The Greens have attacked Western Australian Agricultural Minister Terry Redman's attitude to genetically modified crops, following the Minister's return from his fact-finding visit to Canada.
Federal Greens Senator Rachel Siewert says regulation of GM crops and foods is "grossly inadequate" and that the moratorium should be maintained.
"There are serious concerns about Australia's labelling laws in relation to GM items in crops - even if we could get past the current deadlock on a national labelling scheme, it would take two years or more to implement," Sen Siewert said.
"All the while, our agricultural sector is being contaminated."
Sen Siewert claims it does not make economic sense to adopt GM technologies.
"GM canola costs 15 per cent more to grow than conventional canola - once the additional cost of the seed, inputs, user fee and end point royalty fees are taken into account - and independent trials have shown GM canola yields 10pc less than non-GM varieties," she said.
Greens WA MLC Lynn MacLaren also questioned the diversity of views the Minister sought out on his trip.
"We have serious concerns that the Minister has not truly canvassed the issue," she said.
"You have to question exactly who Mr Redman has met with, to come back with such a positive view of GM crops.
"It would appear that he didn’t talk to those in Canada who strongly oppose GM crops.
"We've already seen a number of shires in the south-west and Great Southern voting to ban GM crops - why won't the Minister listen to these people and maintain WA's proud GM-free status?"
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