FW: Media release Dee Margetts 28-06-02

[The Greens (WA)]

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-----Original Message-----
From: Rebecca Park [mailto:rpark at mp.wa.gov.au]
Sent: Friday, 28 June 2002 11:27 AM
To: The Greens (WA)
Subject: Media release Dee Margetts 28-06-02


Dee Margetts MLC
for the Agricultural Region


Media Release
Friday 28 June 2002

Farmers need to act now on GE

Dee Margetts MLC today called on farmers from all over Western Australia to
become more informed and more involved in the genetic engineering debate.

The call comes just days after a paper released by the State Government
indicated that all WA farmers who responded to the GE Free Zones Discussion
paper are currently opposed to the introduction of commercial genetically
modified crops in this state.

Ms Margetts said that farmers were telling her they were not confident they
were being presented with adequate information or the opportunity to comment
widely on the issues concerning them. While the GM Free Zones discussion
paper asked for comment on zones, it was limited in scope in that it did not
address the potential benefits of remaining GE free or the potential impacts
of GE on this state generally.

“My office is endeavouring to find out more accurate information about the
views in regional Western Australia. I am hearing that the issues of
segregation, potential contamination, liability and the loss of WA’s clean
green image as identified by the government’s paper are becoming more
concerning for farmers as the threat of commercial releases loom,” she said.

Ms Margetts said many farmers were looking at examples in other countries
such as North America where commercial crops have been growing for years and
farmers are now finding out that yields are not as high as expected and the
ability to segregate crops is a myth with more and more examples coming
forward about volunteers springing up further afield than expected.

“There is also the issue of marketability as more international markets are
choosing to regulate GM products coming into their country. For example,
major processors in North America are now refusing to purchase GM products
and new rules in China implemented in March are slowing orders for US
soybeans as quarantine concerns mount,” she said.

Ms Margetts has called on agricultural communities to speak out about their
concerns individually rather than relying on representative groups to speak
for them. She is encouraging farmers to contact the media, take up the
opportunity to comment on applications for release announced by the Office
of the Gene Technology Regulator and write to the Minister for Agriculture,
Kim Chance, with their concerns.

“Now is the time to get active on this issue because if GE is introduced
into WA, we will never be able to turn back the clock,” she concluded.

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Rebecca Park
Electorate Officer
-Office of Dee Margetts MLC
Phone 08 93221384 or 1800 221384
Fax 08 93225575
PO Box 1622 West Perth WA  6872
-Office of Robin Chapple MLC
Phone 08 93241424 or 1800 441424
Fax 08 93211371
PO Box 1598 West Perth WA  6872




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