GAWLER Council has joined the growing list of South Australian councils which want to remain free of genetically modified (GM) crops.
At their meeting last week, elected members voted in favour of applying to primary industries minister David Basham to maintain a moratorium on the cultivation of the controversial crops, which was lifted across SA by the State Government earlier this year.
Only councillors Ian Tooley, Jim Vallelonga and Paul Little were against the move.
In changing the legislation, a Labor-inserted amendment allowed local councils to apply to keep the ban in place inside their jurisdictions.
Gawler, Playford and Barossa councils have all held public consultation on the issue and their elected members have voted to apply for an exemption.
Light Regional Council held public consultation and wanted to keep the moratorium in place in its grape growing areas, while its grain-producing regions would have access to GM crops.
At Gawler’s meeting last week, councillor Cody Davies said the council should follow the lead of its neighbouring councils.
“There was a discussion about ‘what if we go GM-free and then neighbouring councils don’t, we would be wasting our time’,” he said.
“Now we know the Barossa is very concerned about being GM free and Light is trying to keep some restrictions.
“It’s now the moral thing for us to say ‘let’s not be the one in the local community who’s coughing on people and not washing our hands.
“These councils that specialise in farming want to be GM-free and we need to respect their wishes.”
Any application to keep the moratorium will be evaluated by the GM Crop Advisory Committee and Mr Basham, with councils needing to prove lifting the ban would have a negative market affect on the region.
A ring of councils opposed to GM crop cultivation has now circled the Adelaide metropolitan area, with Adelaide Hills, Mount Barker, Onkaparinga and Yankalila councils also joining the movement.
Wine producers have been particularly vocal in their opposition to GM crops, saying potential contamination could jeopardise their overseas markets, where they promote themselves as free of genetically modified ingredients.
On the other side of the debate, grain producers – backed by Grain Producers SA – have been the greatest backers of lifting the moratorium, citing farmers rights to plant what is required to be profitable.
Gawler Council previously turned down spending $20,000 on an independent report into the expected affects of GM crops on the region.
During debate at last week’s meeting, councillor Diane Fraser said “it just makes sense” to stay GM-free.
“They use this GM stuff for stock feed, the animals eat it and then its passed through to us,” she said.
“It’s passed through fertiliser and animal meat and it’s just crazy.”
Mr Basham’s decision on whether individual councils can remain GM free is due in November, in time for primary producers to plan their 2021 crop.