Belinda Smith
speaker
2,583 appearances
26 recordings
4 series
first heard Apr 2026
last heard 6d ago
Belinda Smith’s voice in public audio — every appearance, attributed to the second.
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recordings per month · last 12 monthsRecordings per month over the last 12 months — 26 in all, peaking in Jul 2026 with 6.
Appearances
You can't spray it from a backpack anymore.
We're going to reduce the amount that you can apply per hectare.
But unlike other countries, including the UK and China, who have banned herbicides like Paraquat due to the potential health risks and the association, the potentially higher risk of Parkinson's disease that can come with exposure.
Unlike other countries, we have said we're going to continue using it, but make a couple of tweaks.
Hmm.
And there are some very concerned neurologists, and Parkinson's Australia have also said they were not consulted during the process.
And I spoke with Associate Professor Wes Thevertharsen, who is a Parkinson's disease specialist, to find out more.
So the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has said, and this is their quote, the weight of evidence does not show that Paraquat exposure through approved uses increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
Do you disagree with that?
So you've just said there who's at risk when it comes to exposure to Paraquat.
Is it just the farmers who are potentially spraying it or is it people who are consuming foods that have been grown in these crops with Paraquat sprayed on it at some point?
Who exactly is at potential risk?
And is that because the farmers have it exposed onto their clothing, they then expose other people, or is it through the tiny droplets travelling through the air?
How is it that other people are potentially at risk?
Wes, you said before we may never have that clear link of causation because we may never be able to perform a study like this in humans because of the risks.
People often talk about the precautionary principle, which is you limit exposure to avoid serious harm, even if you don't have all the evidence yet.
Paraquat's been banned in the European Union, the United Kingdom and China due to its toxicity.
Are we really behind the eight ball here, do you think?
Were any neurologists like yourself, so subspecialists in the area, were any of you consulted by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority when they were doing the review?
No.
Showing 1501–1520 of 2,583 · page 76 of 130
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