Hodgson hits at Greens

By AUDREY YOUNG political reporter

Labour's most Green-friendly minister, Pete Hodgson, has compared the Green Party to religious fundamentalists and called their attitude to genetic modification confused and irrational.

Green co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons hit back, saying Mr Hodgson had stooped to "touting hypothetical promises and half-truths", especially in claiming the Greens opposed the use of GM for vaccines.

Greater tension has been evident between the parties since the Greens said they would vote against any Government that lifts the moratorium on commercial release of GM organisms, due to expire in October next year.

The Greens want GM organisms contained in a laboratory.

Mr Hodgson, the Minister of Science and Technology, told scientists at Canterbury University yesterday that there were frequent comparisons between "green and religious fundamentalism" in their hostility to science and new technology.

"Genetic modification and stem-cell research are the current targets."

He said the Royal Commission of Genetic Modification produced "an outstandingly lucid, comprehensive and cogent report" with its recommendation to proceed with caution. And a fair amount of polling suggested the public was comfortable with a middle course.

It concerned the veterinarian by training that a political party was determined to sow confusion about genetic modification and promote mistrust of science.

"The Greens sow confusion because they are themselves confused."

Mr Hodgson wondered if the Greens would oppose a GM virus that made possums sterile and eradicated the need for aerial poison drops. And he wondered if they would oppose the prospect of a live GM vaccine against HIV.

Ms Fitzsimons said Mr Hodgson was scaremongering: "Our bottom line is the extension of the moratorium. The moratorium has an exemption for vaccines, as the minister well knows because he wrote it."

A Greens-designed moratorium would probably provide for case-by-case exemptions for human vaccines.

Recent polls showed two-thirds of the public wanted GM kept in the lab.

"It's not science we mistrust, but the misuse of science by corporates in league with big government pursuing big profits," Ms Fitzsimons said.

Labour was reacting to the Greens polling at 9 per cent, she said.

The Council of Trade Unions has organised a debate between Mr Hodgson and Ms Fitzsimons on July 3.

Meanwhile, Alliance leader Laila Harre yesterday accused Tertiary Education Minister Steve Maharey of slinging "lies and insults" about Alliance policy.

Mr Maharey said taxes would have to be raised and superannuation funds sacrificed to pay for the Alliance's policy of writing off student-loan debt.

Ms Harre said a write-off mechanism would be developed in the next three years and it could be phased in at $1000 a year.

"It would be good if he could respond with some real action for students and young people instead of slinging lies and insults at the Alliance."

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