Governing genes for climate change: analysing values and ideologies in Australia’s gene technology regulation

This thesis analyses some of the multidimensional aspects of Australia’s gene technology regulation associated with the intended novel use of this technology. It demonstrates that deliberations about the commercial gene technology licenses have been deeply shaped by competing social and scientific paradigms associated with gene technology in Australia. The contentions between the social and scientific paradigms were in turn influenced by the personal interpretations, values, ideologies, and disciplinary knowledge held by the actors who were (directly or indirectly) involved in the regulation. By analysing the scholarly literature related to this multidisciplinary topic, I was able to demonstrate that the Australian gene technology framework favoured scientific concerns in comparison to broader social concerns as it fails to incorporate or adequately address the opinions of the GTECCC members and the Australian public (both lay and informed). The contentions amongst the social and scientific paradigms were further identified and analysed at the level of expert committee stakeholders by interviewing two members from the GTECCC and the GTTAC, respectively. The resulting discussions reflected the deep chasm that lay between the working of these two integral committees by elucidating the personal opinions and values of these two members