Genetically Modified Crops

The Hon. L.A. CURRAN (15:25): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development a question regarding genetically modified crops.

Leave granted.

The Hon. L.A. CURRAN: In 2020, after a 16-year ban on GM crops in South Australia, changes to South Australian legislation, led by the then Liberal government, passed both houses of parliament to allow GM food crops to be cultivated in South Australia, except on Kangaroo Island.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. L.A. CURRAN: My question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development is: can she assure the farmers of South Australia that she and her government will continue the commitment made by the Marshall Liberal government and continue to allow GM food crops to be cultivated in our state?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: I call the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development and not the Hon. Mr Wortley.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:26): I thank the honourable member for her question. As she rightly points out, lifting the GM moratorium has allowed GM crop varieties to be cultivated and marketed in South Australia on a level playing field with the rest of mainland Australia. The then Labor opposition supported the legislation that passed through parliament in 2020, after of course we proposed some sensible amendments.

In 2021, commercial genetically modified food crops were grown in South Australia for the first time. I am advised that the first crops of an estimated 25,000 hectares of GM canola have now been harvested, delivered to segregated silo storage and exported to market. With the 2022 cropping season almost upon us, I am told that more farmers are now intending to sow GM canola for the first time and those who sowed the crop last season have found it to be a profitable inclusion in their cropping program and have committed to increasing the area of GM canola this year.