ABC News
Online

Sir Gustav Warns Against Total GM Ban

Eminent scientist and current Australian of the Year Sir Gustav Nossal has warned against Tasmania completely banning genetically modified crops and foods.

Sir Gustav is in Tasmania to launch nominations for Australian of the Year for 2001. Addressing an audience of High School students, Sir Gustav said while the current 12-month moratorium on GM crop trials would help the Government form a policy, a complete ban would put the state at a real competitive disadvantage.

"In the longer term, these genetically modified foods can have so many benefits that I would not wish you to turn your face against them in the long term," he said.

"The world is hungry, you can have the luxury of being clean and green, you can have the luxury of waiting till the hysteria about genetically modified foods in our major export markets dies down, as I'm sure it will."