Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Hansard source

Very briefly, I'd just like to put the government's position on the record, which is of course to oppose the disallowance motion. In saying that, Australia has a very robust gene technology regulatory system to ensure the safety of the Australian population and, of course, our environment.

The changes do not compromise these highest of priorities. Compared to other countries, Australia takes a very cautious, rigorous and science-based approach to regulating gene technologies. These amendments to the Gene Technology Regulations were approved by the states and territories at the ministerial forum earlier this year to ensure that Australia continues to keep up with rapidly evolving technology. Without these amendments, legal uncertainty will remain. These updates strengthen regulations for the vast majority of gene-editing techniques which must undergo stringent safety assessments.

The updates will provide great benefits in the area of medical research. Medical researchers will be able to move more quickly through the concept work, and progress to clinical trials with patients. These changes will support life-saving medical research to create the medical treatments of the future. The Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes today publicly supported the government's amendments.

The updates were made following extensive consultation and are supported by the leading Australian research institutions. Agricultural industry groups and the medical research sector strongly supported the amendments regarding SD1.