Barnaby killed off the safety review scheme for agricultural pesticides …

Dear Ms/Sir:

Barnaby Joyce’s peccadillos are a minor matter. He killed off the safety review scheme for agricultural pesticides that was to have started on July 1 2014.

It was an election promise he had made to the chemical industry.

The Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Legislation (Removing Re-approval and Re-Registration) Amendment Bill 2014 (1) passed with ALP support.

That year both the Nationals ($42,500) and Labor ($22,300) got donations from the chemical industry’s peak body CropDeath.

Killing the review scheme reportedly saved the chemical industry just $1.3 million but cancellation will continue to gravely impact public health, safety and our environment far into the future.

Thousands of pesticides were approved up to 50 years ago, before modern safety testing methods became available. New scientific evidence on chemical toxicity is alarming, yet most old toxins have never been reviewed.

All farm chemicals need reassessment every 15 years, as the scheme would have required, to improve safety for farmers, farm workers and those shoppers who eat sprayed foods. The National Farmers Federation crowed over the cancellation.

Barnaby also defunded chemical residue monitoring in the food supply, after just one year of a five year program.

He should be jeered for poisoning us all, not for his fun and games.

Yours sincerely,

Bob Phelps
Executive Director
Gene Ethics
Bob Phelps Executive Director Gene Ethics