Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House the following: 

1. The British company proposing the project, Oxitec, has a track record of failure with similar projects in Brazil in 2019, despite significant funding from the Gates Foundation.

2. In Queensland, no deaths from dengue fever have been reported in the last decade. As of 9 December 2024, Queensland Health confirms eight cases of dengue in Torres Strait region.

3. Since 2011, the World Mosquito Program (also partially funded by the Gates Foundation) already has projects in far north Queensland using Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes for dengue mitigation.

4. The long-term consequences for the failure of this experiment cannot be predicted. The outcome of failure could be catastrophic and irreversible. Cane toads released in 1935 still wreak havoc in Queensland and now NSW, after 90 years of attempted eradication.

5. Australia has an enviable track record of strict bio-tech borders because of a no compromise policy. This situation must be maintained at all costs.

6. The deliberate introduction of a genetically modified species has an unknown outcome and could have dire environmental and health outcomes.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to explain to the people of Queensland:

1.            The benefits and risks of introducing genetically modified mosquitoes.

2.            Why another mosquito eradication project is needed in this state.

3.            Why not ban the introduction of GM mosquitoes in the state of Queensland.