Indonesian Live exports cannot be replaced by boxed meat
12/01/12
The Hon John Cobb MP
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food Security
Reports today that the boxed meat quota to Indonesia has been cut to 20,000 tonnes confirm what the Coalition has said all along that Indonesia would not accept boxed meat as a substitute to live exports, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, John Cobb said today.
“Last year boxed meat permits were issued from Indonesia for 99,000 tonnes.
“There are common sense and practical reasons why boxed meat would not replace live exports such as that most buyers of our meat are in villages or small communities without access to reliable consistent power and 90% of households do not have refrigeration.
“Last November Labor forced Indonesia to shore up its meat supplies by cutting live export permits from Australia and looking for alternative sources of cattle, and now that cut in permits has been extended to boxed meat.
“This is a slap in the face for the Labor Government and directly as a result of Labor’s abominable treatment of our nearest neighbour in last years live export fiasco.
“The Gillard government is directly responsible for Indonesia cutting our live exports permits from the current 520,000 cattle to just 280,000 next year and now the reduction in our boxed meat quotas,” Mr Cobb said.
“Because the current Australian Government has been so unreliable with trade relations this year, Indonesia may now begin sourcing cattle from our major competitors which could lead to the end of our trade altogether.
“All those, including Labor and Green MPs, who said the boxed meat market could fill this market should not only apologise but they should also use their own resources to find replacement markets for Australian cattle.
“While there are alternatives for our boxed meat market there are few alternatives for Northern pastoralists who rely on live exports as Southern markets are distant and past attempts to establish abattoirs in the North have failed due to the short operational periods, the wet season and the lack of availability of affordable fodder.
“Since the live export ban, the Minister should have been in constant contact with Indonesia making every effort to repair the damage caused to one of our most important trading partners.
“Banning live exports was one of the worst economic decisions ever made by the Government and perhaps only eclipsed by the introduction of the carbon tax.