Media Release

KAP Federal Leader and Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has today spoken to the Prime Minister about priorities for restoring Northern Australia’s live cattle export trade, following a tour of the stricken North West Qld cattle region with Indonesian Ambassador Nadjib Riphat Kesoema.

“On behalf of the cattlemen, we put forward our case and the PM was receptive to our arguments,” said Mr Katter from the Gulf of Carpentaria, where he yesterday joined leaders of the North West Qld summit’s Cattlemen’s Crisis Committee and State MP Rob Katter to show the Ambassador the region’s potential.

“We don’t want to raise expectations, but there is no doubt in my mind that he will do what he can. And the Cattlemen’s Crisis Committee received similar assurances recently in Canberra from the Opposition, who have committed to visiting Indonesia within two weeks if they’re in the saddle.”

Mr Katter said while some ground had been made to restoring the beef supply to levels seen prior to the Federal Government’s live export ban in 2011 – such as unlimited processed meat quotas and bringing forward the second half-year live cattle quota to 260,000 head, double that of last year – there had been no word at this stage on the granting of an additional second half-year live cattle quota.

“We believe that the industry should go up to 1 million head a year, which can be achieved in a short period of time,” said Mr Katter.

“That would be worth $1000m to the Australian economy and $4000m to Indonesia.”

Meanwhile, the Ambassador also toured the live export facilities at the Port of Karumba, which Mr Katter said “badly needs to be developed as a major port to save the horrific expense of two days of road transport via Darwin or a day on the road and two days on a ship out of Townsville”.

Mr Katter also discussed with the Prime Minister this morning the need for a rural reconstruction board to be a revolving fund and provide more benefits.

Legislation to establish within the Reserve Bank the Australian Reconstruction and Development Board - to ensure the sustainability of Australian agriculture by taking over eligible bad debt from commercial banks at discounted value, and offering farmers refinancing at interest rates lower than commercial lenders – was put to Parliament by Mr Katter following one of the resolutions of last year’s rural debt summit.

PHOTO: Bob talks to Indonesian Ambassador Nadjib Riphat Kesoema about the North West's cattle industry.