Media Release

Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter says northern graziers have little option but to export live cattle overseas.

“Options are limited by both the lack of abattoirs in Northern Australia and plans for increased taxes on Australia’s export meat processors,” said Mr Katter.

“With only two meatworks in Northern Australia, our cattlemen have little option but to export, otherwise they have to send 2000km south for processing and then return 2000km back north for sale.”

Mr Katter said figures showed that Indonesia took almost 60 per cent of live cattle exports last year – more than 520,000 head valued at AU$318 million.

Mr Katter sought assurances in Parliament today that there would be more humane processing in the three SE Asian meatworks targeted in the media on Monday.

He also sought assurances that Australia was not going to impose our religious beliefs and values on our neighbours.

“We have a responsibility to our closest neighbour. An estimated one-third of Indonesia, 80 million people, go to bed hungry every night,” said Mr Katter.

“Indonesians most certainly cannot afford to buy beef processed in Australia, maybe $7500 an ox, processed.

“They are not allowed to fish in our waters nor prawn farm our empty land.

“My bitch is that Australians are not allowed to either, and this raises the scary spectre, a constant in history, that: ‘a people without land will look for a land without people’.”