Abstract

Reference: Australian Gene Technology Bill 2000
Title: A cautionary tale: Fish don’t lay tomatoes – A report on the Gene Technology Bill 2000.
Authors: Senate Community Affairs References Committee
Publisher: Parliament of Australia, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Publication details:  November 2000.

This Senate report is very timely. There is widespread community debate about gene technology and increasing concern about health and environmental issues. The community has learned to be cautious about claims by governments, corporations and scientists that things are safe for them. The benefit of DDT and, more recently, the safety of British beef during the mad cow disease episode are just two claims that have engendered considerable scepticism.

The Senate inquiry into the Gene Technology Bill 2000 has provided a great opportunity for serious discussion about this legislation and whether it will provide the protection the community wants.  Australia needs an effective regulatory system that is open, transparent and accountable. The consequences of ‘getting it wrong’ are too grave to contemplate, especially in the longer term. The proposed regulatory regime needs to ensure that there is widespread community confidence in the system. Australia’s regulatory system should represent international best practice.

There remains a great need for community education. While the level of concern about possible risks is growing in the community, there is still inadequate information – particularly information that is impartial, unbiased and comprehensive – available to the community and consumers to evaluate the risks associated with gene technology.  Individuals also have difficulty in assessing and processing available information to help them make informed choices. The Committee attaches great importance to ensuring that a national education campaign, by an independent source, be implemented to provide information on gene technology.

Overall, the Committee found that the Bill to introduce regulation into the gene technology area is overdue and very welcome. However, the weight of evidence supported a great deal of caution. That is why the report is called - A Cautionary Tale: Fish Don’t Lay Tomatoes.

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