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AUS – PGA QUERIES NATIONALS GM POLICY
11 August 2008 Source: The Pastoralists & Graziers Association of WA
Source: http://www.plugger.com.au/email_news/20080811/media-release-pga-queries-nats-gm-policy-/.
MEDIA RELEASE
PGA QUERIES NATS GM POLICY WA's
Nationals have been accused of ignoring farmers for city votes with a policy of support for non-food GM crops only.
Pastoralists and Graziers Grains Chairman Leon Bradley said the Nationals were now officially supporting State ALP policy by maintaining bans on crops like GM canola.
"Too bad that GM canola is the most urgently required crop in WA's grain growing areas," he said.
"GM canola offers higher yields, more resilient production levels and advantages such as lower herbicide, tillage and fuel costs. GM canola may not be a silver bullet for WA's worst weed problem, annual ryegrass, but it will be one more weapon in the armoury.
"Mr Bradley said the National Party's support for GM cotton may be useful in the Kimberley region but its lack of support for GM food crops was costly to southern farmers.
"The Party also fails to define how GM cotton seed oil is any different from GM seed canola oil.
"The policy is scientifically illiterate and economically destructive and is apparently designed to appeal more to green voters than to support the real needs of West Australian Farmers."
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