The Marshall Liberal Government’s decision to reject the Barossa Council’s application to keep the region GM free is a betrayal of local food and wine producers, according to the Member for Light and Candidate for Schubert, Mr Tony Piccolo.

Earlier this year the Barossa Council and 10 other Councils in the State applied to the Minister for PriMary Industries to keep their areas GM free and maintain their “green and clean” trade and Marketing advantage.

Mr Piccolo said the State Government’s decision to reject all 11 applications does raise serious questions about the process and whether the Minister for PriMary Industries, the Hon David Basham has acted in “good faith”.

Locally, Barossa Council’s application was supported by the Town of Gawler, the Light Regional and the Adelaide Hills Councils.

Mr Piccolo said the GM debate in the Barossa is not about the science of the issue, but rather how consumers and the Markets perceive the quality and safety of foods and wine produced in the Barossa.

“While some crop industries like canola will benefit from this decision, other foods and wine will be damaged.”

“The Marshall Liberal Government seems to have turned their backs on the Barossa, and sadly it appears that there is no-one in the Liberal party in the Barossa is standing up for local producers of food and wine.”

The Barossa Council undertook an extensive consultation process and arrived at its decision following that engagement with the community.

In September, after community consultation Barossa Councillors agreed to the council area remaining GM Free and agreed to submit an application to the Minister. Part of the consultation included a community survey and of the 122 respondents, 73.1% of people indicated that they always choose products based on them being labelled as GM Free.

Last month, Mr Piccolo wrote to Minister Basham asking him to respect the Council’s decision and approve the application for the Barossa to remain GM free.

“The feedback I have received from the wine industry and artisan food producers was strongly in favour of Council’s decision.”

“COVID 19 has only heightened overseas concerns about the quality and safety of foods and wine.”

“Barossa international reputation for producing foods and wine in a “green and clean” environment could be damaged by this rash and reckless decision.” “Why isn’t the local Liberal party standing up for the Barossa?”