we seek to market our crops and the premium those markets place on GM-free crops. Maybe the member can formulate a position and put it in the form of some sort of a submission to the government. I would be very interested to know the National Party position on this matter. He will find that amongst the party’s constituency as well as amongst its members, there will be a degree of diversity of opinion about where we should go on this. I am not an expert on the agricultural sector, but as I understand it, Western Australia’s GM-free status in the market delivers the state great benefits. We would need to be very careful about taking steps that would see that benefit disappear.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. It is obviously a very interesting area. He quite rightly said that the state government has put in place a moratorium on genetically modified crops until 2008, and that will remain. Obviously in the meantime there will be all sorts of discussions about what possibilities might arise in the future. I echo the comments of the Minister for Agriculture and Food on this matter. We must be very careful, as we begin exploring the path of GM crops, about the places in which we seek to market our crops and the premium those markets place on GM-free crops. Maybe the member can formulate a position and put it in the form of some sort of a submission to the government. I would be very interested to know the National Party position on this matter. He will find that amongst the party’s constituency as well as amongst its members, there will be a degree of diversity of opinion about where we should go on this. I am not an expert on the agricultural sector, but as I understand it, Western Australia’s GM-free status in the market delivers the state great benefits. We would need to be very careful about taking steps that would see that benefit disappear.
(1) Will the Premier consider reviewing the current moratorium, which expires in 2008, on commercial GM crops in Western Australia? (2) If not, will the Premier at least consider reviewing the moratorium to allow the growth of GM crops for non-food consumption in recognition of the fact that there is significant potential, for example, in the agriculture and energy sectors, especially the fledgling biofuels industry? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. It is obviously a very interesting area. He quite rightly said that the state government has put in place a moratorium on genetically modified crops until 2008, and that will remain. Obviously in the meantime there will be all sorts of discussions about what possibilities might arise in the future. I echo the comments of the Minister for Agriculture and Food on this matter. We must be very careful, as we begin exploring the path of GM crops, about the places in which we seek to market our crops and the premium those markets place on GM-free crops. Maybe the member can formulate a position and put it in the form of some sort of a submission to the government. I would be very interested to know the National Party position on this matter. He will find that amongst the party’s constituency as well as amongst its members, there will be a degree of diversity of opinion about where we should go on this. I am not an expert on the agricultural sector, but as I understand it, Western Australia’s GM-free status in the market delivers the state great benefits. We would need to be very careful about taking steps that would see that benefit disappear.
(2) If not, will the Premier at least consider reviewing the moratorium to allow the growth of GM crops for non-food consumption in recognition of the fact that there is significant potential, for example, in the agriculture and energy sectors, especially the fledgling biofuels industry? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. It is obviously a very interesting area. He quite rightly said that the state government has put in place a moratorium on genetically modified crops until 2008, and that will remain. Obviously in the meantime there will be all sorts of discussions about what possibilities might arise in the future. I echo the comments of the Minister for Agriculture and Food on this matter. We must be very careful, as we begin exploring the path of GM crops, about the places in which we seek to market our crops and the premium those markets place on GM-free crops. Maybe the member can formulate a position and put it in the form of some sort of a submission to the government. I would be very interested to know the National Party position on this matter. He will find that amongst the party’s constituency as well as amongst its members, there will be a degree of diversity of opinion about where we should go on this. I am not an expert on the agricultural sector, but as I understand it, Western Australia’s GM-free status in the market delivers the state great benefits. We would need to be very careful about taking steps that would see that benefit disappear.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. It is obviously a very interesting area. He quite rightly said that the state government has put in place a moratorium on genetically modified crops until 2008, and that will remain. Obviously in the meantime there will be all sorts of discussions about what possibilities might arise in the future. I echo the comments of the Minister for Agriculture and Food on this matter. We must be very careful, as we begin exploring the path of GM crops, about the places in which we seek to market our crops and the premium those markets place on GM-free crops. Maybe the member can formulate a position and put it in the form of some sort of a submission to the government. I would be very interested to know the National Party position on this matter. He will find that amongst the party’s constituency as well as amongst its members, there will be a degree of diversity of opinion about where we should go on this. I am not an expert on the agricultural sector, but as I understand it, Western Australia’s GM-free status in the market delivers the state great benefits. We would need to be very careful about taking steps that would see that benefit disappear.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for the question. It is obviously a very interesting area. He quite rightly said that the state government has put in place a moratorium on genetically modified crops until 2008, and that will remain. Obviously in the meantime there will be all sorts of discussions about what possibilities might arise in the future. I echo the comments of the Minister for Agriculture and Food on this matter. We must be very careful, as we begin exploring the path of GM crops, about the places in which we seek to market our crops and the premium those markets place on GM-free crops. Maybe the member can formulate a position and put it in the form of some sort of a submission to the government. I would be very interested to know the National Party position on this matter. He will find that amongst the party’s constituency as well as amongst its members, there will be a degree of diversity of opinion about where we should go on this. I am not an expert on the agricultural sector, but as I understand it, Western Australia’s GM-free status in the market delivers the state great benefits. We would need to be very careful about taking steps that would see that benefit disappear.
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