Gene Technology Bill Sells Out Organic Farmers and Local Governme nt

[Oquist, Ben (Sen B. Brown)]

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Tuesday, 5 December, 2000

Gene Technology Bill Sells Out Organic Farmers and Local Government

Marathon Senate Debate Delivers to Big Corporations 

The Opposition has joined the Government to guarantee passage of the Gene
Technology Bill 2000 while blocking vital amendments to protect organic
farmers in Australia, Greens Senator Bob Brown said.

"A Greens amendment to set up a compensation fund for farmers who loose
income because genetically modified organisms (GMOs) infect their land from
adjacent properties, was blocked by the Government and Opposition," Senator
Brown said.

"The Government and Opposition also blocked amendments to:
*	give local governments the right to be GE-free;
*	ensure risks to health and safety of people from GMOs are
negligible; and
*	ensure criminal records of corporations seeking GMO licences be on
the public record.

"This is a bill for the big corporations but puts at risk farmlands which do
not which to be contaminated," Senator Brown said.


Further information: Ben Oquist 02 62773170 or 0419 704095

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Ben Oquist
Australian Greens Senator Bob Brown
Parliament House, Canberra 2600
Australia
+61 2 62773170 ph
+61 2 62773185 fx
0419704095 mobile
http://www.greens.org.au/bobbrown
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