MEDIA RELEASE
Don’t end up like me: farmer joins call to ban herbicide as parliamentary inquiry goes behind closed doors
A Queensland farmer, who used the controversial herbicide paraquat – and is now living with Parkinson’s – is appealing to other Aussie farmers to get behind the campaign for a national ban.
Earlier this year, after three decades of reviews, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) failed to join 70 countries in banning paraquat, instead announcing stronger controls around its use.
Parkinson’s Australia CEO Olivia Nassaris and Senator David Pocock are continuing to push for a national ban, but with a Parliamentary inquiry into the decision going behind closed doors this week they fear that community voices will not be heard.
Queenslander Greg Smith was diagnosed with Parkinson’s four years ago and said one of his brothers died with MND, another brother has cancer and his father died early from a heart attack.
“People who have lived experience of paraquat must be listened to,” Mr Smith said.
“We grew up on a small crop farm and in those days, nobody knew how bad chemicals were on people’s health and the environment.
“I know that our use of paraquat has greatly influenced our health.
“All that the APVMA and the advocates who influenced their decision used to justify their concessions was crop yields and profit, but no one mentioned the effects of paraquat on humans and communities.
“I want paraquat banned so that others do not suffer the fates of me and my family.
“I’m a man of the land, my family is fourth-generation farmers, but I believe that we can find a safer way to farm. Don’t end up like my Dad, me and my brothers.”
Parkinson’s Australia CEO Olivia Nassaris said she was concerned stories like this would go unheard if the inquiry did not hold public hearings.
“We’re grateful Senator Pocock successfully launched a Parliamentary inquiry, but without public hearings, we will be silenced,” Ms Nassaris said.
“Large scale studies have identified an association between paraquat and the incidence of Parkinson’s and Australians must hear the evidence.
“This is being incorrectly pitched as a battle between Parkinson’s Australia and farmers – it’s not.
“This is not just about reducing Parkinson’s; it’s also about improving the quality of food for all of us and looking after the land and soil.
“Our recommendations include funding and support for farmers to be able to change their practices to be able to meet targets but safely – for everyone.”
What Parkinson’s Australia’s submission to the inquiry says
Parkinson’s Australia has told the inquiry that a statutory violation has occurred under the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act.
“The APVMA is legally required to affirm chemical registrations only if it’s positively satisfied that use is ‘not likely’ to cause an undue hazard or harm to human health,” Ms Nassaris said.
“The burden of proving safety rests on maintaining the registration.
“However, legal analyses demonstrate that the APVMA inverted this statutory standard by requiring that a causal link between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease be ‘convincingly demonstrated’ to an absolute standard before taking restrictive action.
“By demanding absolute epidemiological certainty, the regulator bypassed its statutory mandate and placed the burden of proof onto exposed communities.”
Parkinson’s Australia’s submission also disputes the APVMA’s declaration regarding neurotoxicity in humans.
“It’s scientifically and logically untenable for a national regulator to cite mammalian neurotoxicity and organ damage in ecotoxicological evaluations while declaring that human mammals exposed to identical chemical molecules face no unacceptable risk,” Ms Nassaris said.
Parliamentary motion calling for a public hearing
Senator David Pocock has given notice that we will move a motion directing the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee to conduct at least one public hearing as part of its inquiry into the continued use and regulation of paraquat.
The motion would direct the Committee to require the APVMA attend the hearing to give evidence and answer questions. And it would direct the Committee to take all reasonable steps to identify, invite and facilitate the participation of people living with Parkinson’s who have been exposed to paraquat, including farmers and agricultural workers.
Media Contact: Olivia Nassaris | CEO Parkinson’s Australia 0478 913 214 | [email protected]
Downloadable pdf | Media Release
ABOUT PARKINSON’S AUSTRALIA
Parkinson’s Australia is the national advocacy body for people living with Parkinson’s, their families and carers, researchers and health professionals. We promote the best possible quality of life for people with Parkinson’s.
We advocate for the Parkinson’s community on issues of national significance. We work to reduce the impact of Parkinson’s by promoting best practice care to ensure that people can maximise their opportunities to live well and maintain their independence.
