Fitzsimons stoops to the absurd

Fitzsimons stoops to the absurd

There’s more than a hint of panic in the latest absurdity to spring from Jeanette Fitzsimons’ media advisors on the GM debate the Chairman of the Life Sciences Network, Dr William Rolleston, said tonight.

“She stoops to a new low when she knowingly misrepresents and quotes me out of context. Ms Fitzsimons demonstrates once again how the anti-GM brigade doesn’t let the facts get in the way of a good media release and therefore they have totally missed the point.

“They have tried to distort what I said about buffer zones to make it look as though the only safe distance between GM and non-GM crops is hundreds of kilometres. All other countries, which have considered this question, have let science inform the decision – but that’s not what the Green Party wants.

“And in reducing this serious debate to the absurd the Greens are treating the public, which wants credible and factual information, with contempt.

“I find it demeaning of the public and hope that the Green Party will soon start to behave responsibly. They were the party that claimed, for many months, the Royal Commission was their idea. Now that their Royal Commission has examined their arguments in detail, and found them wanting, they are trying to disown their creation. The public isn’t fooled.

“Jeanette’s supporters haven’t even read the Royal Commission’s report, yet they feel qualified to criticise it. The anti-GM protestors who gathered in Christchurch today were challenged by Science Minister Pete Hodgson to read the report after the whole 40 of them admitted they hadn’t read it.

“The Green Party should make sure its supporters go to their public library, go onto the internet, or go and buy the report so we can all have an informed debate rather than an ignorant one,” concluded Dr Rolleston.

For further information, contact:

Dr William Rolleston Francis Wevers

Chairman Executive Director

Ph (025) 2460634 (021) 916010

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