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 Brumby property targeted by GM protesters 

Brumby property targeted by GM protesters

13/08/2008 9:58:00 PM
Protesters angry at Premier John Brumby's support for genetically modified crops have publicly listed his family farm near Bendigo on a website showing farmers that they claim are willing to grow the crops.

Anti-GM group Gene Ethics lists the Premier as "J. Brumby: Harcourt" among six farmers willing to grow GM.

The website also shows five properties it says are growing GM canola, based on media and information from farmers.

The posting of the Brumby farm on the www.geneethics.org website comes just weeks after protesters opposed to Government plans to pipe water from the Goulburn Valley to Melbourne threatened to invade the Premier's family property.

The anti-pipeline protesters backed down, but the threat provoked a furious reaction from the Premier and an emotional plea for privacy from his wife, Rosemary McKenzie.

Mr Brumby was surprised when informed his family farm had been listed on the website, saying he and his wife did not grow and had no intention of growing GM products.

"It (listing the farm) would just highlight the inaccuracy of whoever has put this together," he said yesterday.

But Gene Ethics director Bob Phelps said the map information was in the public domain and called on the Premier to set up a register of GM crops.

He said rural industries and land managers were worried by GM seeds falling on the road while being transported and pollen being carried by insects and the wind.

"Mr Brumby is in the rough and tumble of politics," Mr Phelps said.

"Our map helps fill the information vacuum created when Premier Brumby lifted Victoria's five-year GM canola ban and refused to set up an official register, worsening the threat of GM contamination."

Last November, the Premier announced farmers would be able to plant GM canola, following the recommendations of an expert panel headed by Sir Gustav Nossal.

Lifting the ban, Mr Brumby said at the time, would provide an economic boost and help the environment by requiring less pesticides on crops.

He also said GM technology would bring other benefits such as salt and drought-resistant grains.

Mr Brumby said farmers had always coexisted well in Victoria, and called for the rights of farmers to grow legal GM products to be respected.

"Some farmers are organic and others might be next door growing wheat or canola using large amounts of pesticide or fertiliser," he said.

When demonstrators opposed to the north-south pipeline threatened to march on the Brumby farm last month, Ms McKenzie described the threat as a new low in public debate in Victoria.

Mr Brumby also condemned the protesters, accusing them of intimidating his wife and introducing "Third World" tactics to Victorian politics.

"She shouldn't have to put up with that," he said. "Our place will never be the same."

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Comments


Date: Newest first | Oldest first
Farmers have the right to know where GM is being grown. They may not wish the trucks from those farms near their land..contaminating their seeds After all Consumers do not want GM food.

Where is the economic benefit in growing something consumers do not want to buy?

Farmers have the right to know who is growing a crop that can contaminate their crops and land.. because consumers do not want to be the human rats of a experiment, that cannot be controlled and is not safe.

Mr Brumby growing GMO Canola can contaminate and ruin ones neighbors lively hoods...those neighbors have a right to know.

You have an unproven experiment...that may harm many more farmers when they can't sell their crops to Japan Europe, or even at home..

The GMO farmers could ruin the lives of good honest farmers..

Posted by catmac on 17/08/2008 12:17:31 AM

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Victorian Premier John Brumby.
Victorian Premier John Brumby.
13/08/2008 | Bob Phelps, from the Gene Ethics Network, has defended his organisation's controversial decision to publish the location of alleged GM plantings in Victoria, saying other industries need to protect themselves from contamination.

Q: Do you support the creation of a 'guest worker' scheme bringing in Pacific Islanders to counter Australian agriculture's labour shortages?

Yes
(69.1%)

No
(25%)

Undecided
(5.9%)

Total Votes: 508
Poll Date: 10/08/2008

26/11/2008 | If we're serious about roo farming, we'll need to start with a breeding program and kangaroo EBVs for marbling and tenderness.
 
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