GAWLER Council has back flipped on spending $20,000 to commission a report into growing genetically modified (GM) crops in the town, with one councillor saying the plan was nothing more than a “feel good gesture”.
As reported by The Bunyip in August, at a meeting of council’s Infrastructure and Environmental Services committee meeting last month, elected members voted in favour of hiring an external consultant to complete a study on the market benefits of banning GM crop cultivation in the town.
The committee’s recommendation was taken to a full meeting of council last week though, and was subsequently rejected by elected members.
The State Government lifted South Australia’s 16-year ban on cultivating GM crops in May, but the legislation included a clause which allows councils to apply for an exemption.
Gawler Council had held public consultation on the topic and was set to use the consultant’s report to inform whether it would apply to primary industries minister David Basham to stay GM free.
During debate, councillor Ian Tooley said the $20,000 price tag for an external consultant was unjustified
“I personally choose to buy non-GM products,” he said. “But I’m a realist as to where this (issue) is at.
“I think this is a feel good gesture. We’re going to grab $20,000 without a budget bid because we want to do something that feels good.
“But at the end of the day, I don’t believe we’ll have a case – the government will look at it and say we have the grounds to be declared a GM-free zone.”
Speaking in support of commissioning the report, councillor David Hughes said the GM issue was “worth investigating”.
“It’s certainly seen as a big marketing advantage for Kangaroo Island to keep their GM-free status and I think there could be scope for a cluster of councils around Gawler (to remain GM-free),” he said.
“It would be quite a marketing advantage for those councils and those people.”
The backflip leaves Gawler Council’s position in the GM crop debate in doubt, as it made no further decision on its stance on the issue and whether to petition Mr Basham.
Barossa requests to be GM-free
BAROSSA Council will seek to remain a Genetically Modified (GM) food crop-free zone, following consultation with local industry.
Elected members held a special meeting last week and agreed to submit an application to the Minister for primary industries and regional development to remain a GM-free council area.
It follows a decision by the State Government earlier this year to lift a freeze on GM crops so they could be grown on mainland South Australia.
For mainland SA, councils have a one-off, time-limited opportunity to apply to remain as an area in which no genetically modified food crops may be cultivated.
Barossa Council received 112 submissions during its recent public consultation phase, relating to the issue.
From a survey, in which 67 people responded, 84.9 per cent said they strongly supported or supported council making an application to the minister.
Furthermore, 73.1 per cent of respondents indicated that they ‘always’ choose products based on them being labelled as GM-free.
With respect as to whether there would be a positive or negative trade and marketing impact of allowing GM crops, 66.5 per cent indicated ‘very likely’ and 15.6 per cent ‘likely’.
Of the respondents 59.8 per cent are community members, 38.4 per cent business owners or primary producers and 1.8 per cent association or incorporated organisations.
The minister has highlighted that only potential trade and marketing impacts will be considered in a council’s application to retain a GM-free status, with the final decision at his discretion.
GM crops are plants used in agriculture that have had their DNA modified through gene technology and may be resistance to certain pests, diseases or herbicides, tolerant to particular environmental conditions or produce increased nutrients.
Councils are required to make an application to the minister by September 30, 2020.
