Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens’ Health spokesperson
Last night’s ABC’s Four Corners exposed the secrecy and cover ups used by herbicide manufacturer Monsanto-Beyer surrounding the safety evidence for their weed killer glyphosate. This adds weight to Cancer Council Australia’s call for an independent federal review given their claim “there is absolutely a reason for concern” about a probable cancer link.
The Local Government Association of Tasmania today stated they received advice from the Department of Health’s State Toxicologist that it is safe for council staff to use glyphosate under specified conditions across the state.
In light of community and media questioning, and to safeguard the health of the community, the government should provide the State Toxicologist’s advice to councils. This advice should be available to anyone with an interest within the community.
Roundup is a useful chemical that’s widely used in agriculture and natural resource management. Whether people are it as a herbicide in home gardens, on farms, on council land or in a natural environment, Tasmanians need confidence it is safe for them and their employees to use without serious health impacts.
The Australian Greens will continue to seek an independent federal review of the evidence and internal company materials supporting Monsanto-Beyer’s position that this herbicide is not a carcinogen. In Tasmania, the state government should be clear about their advice.
Given the widespread use of this product, it’s important that absolute openness and independence governs all information about its safe use.