SHADOW Federal Agriculture Minister John Cobb says the Gillard government’s gift of $20 million to improve beef production in Indonesia goes against the interests of Australian cattle producers and treats the nation’s farmers with “utter contempt”. The $20 million was announced while senior government ministers visited Jakarta last week for critical trade talks around Indonesia’s moves to import more breeder cattle and less feeder cattle numbers, amid a drive towards greater beef self-sufficiency.
Mr Cobb said with Australia’s northern cattle producers reeling from the social, economic, environmental and animal welfare crisis cause by Labor’s knee-jerk over-reaction in banning live cattle exports to Indonesia last June, the $20m announcement “comes as a kick in the guts while they are on their knees”.
“That $20 million could be going to help our cattle producers; instead this mob is sending big dollars to Jakarta to bolster Indonesia’s domestic beef production to the detriment of our exporters,” he said.
“It’s outrageous.
“What’s wrong with putting Australian farmers and their interests first and foremost?
“The government had no cause to impose the blanket ban on live cattle exports to Indonesia.
“It was a political decision to appease the Greens who are intent on putting many of our industries out of business.
“I don’t begrudge our closest and vitally important trading partner assistance but I am astounded that the Gillard government would undermine our own farmers in doing so.
“Given they shutdown live cattle exports to Indonesia, threatening the $1 billion live export trade, without considering the implications, we can hardly be surprised by this latest rebuff to our farmers.”
NSW Nationals Senators Fiona Nash and John Williams also fired barbs at the government over the $20 million investment, saying it was ironic that Indonesian farmers had received more aid when the country had cut Australian beef imports.
“Northern Territory cattle producers were put on their knees and offered a pittance in the way of compensation when the export industry was temporarily shut down and are continuing to struggle after Indonesia slashed the quotas,” Senator Nash said.
