To date, the debate on agrobiotechnological change in Australia has focused largely on the commercial aspects, and more recently the regulatory aspects, of the technology. Policy-makers have relied heavily on overseas trends, as well as proponent scientists and industry, to formulate R&D policy, and privatisation to implement policy. As a result, many social, political and environmental issues have been neglected. To correct this imbalance, and to contribute to a public policy that is sufficiently well-informed to formulate and generate policies in the Australian context, this paper focuses on three issues that have received inadequate attention: ownership and concentration in the agrobiotechnology sector, government and industry collaboration, and ecological impacts and sustainability.