Clark looks for way past GE deadlock

By VERNON SMALL

Helen Clark is willing to negotiate with the Greens over their hardline stance on genetic engineering but doubts there is a solution to the impasse.

While the Prime Minister has strongly attacked the Greens' ultimatum, she is also looking for avenues of compromise over their demand that the ban on the commercial release of GE organisms stay in place.

The Greens have threatened to bring down any government which lifts the two-year moratorium, due to expire in October next year.

Helen Clark has floated the possibility the current regime could be extended if work was not complete on establishing a new regime.

But she is concerned that would only delay a showdown with the Greens.

"We are not taking a position of 'anything goes'. The path we have mapped out is precautionary absolutely, which is why we have taken the two years to get more work done. What we can do is look at the state of the further work and where it is likely to be in October next year.

"But from the Greens' point of view that may be delaying the inevitable. That's a moot point."

She said the Greens were indulging in "Russian roulette" and their position would lead to "perpetual elections".

Labour strategists were yesterday pouring cold water on a possible compromise. They said it might not be in Labour's interests to accommodate the Greens because it would be seen as "a fringe party" pushing it around.

The stand-off is increasing the likelihood of an early election.

But Greens co-leader Rod Donald seems in no mood to compromise.

"We think it is quite a moderate request. It is not Russian roulette. It's good old union-style bargaining. We are on strike if we don't get our minimum demands. We thought that was language they understood."

He said there was no real room for negotiation.

"How can you negotiate on commercial release of GE organisms. Delay it for three years? That's fine. We're on for coalition."

He also questioned why it was only the Greens who were not allowed to have bottom-lines.

"I am sure there are some things Helen Clark would not compromise on. Like scrapping Michael Cullen's super fund, bringing back troops from Afghanistan or pursuing a free trade deal with the US."

He expected Labour would "see sense" rather than provoke another election.

"On this issue we have the majority [of the people] behind us."

Helen Clark also signalled she was unlikely to complain to the Advertising Standards Authority over the Greens' newspaper advertising on GE.

The advertisements, headed "Guess who's coming for dinner?" said the Government "has made the decision to let GE out of the lab and into our environment and our food chain. From October next year".

Helen Clark said that was untrue.

The Government had put in place a restraint period while work was done on the social and environmental impacts of GM, a bioethics council was set up and the regulatory framework covering the Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma) could be strengthened.

If nothing changed as a result of that work, applications for commercial release would be received and examined by Erma from October next year.

"That's quite a different matter from bald statements that say the Government has made the decision to do those things."

The Greens had agreed with the make-up of the Royal Commission into Genetic Modification and had made submissions.

"When the royal commission didn't agree with them they spat the dummy."

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