Gene Technology

The Hon. M.C. PARNELL (14:44): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing about the regulation of new genetic modification techniques.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.C. PARNELL: Debate about the regulation of new genetic modification techniques, often referred to as gene editing, has been happening around the world. One of these techniques is known as CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats), which works by cutting the DNA of a cell and when the cell repairs the damage some of the DNA letters get changed at that spot. This then creates new varieties of plants or animals. However, recent research has found that this technique is not as precise as it has claimed to be and can result in large deletions and rearrangement of DNA.

In July this year, the European Court of Justice ruled that these new techniques are GMOs, that they pose similar risks to the older GM techniques and that they must be assessed for safety and regulated in the same way. This means that the EU will require GM traceability for imported foods. Because of the risks, over 60 international scientists have signed a statement, calling for these techniques to be strictly regulated as GMOs.

The Australian government has been considering its position on these new GM techniques and whether or not they should be regulated here. My understanding is that the South Australian health minister is on the Legislative and Governance Forum on Gene Technology and that the forum has been asked to approve draft changes to the gene technology regulations that would effectively deregulate a number of new GM techniques, including one of the CRISPR uses. My questions of the minister are:

1. What is the Marshall Liberal government's position on these proposed changes?

2. Will you follow the example of the European Union's highest court and ensure that these new GM techniques are regulated in Australia in the same way as older GM techniques are regulated?

3. Since a number of our key export markets have a zero tolerance for the presence of unapproved GMOs, has the South Australian government conducted any modelling on the likely market impacts if these new GM techniques are deregulated?

4. Since there will be no requirement for traceability if these techniques are deregulated, has the South Australian government considered the likely impacts on the South Australian GM crops moratorium?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:46): I thank the honourable member for his question, and a detailed one at that. What I can confirm is that I believe I am a member of the long-named forum he suggested and, in fact, I think I am attending a meeting of the forum next month. In terms of the detail of the honourable member's question, I am sure that I will be briefed on that issue leading into the forum. I am happy to take on notice and note the fact that he and the house would like an update on what the government's position on that issue is.

One thing that I am committed to is strong state and national co-operation in areas like this. To the extent that your question was inviting me to be an outlier and engage Europe with a unilateral agreement, I am afraid I am far too timid for that. I will continue to work with other Australian jurisdictions for a unified national response.