Posted on 24-6-2002

GE-Free Zones Doomed?
From GE-Free NZ www.gefree.org.nz

Crunch -time for Labour's "Miracle" policy for agriculture as Australians
admit GE-Free zones are doomed.

The Labour party policy to allow some regions to be GM-Free as recommended
by the Royal Commission has been signalled as fatally flawed by an
announcement from the NSW Agricultural Minister Richard Amery that GM-Free
agricultural zones cannot co-exist with GE releases. "It supports the view
that Labour will need to be Miracle-workers to do what they are claiming-
which is to manage a GE-release strategy, as well as preserving our non-GM
options," said Jon Carapiet, a spokesperson for GE-Free NZ. "The Australian
Minister is saying that based on current overseas evidence the government
cannot be expected to make co-existence work," said Mr. Carapiet. While
some Australian states have not ruled out attempts to preserve GE-Free
production, Mr Amery is reported as telling the Sydney Morning Herald that
co-existence strategies are "unworkable". Mr Amery said:"There is
conjecture about buffer zones and exclusive zones, but until someone can
put up a proposal that shows it can work it unrealistic to expect the
Government to do it."

GE-Free NZ( in food and environment) is calling on the Labour Party to be
honest about their GM stand: they must get off the fence on whether they
are allowing full-scale GE releases, and if so, explain why, when
it clearly threatens our non-GM agricultural sector. "All the signs are
that this is an all-or-nothing issue, not a case-by-case one" said Mr
Carapiet. " We do not believe Labour are able to work a Miracle that
no-one else has managed to do."

Australian conventional and organic farmers have warned of "significant
financial losses and economic problems" because of GE contamination.
Australia has now been hit with a series of applications for release
of GE crops, including canola, directly threatening their growing GE-Free
exports to world markets that will not buy GM crops.

Media Contact Jon Carapiet 09-815 3370