GMW: Farmer threatened with legal action on GM slur

[Guest guest]

GMW: Farmer threatened with legal action " on GM slur "

" GM WATCH " <info

Thu, 11 Aug 2005 09:12:47 +0100

 

 

 

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

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In case you hadn't noticed how keen they are to shut up Australian

farmer, Julie Newman, they're now resorting to legal threats!

 

Julie's crime seems to have been questioning why the Grains Council of

Australia seemed to be promoting the interests of the biotech industry

rather than that of farmers when it came to the issue of liability -

the GCA has been actively opposing the industry having legal liability

for the impact of their crops.

 

Julie asked why and noted, " The GM benefits promoted appear to be

little more than a scam but consumer and market rejection is very real

and

farmers need fair risk management. GCA don't seem to realise that the

best of biotechnology is non-GM. Ignorance and arrogance is no excuse for

GCA to deny fair risk management. "

 

Now Julie's been threatened she says, " I welcome legal action as it

will allow me to give information to support my statements. "

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http://www.non-gm-farmers.com/news_details.asp?ID=2333

10 August 2005

 

GCA seeking legal action on GM slur

 

- The Grains Council of Australia has decided to seek legal advice in

relation to allegations about its policy on agricultural biotechnology

raised by the Network of Concerned Farmers in Western Australia.

 

Network comment: " The GCA biotechnology policy does not state that the

burden of liability is to rest with non-GM farmers. I welcome legal

action as it will allow me to give information to support my statements. "

Julie Newman

 

Released 10 August 2005

 

1st Floor NFF House, 14-16 Brisbane Avenue, BARTON ACT 2600 Email:

gca Internet: www.grainscouncil.com

 

GCA SEEKING LEGAL ADVICE ON GM SLUR

 

The Grains Council of Australia has decided to seek legal advice in

relation to allegations about its policy on agricultural biotechnology

raised by the Network of Concerned Farmers in Western Australia.

 

GCA's Chief Operating Officer, David Ginns, said a statement today by

NCF contained serious implications and accusations which needed to be

addressed in a legal context.

 

" The statement is currently being referred to GCA's legal counsel. The

statement by the NCF not only unfairly attacks the integrity of GCA

staff, but it implies that the Council is subject to outside influence in

its policy deliberations " , Mr Ginns said.

 

" The only interests GCA has are the interests of its members and the

interests of the vast majority of grain producers in Australia who want

access to technology that will make them more efficient farmers. NCF and

other extreme environmental groups are only interested in a very narrow

view of the world and they represent a tiny number of farm businesses,

many of them part time farmers and full time activists " , Mr Ginns said.

 

" GCA will be making no comment on these statements by NCF

representatives until legal opinion is forthcoming " .

 

For more information, contact:

 

Niree Creed

 

0418 625595

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09 August 2005

 

Who's pulling GCA's strings, ask farmers

Press Release: For immediate release

 

The Network of Concerned Farmers (NCF) has accused the Grains Council

of Australia (GCA) [of being] ignorant of the issues surrounding GM

crops. This follows a press release and submission issued by Grains

Council

of Australia claiming a GM liability legislation is unwarranted in

opposition to West Australian Agricultural Minister Kim Chance's

support of

the proposal.

 

" What right has the Grains Council of Australia to accept GM liability

on behalf of farmers that do not want and do not need GM products? "

asked Julie Newman, National Spokesperson for the Network of Concerned

Farmers.

 

" The GM benefits promoted appear to be little more than a scam but

consumer and market rejection is very real and farmers need fair risk

management. GCA don't seem to realise that the best of biotechnology is

non-GM. "

 

" Ignorance and arrogance is no excuse for GCA to deny fair risk

management. "

 

The NCF have been promoting a strict liability legislation for many

years claiming that farmers are required to sign contracts guaranteeing

there is no GM in their non-GM products and that they would be liable for

economic loss caused by GM contamination. Mrs Newman claims that

numerous lawyers have confirmed that there is little legal redress for

non-GM

farmers to claim compensation caused by GM contamination.

 

" Why should the polluted pay? A strict liability legislation ensures

the polluter pays which is only fair and reasonable. "

 

" How dare GCA staff ignore the burden on farmers and exempt GM

companies from the burden of liability caused by their GM product. Why

is GCA

supporting the GM companies rather than the farmers they claim to

represent? "

 

" It has been obvious that Mr Ginns, CEO of GCA is extremely pro-GM and

has been very active in promoting GM amongst GCA members, but an

employee should not be allowed such free rein when representing farmers. "

 

Mrs Newman claims the GCA statement is directly opposed to WAFarmers

policy which clearly states that liability issues need to be addressed.

 

" If liability is not addressed, consumers will have no choice because

it will be too difficult and too expensive for farmers to market as

non-GM. "

 

- END -

 

Contact: Julie Newman 08 98711562 or 0427 711644

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GCA Press Release:

 

Released 9 August 2005

 

1st Floor NFF House, 14-16 Brisbane Avenue, BARTON ACT 2600 Email:

gca Internet: www.grainscouncil.com

 

GM LIABILITY LEGISLATION UNWARRANTED AND COSTLY FOR PRODUCERS

 

The Grains Council of Australia has dismissed calls for Federal

liability legislation to cover genetically modified products as

unwarranted

and unreasonable.

 

GCA's Chief Operating Officer, David Ginns, said today that a proposal

from Western Australia for Federal legislation to specifically cover

any liability related to production of GM crops would place an

unreasonable burden on an area of technology development which is

proved to have

substantial benefits for consumers, developing countries and producers.

 

" Agricultural biotechnology is critical to the future of Australian

plant industries, as it will allow greater freedom for the development of

more efficient, environmentally and socially sustainable food, fibre

and industrial product value chains. Agri-biotechnology is much broader

than modification of plant varieties to confer chemical resistance,

which represents less than 10 per cent of plant biotechnology', Mr Ginns

said.

 

" Australian producers must have access to new technology, because the

adoption by our competitors of agri-biotechnology is providing them with

a productivity advantage over Australian producers " , he said.

 

" Any attempt to restrict that access through the imposition of

unnecessary legislation must be resisted. The sector is over regulated

at the

moment. The Federal government spends $8 million each year regulating

plant biotechnology, but the grains industry currently invests only $6

million in research in this area. This is not a reasonable balance and

the technology would be regulated out of existence " .

 

" On the matter of liability, the use of bio technology is no different

from any other technology used on farm, including herbicides and

pesticides. Producers have a responsibility to ensure their actions don't

impact on others " .

 

" The current legal system provides recourse for producers to pursue

damages if there is a clear case of having incurred real loss or damage

through the actions of others. Calls for even more laws restricting

farmers' rights represent a severe over-reaction by activists

representing a

minority view " , Mr Ginns said.

 

" This is a knee jerk response to the detection of traces of GM canola

in a West Australian shipment, which is merely the result of improved

testing regimes. The WA Government has conceded that the interim tests

are unreliable, and that the level is well below anything that would

compromise the State's GM-free status " he said.

 

For more information contact

Niree Creed 041 8625595

 

 

 

 

 

 

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