BIPARTISAN HEMP PUSH

THE State Opposition has decided to support a Government bid to fast-track
laws allowing an industrial hemp industry to be set up in WA.

The long-awaited laws, which will let farmers cultivate commercial crops of
industrial hemp containing less than 0.35 per cent of tetrahydrocannabinol,
were introduced to the Legislative Assembly last week.

The legislation moved quickly through the Assembly yesterday after the
Liberal party room resolved on Tuesday to clear the way for the laws to
pass through the Lower House before it rises for the year.

Shadow agriculture minister Paul Omodei said the Liberal Party would
support any moves by the Government to bring the legislation forward for
debate without the requirement that it sit on the table in the Legislative
Council for a week.

Agriculture Minister Kim Chance welcomed the Liberals' position, saying
there was a very good chance the laws would pass through Parliament by the
end of the sitting year.