GTECCC provides advice to the Gene Technology Regulator and the Gene Technology Ministers’ Meeting.
The Gene Technology Act 2000 establishes GTECCC. The Regulator and the Ministers’ Meeting can request advice from the committee on:
- ethical issues relating to gene technology
- principles, guidelines and codes of practice for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and genetically modified (GM) products
- community consultation on the process for applications for licences covering dealings that involve the intentional release of a GMO into the environment (DIRs)
- risk communication matters for DIRs
- matters of general concern about GMOs
- matters identified by the Regulator.
The Gene Technology Regulations 2001 detail how the committee should make decisions, its reporting requirements and procedures for convening meetings.
Members of GTECCC
The committee has eight members and two expert advisers appointed by the Minister. Members must have skills or experience in relevant fields such as community consultation, risk communication, ethics, law and environmental issues.
The committee must include:
- a member of the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee (GTTAC)
- a member of the Australian Health Ethics Committee (AHEC).
The regulations impose strict disclosure of interest provisions on members.
Current members (2023-2026)
- Associate Prof Judith Jones, Chair
- Prof Rachel Ankeny
- Ms Paula Fitzgerald
- Dr Jaden Jenifer Hastings, expert adviser
- Prof Ainsley Newson, expert advisor
- Dr Rachel Nowak
- Dr Gabrielle O'Sullivan
- Dr Kelly Pearce
- Dr Robert Sward AM
- Dr Lynn Woodward
Documents
Member biographies
Draft Guidance for Communicating on Gene Technology
The public comment period on GTECCC’s draft Guidance for Communicating on Gene Technology has closed.
Advice to the Regulator on new technologies
This paper is written as advice from GTECCC about key social and ethical issues and questions raised by new gene technologies.
Environmental ethics as it relates to gene technology in Australia
This paper discusses what people think about the potential harm (or benefits) of gene technology for the environment and what are duties are toward the environment.
National Framework of Ethical Principles in Gene Technology 2012
The National Framework of Ethical Principles in Gene Technology 2012 is a set of principles which Australian scientists and researchers are expected to abide by when dealing with gene technology and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Communiques
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Archived communiques
You can view GTECCC communiques published before 2021 in the web archive.
You can also view communiques published by GTECCC's predecessors, the Gene Technology Community Consultative Committee (GTCCC) and the Gene Technology Ethics Committee (GTEC).