Senate reopens paraquat debate three months after regulators settled it
The Senate voted to review the APVMA's decision to keep paraquat herbicide approved after grain farmers thought the issue was settled.
Australia's grain farmers are angry at a Senate committee decision to reopen debate over paraquat, a key weed-control tool. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority spent 30 years reviewing the herbicide and decided to allow continued use, but with tighter restrictions.
Health advocates raised concerns about paraquat exposure and Parkinson's disease. On Wednesday, the Senate voted to refer the decision to a parliamentary committee after independent senator David Pocock's motion.
Farmers say the move undermines confidence in Australia's independent chemical regulator. WA Farmers grain council president Mark Fowler called it "utterly arrogant" and warned it risks a political solution instead of a science-based one.
He said growers felt "betrayed" that the Coalition and One Nation supported the referral while Labor opposed it. Grain Producers Australia said it respected the APVMA as an independent, science-based authority.
- 30 years
- APVMA review duration
- 3 months
- Time between decision and referral
- David Pocock (independent)
- Initiating senator
- Mark Fowler
- WA Farmers council president
Why it mattersReopening settled regulatory decisions creates uncertainty for farmers who rely on approved chemicals and risks decisions being made on politics rather than science.
AustraliaAustralian grain growers could face years of uncertainty over a major herbicide, affecting their ability to manage weeds and potentially increasing costs if forced to use alternatives.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 d ago
