In March last year one-time Australian Democrat Senator John Cherry became CEO of the Queensland Farmer’s Federation, click here for ABC news report.
At the time I wondered how an x-Democrat who has been an outspoken critic of GM food crops could be appointed to head a farm lobby know to be very dependent on the cotton industry which is very dependent on GM. I have been sort-of watching for Cherry to say something positive about GM – but haven’t noticed anything. When he was a Senator he seemed to have a close relationship with Greenpeace and I note they are still running his old press releases, click here.
Yesterday the Courier-Mail newspaper ran a story about the new Paradise Dam – built following a lifetime of lobbying from sugar industry leaders in the Bundaberg region of SE Queensland.
The dam is apparently already at 30 per cent capacity, having captured about 70,000 megalitres from the Burnett River system.
According to the newspaper report: Queensland Farmers Federation chief executive officer John Cherry said the dam was good for the region but farmers were concerned its water might be too expensive.
Who would have imagined, say just one year ago, that John Cherry would be speaking on behalf of irrigators in favour of a dam and possibly in favor of cheaper water? Then again, what was he really saying in the newspaper report?
Now what is the QFF/John Cherry position going to be on GM – or is the QFF going to ignore this most important of rural issues? I can’t find anything at their website on GM – but I’ve only had a quick look.
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD has worked in industry and government. She is currently researching a novel technique for long-range weather forecasting funded by the B. Macfie Family Foundation.