100 MORE GREEN ACHIEVEMENTS

GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD MORATORIUM MEETING
Achievement	Target Date	Progress	Description	Further Information

ACHIEVEMENT: A public meeting is held by the City of Melbourne to discuss the Victorian moratorium on genetically engineered food.

TARGET DATE: May 2004

PROGRESS: Some.

DESCRIPTION: Genetic engineering is very controversial, especially when food is concerned. The Victorian Government has provided a moratorium for the introduction of genetically modified crops into Victoria until May 2005. Concerned farmers, scientists and community activists have been arguing that more time is needed to consider the safety of allowing genetically modified food to be produced and/or sold in Victoria. A public meeting held by the City of Melbourne would assist the public in coming to their own conclusions about the merits or otherwise of genetically modified food, and the need for a moratorium on its release into our food supply.

Plans had been underway to hold a meeting publicising the need to extend the Genetic Engineering Moratorium on Victoria when the Victorian Government made a decision to extend the moratorium for a further year. The ALP member for Melbourne was quoted in the Weekly Times as saying this occurred as a consequence of Green pressure in inner Melbourne.

Attempts by me to oppose Council support of genetic engineering and biotech proposals have been outvoted on each occasion.

FURTHER INFORMATION: