ACT Environment Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff is urging medical and scientific organisations to be much more vocal in their support for AgResearch Institute's plans to carry out GM research in order to find a treatment for multiple sclerosis.

"This is vital work and it is important that those who will benefit from it get in behind the institute's efforts and act cohesively, letting the public know the truth about the planned work.

"Unless those supportive of this work state so publicly then the issue will be dominated by the hysterical fundamentalist agenda of the Greens, their delaying tactics and their fanciful, ill-informed horror stories designed to frighten the public. This is a question of hocus pocus versus science.

"It seems clear the Greens are oblivious to the welfare of humans suffering from diseases which currently have no cure. They are not just anti-GM, they are also anti-science. By taking this stance they are holding back processes which could improve the lives of those suffering from diseases.

"It is time the medical and scientific communities abandoned their previous conservative non-political approach to this issue in order to benefit the cause of science. This is a hugely political issue whether we like it or not and it will regrettably be politics and politicians which will determine the outcome for GM. The scientific and medical communities must be seen to be more actively involved in the process," Gerry Eckhoff said.

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