GM debate: Government says it is too late to change direction

By KEVIN TAYLOR political reporter

The Government says it will not back down and stop the commercial release of genetically modified organisms despite a new poll showing public opinion swinging heavily against the move.

Environment Minister Marian Hobbs said yesterday the Government would not change direction, nor would it impose stricter conditions on commercial release.

She said the New Organisms and Other Matters Bill, which sets the conditions for release of the organisms, would not be strengthened with tougher conditions than those now proposed.

"I am still talking with the select committee and people to hear what they are saying, but I would have to say basically we are continuing along the line as put up in the bill."

A nationwide survey of 801 people in the Weekend Herald showed 68.6 per cent wanted to extend the present ban on commercial release beyond October 29.

The Herald-DigiPoll survey also showed those wanting genetically modified organisms banned for good increasing from 23.2 per cent in June last year to 37.8 per cent. The shift in the public's mood coincides with a worldwide consumer backlash against GM food.

Ms Hobbs said the Government spent $6 million on the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification, which reported back in July 2001 with the recommendation to "proceed with caution".

"The Royal Commission is probably the highest level and the most considered level of decision-making we have in this country," she said.

She said "crunch time" for decision-making on the issue had been two years ago when the commission was sitting.

Labour's Maori caucus is due to discuss the issue tomorrow and some MPs are understood to be worried about the moratorium expiring.

However, Ms Hobbs brushed off talk of dissent in the Maori caucus.

The bill is due to be reported to Parliament from the education and science select committee on September 3 and it is understood the Government wants it passed next month.

Labour appears to have the numbers to pass the bill with United Future indicating support. The Progressives are still undecided, as is New Zealand First.

NZ First and United Future are concerned about the risk to food exports from the GM release.

But United Future leader Peter Dunne said yesterday it would take "some persuading" for the party to rescind its support.

Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said she was not surprised the Government would not change its mind.

But she urged the Government to take a serious look at the state of public opinion. The poll's main finding - that the moratorium should be extended - echoed polling she commissioned before the last election.

She thought Labour's polling - particularly focus groups - had concentrated on whether people agreed with the Government's policy.

"Of course everybody agrees with caution and strict controls, so it never actually states what the Government's policy actually is.

"I think that's now no longer working because the people are starting to understand that there aren't strict controls at all, and that caution actually doesn't mean we are not going to have untested, unpredictable organisms growing out there and ending up on our dinner plate."


Bill lays down October 29

The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act was amended last year to set October 29 as the date for lifting the moratorium on commercial release of GM organisms.

Another law, the New Organisms and Other Matters Bill, is before a select committee, and sets the regime by which conditional release of GM organisms can take place.

The bill allows for the release of new organisms with conditions imposed within a "cautious and case-by-case framework" and extends the regulations to include human cells, streamlines approvals of low-risk GM work in laboratories and makes the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry responsible for all enforcement for new organisms.