Government Fails in Senate

[Oquist, Ben (Sen B. Brown)]

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Tuesday, 5 December 2000

Government Fails in Senate 
'Total Silence' Tactic
An effort by the Government to force an end to debate on gene technology
collapsed at 3.35am today with only half the bill debated, Greens Senator
Bob Brown said.

"For the last half hour the government sat in total silence, refusing to
respond to crossbench questioning," Senator Brown said  

"The complex bill to set a framework for regulating gene technology in
Australia faces some 300 amendments from the crossbench, despite Labor
having agreed with the government to limit changes.  

"The Greens amendments for local government to opt for GE-free zones and a
compensation fund for organic farmers were voted down.  

Today Greens Senator Bob Brown will move to insist corporations and farmers
using genetically modified crops be insured for health or environmental
problems that might occur as a result.

Senator Brown has also flagged a 5-year moratorium on GE-crops in Australia
and failing that an explicit 100% opt-out for Tasmania so it can enhance its
'clean, green' image for agricultural produce.

"We see gene technology as both full of promise and also needing
extraordinary precaution: it raises major ethical questions.  We are
determined to minimise the hazards of this technology," Senator Brown said.


Contact: Ben Oquist 02 6277 3170 or 0419 704 095


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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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