GM moratorium may be extended

PERTH — With a state election set for September 6, the WA Labor government last week pledged a four-year extension of the current moratorium on GM (genetically modified) crops and a limit on GM canola trials to 10 hectares.

The Liberal Party has promised large-scale GM trials and the introduction of GM cotton. The Greens and the Socialist Alliance have stated their complete opposition to GM crops.

The Say No to GMO campaign has given a voice to public concern about the potential health and environmental risks of GM technology, and has been pushing for a 10-year extension of the moratorium, which is due to end this year.

Janet Grogan from the Network of Concerned Consumers told Green Left Weekly, "There has been a massive push to get GM cotton introduced into the Ord region and at one stage it looked likely that the [Alan] Carpenter government would make it an exemption to the moratorium. The decision to ban all GM crops is great news."

From GLW issue 764