Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has praised the ‘little warriors from the Northern Territory’ for leading today’s announced class action against the Commonwealth - challenging the Gillard Government’s disastrous decision to ban live cattle exports to Indonesia in 2011.

“If I was a betting man, I’d bet these little warriors are going to win,” Mr Katter said of Dougal and Emily Brett of Waterloo Station in the Northern Territory who are the lead applicants for the class action filed in the Federal Court yesterday.

“The decision to take this matter up legally is one of the most important landmarks in Australian agricultural history,” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter’s electorate of Kennedy is one of the biggest beef producing areas in Australia and heavily reliant on the live cattle market to Indonesia.

“Almost 80 per cent of our cattle were dependent on live cattle. After the ban those cattle destined for Indonesia came back onto the Australian market and drove the cattle prices in Australia through the floor.

“The then Government took action which cost this industry $3,000 million dollars. This was a highly irresponsible action by Government,” he said.

Mr Katter believes further evidence will come to light as part of the court action.

“It is alleged there were discussions held in Parliament House at the highest level with some meat works operators, in the knowledge that Four Corners was going to release footage, and this would provide the trigger.

“Here is the then Government beholden and on a puppet string to the Greens and we were the fall guys – we took all of the pain in the Northern third of Australia."

Mr Katter has outlined the flow on effect of the ban in rural communities.

“For every cattlemen there are livestock hauliers, mustering contractors, fencing contractors and people at the local store in the town that has no customers.

“The knock on effect here is dramatic,” Mr Katter said.

Since the live export ban Mr Katter and northern cattlemen have continued to push to restore the market and restore relations with Indonesia, including numerous meetings with the Indonesian Ambassador, conversations with then Prime Minister Rudd prior to his meetings in Indonesia with the President and hosting the Indonesian Ambassador in the Gulf of Carpentaria to see first-hand live cattle export facilities and cattle stations.

PHOTO:  Ambassador Nadjib Riphat Kesoema, Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia and Bob Katter MP in the Gulf of Carpentaria
Photo by Nola Gallagher