Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) | Hansard source

Well, why aren't you talking about it, love? This is increasing rather than limiting or stopping the use of a harmful forever pesticide in our food. The government has a duty of care and should eliminate sources of these harmful chemicals wherever possible, such as through banning the use of existing and new pesticides which contain harmful PFAS chemicals. Instead, this country was the first to approve this pesticide by Syngenta in 2021. It is banned in Europe, where broad bans on PFAS chemicals are being progressed. For comparison, the EU has banned 225 pesticides. Guess how many we've banned? Twenty-four.

Pesticide use in general is going up. Pesticides have been linked to higher rates of motor neurone disease and Parkinson's, as well as biodiversity loss and reef destruction. One to three native insects die out every week. None of this is taken into account when economic benefits and costs are calculated. In fact, APVMA is measuring success not in how much it keeps consumers and the environment safe but in how many chemicals it can get into the market as quickly as possible.

The PFAS inquiry showed wide problems with APVMA relying on company provided toxicity data rather than independent assessments. We know that companies, of course, are going to claim that their products are safe. It wouldn't be in their interest to do it any other way. I also need to point out that APVMA is the only chemical regulator in the world to be majority industry funded. It is no wonder, then, whom this so-called regulator serves. Independent reviews of APVMA found very high influence of and engagement with industry over everyone else, yet the government has not acted on a single concern raised in several reviews. Please know that this government is completely fine with your children and your grandchildren being poisoned with berries. Albo, it's not berry nice.