The works at Killarney would not handle cattle from the top end.I'm not sure if people understand the distances involved here. The point is that the cattle processed here using our highly priced workers must be sold on an overseas market that is often depressed.The margins are very tight and it's the farmer who takes the hit when excess cattle are forced onto the market here. Live export from the top end has provided a consistent floor to the market. It's easy to take a simplistic view of things but life is usually far more complicated than that. The other important factor to consider is the carbon tax.Long distance road transport of cattle will be very expensive once fuel is taxed.Local abbatoirs are very large energy users.A carbon tax will have a significant impact on processing costs.
