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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 3 Hansard (7 March) . . Page.. 689 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

Genetically modified food, such as soya beans, canola and corn, is already being grown and sold in Australia. Genetically modified cotton is also being grown. While the ACT does not have this type of agriculture, significant research activity is occurring. Field trials of genetically modified organisms have already been approved by the Gene Technology Regulator.

There are trials of GM field peas at the CSIRO Black Mountain laboratories, trials of GM wheat, barley and clover at the CSIRO Ginninderra experimental station and trials of wheat treated with a GM bacteria at the ANU. The former ACT government was keen to promote biotechnology research in the ACT, which would almost certainly involve gene technology.

Before this Assembly goes ahead and passes this legislation, we should take a little time to look in more detail, with a precautionary approach, at the implications of this legislation for the ACT. I am aware that the other states, apart from WA and New South Wales, have passed similar legislation, but that does not mean that the issue has been resolved.

Within these states there has been a parallel debate over the issue of whether parts or all of a state can declare itself to be GE free-that is, to not allow genetically modified crops to be grown in that area. Organic farmers, in particular, are concerned about the contamination of their own crops by GM crops that might be growing nearby. There is also general environmental concern about the biodiversity impacts of broadscale GM crops.

Tasmania already has a moratorium on the commercial release of GM crops, and the WA and Victorian governments have put out discussion papers on this issue. Many local governments around Australia have declared themselves to be GE free. The Commonwealth legislation addresses the possibility of states wanting to declare areas to be GE free, but it is fairly vague. I am very interested in exploring how this part of the deal would work in practice and what scope there is for the ACT to adopt its own approach to gene technology activities in our territory.

While members here may not share the concerns that I have raised, it is really the process issues that I want the Assembly to look at. I think everyone is interested in understanding exactly what our role is in the regulation of an activity that could be of very great interest to the people of the ACT.

It is important to explore the role of the ACT government in the ministerial council that has been set up to oversee this legislation. Under the legislation, the ACT, along with the other states and territories, through this ministerial council, has a significant role in developing policy principles, guidelines and codes of practice relating to the regulation of gene technology. The ACT government also gets the opportunity to comment on applications to the Gene Technology Regulator for licences to deal in GMOs.

I had a briefing on the bill from officials last week, and I must admit I was a bit concerned about the lack of knowledge within the ACT government about how this legislation would work in practice. This inquiry would give both members and officials the chance to work through the detail of this legislation and the whole issue of how we can regulate this industry in the best interests of the ACT.

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