Media Release

KAP Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has again urged Australians to remain intensely aware of the confronting realities for our cattle and sheep farmers of any live export ban.

"We shouldn’t submit to the emotional blackmail expected in the media at the expense of these valuable domestic industries and our global food obligations.

"The Australian people must know the downside of our live export ban.

"Our farmers have been destroyed and again. Only one in every ten cattle families remain and cattle numbers have dropped by 23 percent – a number that would feed 12 million people who now go hungry.

"Animal libbers will ensure that most countries on earth will hate us for our moral arrogance and white feller superiority. A lion stalking and devouring its prey is not a pretty sight, but nor is seeing a skin and bone lion cub starving to death. Common sense is required to ensure a humane and thriving live export industry.

"One in every two cattleman across Australia will be bankrupted over the next three years. Possibly one in 50 of these people will have suicide in their family."

Mr Katter was also critical of both the federal Agriculture Department and Meat and Livestock Australia, which is funded by a levy on producers to oversight the industry.

"Look at the world of misery they have created. I will be moving legislation to abolish the MLA and create a grass-roots body run by serious practicing cattlemen.

"They will have the power and determination to demand and secure the proper performance in the processing out of our animals – a task that the MLA, with their $100M a year has miserably failed to do.

"If we can’t do this then what happens to all the sheep and cattle farming families around Australia?

"Their governments have let them down and their industry bodies have let them down. Who is there to fight for them?" Mr Katter said.