Live Cattle Exports to Indonesia
10 August: Minister Joe Ludwig announced new assistance measures for Northern Australian pastoralists and service industries affected by the temporary suspension of live cattle to Indonesia. $70 million of assistance will be provided. Individuals and businesses will be able to access working capital via a subsidised interest rate on loans of up to $300,000, as well as grants of up $5,500 for financial advice under the new measures.
10 August: The first shipment of cattle exported since the suspension was announced.
10 August: Animals Australia condemns the statement by Senator Chris Back that abattoir workers in Indonesia had been paid to abuse animals.
9 August: Minister Joe Ludwig has been advised that Animals Australia is in possession of more footage showing slaughter practices in Turkey.
3 August: The ban on live cattle trading to Indonesia has been lifted with a progressive re-opening of the trade expected. Individual companies can apply for an export license. Before the export license will be granted, each animal will need to be traced through the supply chain to slaughter and abattoirs receiving these animals will need to be independently audited. Meeting these conditions will fall to the exporter. Industry sources believe supply could re-start in early to mid-August with a handful of abattoirs processing about 200 cattle per day, including the large Elders and Santori facilities. They say trade could reach a third of its previous ratio for the remainder of the year when other processing facilities come on line at the required standards; processing about 540 head a day, or 16,000 head per month, to service a market previously taking 520,000 head per year, before the snap ban disrupted trade.
On 30 May 2011, the 4 Corners program ran a story about the live cattle export to Indonesia and the welfare of cattle at some processing facilities. The footage showed horrendous pictures of cattle being mistreated in a number of processing facilities in Indonesia.
The Association was extremely concerned by these pictures and immediately moved to condemn the practices - see press release.
The direct impact of the suspension were later highlighted (see press release) along with the potential impact on other commodities - see press release.
The Association has put together a brief on the matter and has circulated this to its members - see brief - and has made a submission to the Senate Inquiry into improvements in animal welfare for Australian live export markets - see submission.
Live Cattle exports represent a significant economic market for the Australian Cattle Industry and Indonesia is Australias largest market. However the practices shown in the 4 Corners story should not be supported. The Australian cattle industry has some of the highest welfare standards in the world for the growing and processing of beef cattle and while it is difficult when operating in other countries there is an obligation on the industry to ensure that acceptable standards are followed. To this industry is working with export destinations to ensure the welfare of Australian cattle. Some useful information is provided below.
Useful Information
The progress of cattle consignments to Indonesia
Click here...
Latest Live Export Update
Click here for the update...
NSW Farmers' submission to the Senate Inquiry on live exports
Click here for the submission...
ABARES survey that looks into the effects of the suspension of the trade in slaughter cattle to Indonesia
Click here for the link...
Industry Animal Welfare plan in Indonesia
Click here for the plan...
Industry solution
www.mla.com.au/About-the-red-meat-industry/About-MLA/Media/Media-releases/Australian-cattle-industry-provides-animal-welfare-solution#hp=feature&article=Learn - more on the solution
Meat and Livestock Australia website
www.mla.com.au/Home
CIE report on Live Exports Delivered to ABARES Conference 2011
www.youtube.com/user/Abaresoutlook2011#p/u/5/oG4gZGIO8UM
Interesting Media Reports
www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/abattoirs-on-joe-ludwigs-blacklist-do-not-take-any-australian-cattle/story-fn59niix-1226069002785?from=public_rss
