No benefit in ending live export trade: Coulton
31-May-2011
The humane treatment of Australian cattle by Australia’s live export trading partners is paramount, Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton stated today.
The statement comes in response to footage aired on last night’s Four Corners program showing grim evidence of Australian cattle being subjected to prolonged and stressful ordeals in Indonesian slaughterhouses.
“The footage was truly distressing. As a farmer myself, it was gut-wrenching to watch these cattle endure such awful and inhumane treatment.”
Mr Coulton commended the swift action by the Minister for Agriculture Joe Ludwig in suspending trade to abattoirs in Indonesia where cruelty had taken place. However, Mr Coulton said the calls for a ban of all live export were reactionary and would damage our efforts to improve slaughter techniques in these countries and would also impact heavily on our domestic cattle markets.
“I completely support the Minister’s decision to immediately cease all live trading to abattoirs in Indonesia where these malpractices are occurring.”
“We are the only country in the world to invest in improving animal welfare standards in the markets in which we operate and there have been vast improvements in the majority of Indonesian abattoirs.”
“Our influence and presence in these countries needs to be maintained. Our obligation to improving animal welfare standards does not and should not stop at Australia's borders. If we stop exporting cattle, Indonesia would source animals from other countries and the welfare standards we work to achieve in Indonesia would descend further and more animals would suffer.”
The industry and the government has worked with the major abattoirs in Indonesia, and Mr Coulton said it is the small operators on the ABC’s program that need training programs implemented.
“There are significant cultural barriers and a lack of refrigeration in these countries, which means it is not practical to ship refrigerated meat to these countries.”
“Domestically, the trade is vital to Australian cattle producers, particularly to those in the north. For many northern cattle producers the trade to Indonesia is the only viable option for their cattle and the loss of the trade would be devastating to producers in this region. The loss of the trade would also flood southern markets and the cattle prices would ultimately slump.”
“The Coalition have offered to work cooperatively with the government to find a solution that will ultimately end this unnecessary cruelty, while maintaining an industry that is very important to the Australian economy.”