Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

[by video link] I raised it in my second reading speech as well, Minister. Expert groups such as the National Toxics Network, which is basically made up of scientists, believe Australia has a very lax system of control of agricultural chemicals and we're out of lock step with other countries such as the EU, the US and Canada.

For example, there's new information coming to light—I always leave these things to the scientific process, Minister. I don't criticise scientists. I think it's their job, through a scientific process, to be constantly critiquing each other's—hopefully—independent research. You may be aware that last Friday, only a couple of days ago, there was a new report out of the EU. It highlights that only two out of 11 herbicide studies given to EU regulators are now deemed reliable. So nine out of 11 studies that were used for the regulation of these chemicals, on further review under the scientific process, have been shown to be unreliable in terms of looking at the impacts on human health. I can send the chamber a copy of that report. If I were there, I would seek to table it. My point is that the scientific process is ongoing, and it is a factual point—a point of significant controversy both in Australia and elsewhere—that industry contributes to and pays for research studies into its own products.

My question is on the theme I just raised. I meant very seriously what I said in my second reading speech about farmers being the most at-risk cohort in human health from the use of pesticides and herbicides. Of course, pesticides and herbicides can have broader environmental impacts when they get into rivers and streams, and they potentially impact soil health—something I was very familiar with as a grapegrower myself. Have there been any studies done looking at farmers as a cohort and cancer rates in farming communities versus other controls in other parts of our community? Have there been any health impact studies on farmers, who use these chemicals more than anyone else?