17 October 2001 PR157/01
FFNZ Welcomes National Party stance on GM

Federated Farmers President Alistair Polson has welcomed National's willingness to work with Government in upholding the key conclusion of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification that New Zealand should adopt a "proceed with caution" approach.

"The National Board of Federated Farmers met with National Party leader Bill English, Tony Ryall and Gavan Herlihy yesterday and enjoyed a free and frank exchange on issues of concern to the rural community, said Mr Polson. "It is heartening to see National heed farmer's concerns about a continued moratorium on GM field trials."

"The Royal Commission report shows New Zealand will expose itself to significant economic risk if it shuts off options and opportunities, said Mr Polson. A risk New Zealand cannot afford to take given the uncertainty of the global market place."

"A continued moratorium on GM field trails or commercial release will effectively be a moratorium on GM. Any commercial release will be a minimum of two years away but no organisation will be prepared to invest if it is vulnerable to political whim and the risk of an extended moratorium.

"New Zealand can expect to loose research capacity and investment will be diverted offshore, as our comparative and competitive advantage is eroded irrevocably, said Mr Polson.

"The threat to New Zealand is real. Already New Zealand's largest company, Fonterra Co-operative Group, has stated that an extended moratorium on applications for commercial release will make it move its research operations offshore.

"It is time for the Government to show some leadership and acknowledge the Royal Commission's conclusions, thus keeping New Zealand's options open to build a strong economy and sustainable environment."

ENDS

For more information: Alistair Polson, PH 04 473 7269 or 025 370 085 Tony St Clair, PH 04 473 7269

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>