GM canola contamination - Cunderdin

Extract from Hansard
[COUNCIL — Thursday, 10 November 2011]
p9308b-9308b
Hon Lynn MacLaren; Hon Robyn McSweeney

GENETICALLY MODIFIED CANOLA — CONTAMINATION — CUNDERDIN

1022. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister representing the Minister for Agriculture and Food:

(1) Is the minister aware that the hail storm near Cunderdin last week resulted in around 100 tonnes of GM
canola being knocked to the ground, with some of this running off onto the roadside verge and a
neighbouring non-GM property?

(2) Is the minister aware that this GM canola has already started germinating along the roadside and drains?

(3) Who is responsible for the cleanup of the GM canola contamination?

(4) What action will the Department of Agriculture and Food take to ensure that the GM contamination is
cleaned up?

(5) How many other incidents of GM canola contamination has the department been notified of so far this
year?

Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The Minister for Agriculture and Food has
responded with the following answers —

(1) Yes, I am aware of these unconfirmed claims.

(2) No.

(3) As with the movement of any plant material between farms, if clean-up is required, the involved
growers will need to liaise with each other to work out the best way to manage any GM canola that may
have moved.

(4) The Department of Agriculture and Food will provide technical advice to the growers involved on
management options that may be required.

(5) One.