SA GENETIC FOOD
INFORMATION NETWORK
(SAGFIN)
NEWSLETTER
NEWSLETTER
JUNE 2019
Your SAGFIN committee have achieved
much in the eight months from the AGM. Jim, Peter, Wally, Trevor and Robyn have
been meeting regularly at Fenwick Real Estate in Prospect guiding our campaign
to protect the SA GM crop moratorium which was extended in 2017 until 2025. The
Marshall Liberal government has unfortunately made good on their pre-election
promise to review the moratorium, which we believed is an attempt to overturn
it. Mark Parnell of the Greens and John Darley of Advance SA have initiated a
review of the moratorium in the Upper House. SAGFIN co-ordinated submissions to
both reviews with the pro-bono support of local experts.
Select Committee Moratorium on the
Cultivation of Genetically Modified Crops in South Australia
Our submission is number 49 on the
Legislative Council (Upper House) website here, our
Canola Price Comparison report is number 49A and the Terms of Reference are here.
Committee member Alex Hodges also made a submission - number 4, and our
colleagues at GeneEthics wrote submission 48. Submission 42 is the Friends of
the Earth Melbourne form letter that you may have signed - unfortunately it is
only seems to have been counted as one submission despite 151 people sending it
individually. Our president Jim gave evidence to the committee in February and
you can read it here in transcript number 5. Bob
Phelps, Executive Director of GeneEthics gave evidence in transcript number 6.
SA Government review of the South
Australian Genetically Modified (GM) Food Crop Moratorium "Anderson
Review"
SAGFIN made a submission to the
so-called independent review (attached). In early February Agriculture &
Primary Industries Minister Tim Whetstone announced that
the report had been released and the government was considering its 19
recommendations. The report alleges that the moratorium cost farmers $33
million since 2004. We find this difficult to believe as our report studying
the canola crop in Victoria and SA for the financial year 2017-2018 found that
in Victoria, GM free canola sold for an average of $27/tonne more than GM
canola. Victorian GM Free canola sold for a similar price to SA GM Free canola
so it is most likely that if GM canola was grown in SA then the same price penalty
for GM canola would result. The government report and terms of reference are
found on the PIRSA website here.
Politician lobbying
We have been busy lobbying the Shadow
Minister for Health (ALP MP Chris Picton) and Shadow Minister for Primary
Industries and Regional Development (ALP MP Eddie Hughes). Peter and GM
researcher Judy Carman informed Mr Picton of the dangers of CRISPR GM materials,
and Jim and Robyn gave information to Mr Hughes supporting the
moratorium. We have requested meetings with the Minister for Health
(Liberal Steven Wade MLC) and Minister for Primary Industries and Regional
Development (Liberal MP Tim Whetstone). Peter spoke to Adelaide MP Rachel
Sanderson and she was very supportive. We welcome you speaking to your MP and
are happy to give guidance and support.
GM Free Australia Alliance
SAGFIN President Jim continues to
chair the monthly phone linkups with representatives from Australia and New
Zealand. The Alliance thanked Jessica for Harrison for her service as
Coordinator and welcomed Alex Mijatovic as the new Coordinator.
SAGFIN Facebook Page
Please ‘like’ and keep up to date
with our new Facebook
page. If you come across any articles or memes you
would like shared on the page, please send to sagfin1@gmail.com
Membership
Membership for 2019 is now due. We are
sure you will find our fees are very economical and hope that you will support
continuing our work protecting SA from GM crops and food.
SAGFIN Annual Membership: Ordinary
$15 / Concession $10 / Corporate $30
Please make cheque/money order
payable to SAGFIN.
Direct deposit: Bendigo
Bank BSB 633-000 A/C No. 157098682 with your
name as a reference
Please send a stamped self addressed
envelope if you require a receipt.
SAGFIN PO Box 323 North
Adelaide SA 5006
Future
meetings
Committee
meetings are held regularly at Fenwick Real Estate in Prospect. All welcome.
Contact
SAGFIN
SAGFIN PO
Box 323 North Adelaide SA 5006
Thank you for your support.
SA Genetic Food Information Network
Committee
Jim Mitchell - President/Treasurer
Robyn Wood - Secretary
Trevor Ward - IT
Lisa Douglas - website
Anna Clements - Committee
member
Alex Hodges - Committee member
Peter Fenwick - Committee member
Wally Daylight - Committee member
