GE profit-makers should bear the cost of cleanup

GE companies should have to pay for any cleanup when GE goes wrong, Green Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said today.

"Environment Minister Marian Hobbs said on Morning Report today it would be unfair to burden GE companies with "what ifs", like paying to clean up GE accidents, because they already face large costs in getting their GE projects up and running.

"This is ludicrous. There should be no special arrangements for GE companies," Ms Fitzsimons said.

"If a mining company sets up a tailings dam to hold toxic mining waste, we expect the company to put up a bond in case there is an accident. If the dam breaks, we expect the mining company to pay for the clean up.

"We don't say, it costs a lot to set up a mine, so we won't make them responsible when things go wrong as long as they haven't broken the law.

"The biotech companies that stand to make the profits from GE should carry the full risk," Ms Fitzsimons said.

ENDS

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