Providing “Thoughtful Feedback”: Public Participation in the Regulation of Australia’s First GM Food Crop

The introduction of genetically modified (GM) food crops has generated considerable debate in many countries over the role of public participation in science and technology decision-making. In 2002 and 2003 the newly established Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) considered the first application for the commercial release of a GM food crop in Australia. Despite rhetorical statements from government in support of public participation, and the provision of various avenues for public views or knowledge to enter the decision-making process, public input proved to be minimal. This paper offers two explanations for this: one, the inherent limitations of public participation in a risk assessment setting, and two, the inordinate level of discretion extended to the OGTR by the legislative framework that guides it.