FARMERS and grains industry members have attended a critical sitting of WA Parliament, to support Agriculture Minister Terry Redman, and witness a fiery debate over a disallowance motion proposed in the Legislative Assembly, designed to prevent the growing of Genetically Modified canola in the State this year.
The disallowance motion was proposed by Shadow Agriculture Minister Mick Murray.
But after a day of political jostling and a three hour debate in the Lower House between 4pm and 7pm, the motion was eventually dismissed 26 to 24.
The pro-GM congregation was also matched by a gathering of anti-GM campaigners, including Julie Newman of the Network of Concerned Farmers.
Leading up to the vote, South Perth MLA John McGrath and Southern River MLA Peter Abetz, both threatened to cross the floor and vote with the Labor Party and the Greens on a conscience basis.
The Liberal Members threats were prompted by intense lobbying from their metropolitan constituents, mostly over consumer health and safety concerns.
During the debate, Mr Abetz said the number one issue for him about GMs was, “is it safe?”
He said public health concerns needed to be put before the commercial concerns of farmers and GM patent holder Monsanto.
Mr McGrath eventually abstained from the vote while Mr Abetz voted with the Government, following talks from the Premier with both Members.
However, along with Mr Murray, they were successful in having several concessions granted.
The concessions will include: the establishment of what will effectively be a register for GM growers; a random audit of the GM Stewardship Program by the Agriculture Department, the results of which will be presented to Parliament at the end of the growing season; and a letter to be issued to GM growers from Agriculture Minister Terry Redman reminding them of their rights and responsibilities.
Mr Redman said he was pleased the disallowance motion was defeated.
“Farmers who choose to plant GM canola this season can do so with confidence,” he said.
“Labor’s political game-playing will no longer be a factor when they make decisions about how GM canola might fit into their particular farming systems.
“The State Government made this decision because we believe that politics shouldn’t stand in the way of farmers accessing a technology approved by federal health and safety regulators.”
Another disallowance motion will be moved in the Legislative Council, but Mr Redman is confident that will also be defeated.
Greens MLC Giz Watson is understood to be putting that motion to the Upper House on March 24.
During the debate, Mr Redman received strong support from National Party Legislative Assembly colleagues Brendon Grylls and Terry Waldron.
Mr Murray said farmers and consumers have lost the battle to keep WA a GM crop free State.
He said despite several Liberal politicians expressing grave concerns about the introduction of GM canola crops, the Barnett Government used its numbers to defeat Labor’s disallowance motion.
Mr Murray said he was disappointed that some Members who had expressed concerns within the Liberal Party room refused to cross the floor or abstain from voting to ban GM canola crops.
“Member for Southern River Peter Abetz and Member for Swan Hills Frank Alban both expressed their concerns about allowing GM canola crops to be grown in WA but when it came time to put their principles on the line they copped out,” he said.
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