Commenting on the story: GM-free snub a “kick in the guts” for wine industry

The recent Liberal Party debate around the GM Moratorium in South Australia has been nothing less than shameful.  It has shown that the SA Liberals do not respect that we are a democratic society.

Because this issue impacts all the producers in this State, this should have been an election issue.

Both Ministers responsible for this portfolio have acted in the most undemocratic manner and gone against the wishes of the greater majority of people (11 Council areas) affected by the decision.  How has the Premier allowed this? – Colleen Roberts

When examining canola pricing in the context of comparing non-GM and GM, it is important to use a methodology that compares ‘apples with apples’ (Your views, Wednesday November 4) .

Non-GM and GM canola are traded as two different commodities, so it is misleading to compare their pricing on a like-for-like basis. Comparing the discount between non-GM and GM in another state is not analogous to South Australian non-GM canola pricing.

The most logical pricing point to analyse, is comparison of the price of non-GM canola in Adelaide’s ports, with non-GM canola in other states who grow both non-GM and GM canola. Victoria, NSW and Western Australia are good examples.

Using a recent example, it can be seen that non-GM canola out of South Australia (Outer Harbour $585t) traded at a lower price than non-GM canola out of NSW (Port Kembla $590t), Victoria (Portland/Melbourne $589-$590t) or Western Australia (Kwinana $619t), clearly indicating that South Australian growers are not receiving a premium for their non-GM product.

The lack of any trade and marketing benefit from the GM moratorium was clearly demonstrated in the 2018 expert market analysis by Mecardo, and the Independent Review undertaken in 2019 by Professor Anderson.

The Australian Seed Federation welcomed the lifting of the GM moratorium on mainland South Australia and looks forward to farmers choosing the farming system that works best for them and their land. – Osman Mewett, CEO, Australian Seed Federation

Commenting on the story: QR codes if at no extra cost: pubs

I think it doesn’t matter what sort of plan the government comes up with. It’s pubs and clubs, the customers will come up with ways to beat the system. – Geoff Stewart

While the use of technology like this is to be commended it needs to be remembered that many people do not have smart phones so provision needs to me made for recording their details. – Robert Fletcher

What has happened to the CovidSafe app? The government needs to come clean on its apparent failure. I am happy with QR codes but wasn’t tracking what the app was supposed to do. Disappointed in the lack of transparency. – Santi Reeves 

Commenting on the story: After years of delay, city council rushes to confirm east-west bikeway

With the proposed new bicycle network connecting and providing safe passage across the city for seven schools you’d have to be pretty mean-hearted to oppose it. – William Matthews