The Greens desperate attempts at censorship prove they are strongly opposed to informed public debate, said ACT
Agriculture spokesman Gerry Eckhoff.
The Government’s $4.8 million Royal Commission of Inquiry got underway in Wellington today to investigate the future of
Genetic engineering in New Zealand. The Commission has twelve months to report and a series of public meetings is due to
start next month.
“This inquiry is critical to New Zealand’s social, scientific and economic future. Yet fairness will be impossible to
achieve if the Greens continue their biased, undemocratic manipulation of public opinion.
“Today the Greens marked the Commission’s first day by attacking the Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA). The
Greens rubbished ANZFA’s assurance that five genetically engineered supermarket foods were safe. They added that some
doctors warned genetically engineered foods could result in “new allergens, new toxins, superbugs and other unexpected
health hazards…”
“ANZFA is an independent statutory authority entrusted with promoting all consumers interests. The Green attack on their
findings is unsubstantiated headline seeking.
“The Greens claim that “some doctors warned” is a standard spin technique to cause fear. In the early eighties some
doctors warned microwave ovens would cause cancer, alter food constitution, or poison children, yet unbiased scientific
debate eventually triumphed.
“The Greens realise logic will prevail again and are relying heavily on dubious, sensationalised details to stifle
debate. This will prevent their emotional, but scientifically bankrupt, campaign from being exposed for what it is; run
of the mill political grandstanding.
“It is interesting to note the Greens offered none of their Budget allocation to public education on genetically
engineering issues. Perhaps they prefer to keep the public ignorant? It is far easier to appeal to a person’s fears,
than their mind.
“If the Royal Commission is to succeed the Government must set a moratorium on Green scare tactics or else offer
educational initiatives to counteract the propaganda” said Gerry Eckhoff.
ENDS