Australian Left Review

Article Title

Politics of 245T

Authors

Chris Sanderson

Abstract

Is the chemical herbicide 2,4;5-T responsible for birth defects and alterations of behaviour? Australian health authorities say that there are no grounds for preventing its use. Gut in other countries, including parts of the US, it has been banned on the basis of scientific reports. The 2,4,5-T issue raises questions about how scientific information should be assessed, and about Hie relation o f scientific research to political decision-making. Is there really a case against 2,4,5-T and, i f so, then why have our health officials been so reluctant to acknowledge and act on it?