This has got to be one sick joke.
The same woman that introduced the banning of live cattle export that sent many farmers to the wall, ruined long run family businesses and as a result of a knee jerk reaction by the same person due to a cruelty of cows documentary?!?!?!? Let's get this straight.....She rates cows higher than humans!!
Can someone please tell the widows of farmers who have already suicided because of her past policies why this is so?
JUNE 8 2011
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LICENSE ARTICLE
Ban on live cattle trade to Indonesia
- Richard Willingham and Tom Allard
THE Gillard government has caved in to public and internal party pressure and suspended all live cattle exports to Indonesia, in a move that could cost the industry up to $320 million.
Federal Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig, who ordered the ban last night, said trade to Indonesia would resume when appropriate animal welfare safeguards were in place. The ban will be in place for up to six months, he said.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard, speaking on the issue for the first time, said people had been rightly shocked at the video footage of cruelty to animals.
''In light of the evidence presented to us, we have resolved to put a total suspension in place,'' Ms Gillard said. ''This suspension will remain until we can make sure cattle from Australia are treated properly at every step of the supply chain.
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''We will be working closely with Indonesia, and with the industry, to make sure we can bring about major change to the way cattle are handled in these slaughter houses.''
Ms Gillard was meeting cattle industry officials in Darwin last night to explain the ban.
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The decision is a big win for Animals Australia and the RSPCA, which had been pushing for a total ban, as well as Labor backbenchers who joined the push after the massive response from the public to a
Four Corners report showing horrific footage of Australian cattle being mistreated.
The report also showed how slaughter boxes funded by the Australian industry were contributing to the inhumane treatment of cattle.
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All live cattle exports to Indonesia have been suspended. Photo: Michelle Mossop
Senator Ludwig, who has been criticised for being slow to react, said the safeguards would ensure the long-term sustainability of the industry.
''I know this decision will impact on the industry, but a sustainable live cattle export industry must be built on the ability to safeguard the welfare of the animals,'' he said.
His initial response, which took two days to implement, was to ban the export of cattle to 12 known rogue abattoirs. Cabinet agreed to the complete ban on Monday.
The suspension will avert a potentially angry debate in caucus, after Labor MPs reacted strongly to the footage last week. Backbenchers Janelle Saffin and Kelvin Thomson sponsored a motion calling for an immediate cessation of live exports to Indonesia until all abattoirs were bought up to standard. Melissa Parke publicly spruiked a full ban.
Every year more than 500,000 Australian cattle are exported to Indonesia. The Indonesian trade made up 60 per cent of live cattle exports last year, and generated $319 million.
The suspension is likely to anger Indonesia, which relies on Australian beef for 25 per cent of its supply and may suffer sharp rises in prices ahead of Ramadan next month.
''The Indonesians won't like it,'' said Bruce Warren, who operates a state-of-the-art feedlot and abattoir in Java. ''If the trade stops, it will be hard to start again … The Indonesian government is already talking about this in terms of an opportunity for self-sufficiency,'' he said.
But even as the ban is being introduced, about 100,000 Australian cattle are already in Indonesia being fattened before slaughter. Yesterday a boat bound for Indonesia was prevented from loading cattle at Port Hedland, sparking a flurry of rumours that a suspension was imminent.
A recent audit by the government and Meat & Livestock Australia inspectors found more than three quarters of the abattoirs in Indonesia that process Australian cattle did not adhere to world standards for animal welfare and only a handful were modern ''world class'' facilities.
''The concern is that there will be a period where these cattle will be showing up at abattoirs that are outside our control,'' Mr Warren said.
Some in the industry have called for a $40 million fund, that was set up in 1998 and is administered by the Red Meat Advisory Council, be used as a compensation source for cattle growers who will lose money.
Norman Hunt, a solicitor and rural affairs advocate, said it made sense to offer compensation, especially given the $6.2 billion bail-out given to the car industry during the global financial crisis.
''Clearly from the outrage, our nation thinks it should stop and perhaps there should be some alleviation to the people who will be hurt as consequence,'' Mr Hunt said.
