Media Release

KAP Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has applauded Emily Brett of the Brett Cattle Company at Waterloo Station in the Northern Territory after the class action they led against the Commonwealth - challenging the Gillard Government’s disastrous decision to ban live cattle exports to Indonesia in 2011 – was today ruled as “invalid” by the Federal Court.

“Today is a great day for Australia, law, justice and the rights of the common man,” Mr Katter said.

“Emily Brett, as a mother of three kids said she was going to get up and fight. She was one person and she has changed the laws and the way we act in Australia. She has given great hope to the taxi owners, the dairy producers and the hundreds of people who the government kicks to death and thinks they can get away with because the Government is above the law.”

The Court found that the Ban Order was “Capricious and Unreasonable” and that the Gillard Government made “no attempt to come to a reasonable solution with the Indonesian Government.”

A move which ultimately led to Gillard's downfall as Prime Minister with the guillotine controlled by Mr Katter, after which he facilitated meetings and a cattle tour with the Indonesian Ambassador and negotiated its revival under a Rudd-led Government.

“I took a stand and got rid of Julia Gillard and had to back the ALP to do it which cost me greatly," he said. 

"It just had to be done and within one week of installing Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister the market was reopened and the price of cattle had doubled in two months.”

Mr Katter said his move to protect the cattle industry and roll the Prime Minister ultimately led to his own near-demise at the next election when he almost lost his seat having been tarnished by the image of being associated with Labor.

“I call on all Members of Parliament to be inspired by this and to stand up for what you believe in," he said. 

"Don't become a filthy irrelevancy held up as a puppet on a string for your political party. I plead with my fellow members of parliament; don’t sacrifice your beliefs for your seat in Parliament. It was important that I was sacrificing my political life for a good cause and you can do the same for the dairy crisis.”

Brett Cattle Co and the others involved in the Class Action will now be entitled to substantial damages and payment of the costs mounted during the nearly decade long battle against the Commonwealth.

Mr Katter warned current and future state and federal leaders to pay attention to the power of the little guys and let the case serve as a crucial warning.

“This has given great hope to the dairy producers and the taxi owners. The Government thinks it is above the law. Well Magna Carta says you are not above the law, the Declaration of Independence says you’re not above the law. So Madam Palaszczuk, be warned; you’re next with the Federal Court on the taxi case.”

—ENDS—