Australia should embrace genetically modified (GM) food and biofuels
as a weapon against climate change, Queensland Primary Industries Minister
Tim Mulherin says.
Expertise in the controversial GM technology also would give the
country a competitive edge in the world market as long as environmental and
ethical safeguards were maintained, he said.

Speaking to a Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA)
lunch in Brisbane on Tuesday, Mr Mulherin said the global market was now
more affluent, competitive and discerning, demanding more products developed
through conventional methods, organically or gene technology.

"The Queensland government supports the pursuit of gene technology and
GM crops," Mr Mulherin said.

GM agriculture would give the state's economy a boost, as well as
deliver environmental advantages, he said.

"One of the strongest weapons in the artillery to adapt to climate
change is genetic modification," Mr Mulherin said, adding that technology
could be used to develop drought-resistant crops, plants that were less
reliant on pesticides and herbicides, improve water efficiency, boost yields
and add nutritional value.

"But we need national consistency and a national framework," he said.

Australia's GM guidelines needed to be internationally accepted and
understood or it would damage the country's "clean, green, image" and its
agricultural marketing credentials."

Agriculture accounted for four per cent of Australia's gross domestic
product (GDP) but agricultural products made up 22 per cent of the nation's
exports whose value had tripled in real terms since the 1970s.

But Queensland was the only state in Australia which did not have a
moratorium on GM, an advantage which would assist the state in its trade
with ever growing markets, such as China, he said.

"That's why we've got to keep in the game," he said.

"If we let the ball slip, we'll come from behind."

But Australia as a whole would be disadvantaged if it was unable to
compete in world markets with countries which used GM technology in their
agricultural production, he said.

Mr Mulherin also outlined his department's plans for the future under
the government of Anna Bligh, who was sworn in as premier last week
following Peter Beattie's departure.

As part of Queensland's plans to become the "knowledge capital of
Australia", the government would set up a world-class agricultural science
network which aimed to attract world-class scientists, he said.

The network would start with research facilities for tropical science
and biosecurity in north Queensland.


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