‘We’re actually mammals’: Parkinson’s Australia challenges herbicide safety as David Pocock leads growing calls for ban

Key points

• Independent Senator David Pocock is pushing for public hearings into the decision to keep the herbicide paraquat on the market. He questioned the regulator's choice, noting the chemical is banned in more than 70 countries.
• Research links paraquat exposure to an increased risk of Parkinson's disease. Pocock said a Senate motion on public hearings would be put to a vote on Thursday.
• Parkinson's Australia chief executive Olivia Nassaris said the organisation had raised concerns about the regulator's assessment with the inquiry, and called for funding to help farmers switch to other weed-control methods.