GM banned in WA

Western Australian premier Geoff Gallop has announced that genetically modified food crops will not be grown in the state.

Premier Geoff Gallop said in a statement that the order was reflective of "overwhelming" public opinion in WA. But he said it did not mean WA was turning its back on scientific research.

The state's legislation, passed in November, allows for possible exemptions to be granted in the future. A current national agreement allows the Commonwealth to regulate on health and environmental grounds, and a state to ban GM for marketing purposes.

Julie Newman, a spokesperson for the Network of Concerned Farmers lobby group, said the farm industry was not prepared for commercial release of GM crops. "Advances in non-GM biotechnology have the potential for huge potential with no market risk," she said in a statement. "We hope other states follow the lead of Western Australia."