June 23, 2011

Cattle ban threatens Australia's wheat exports

Australia's wheat export trade could be threatened by the decision to suspend live cattle exports to Indonesia.

The New South Wales (NSW) Farmers Association grains committee chair Mark Hoskinson said he was concerned the recent decision to ban live cattle exports would strain bilateral trade relations.

Indonesia received 32% of Australia's bulk wheat exports last financial year, making the country the largest importer of local grain.

NSW Farmers has repeated its call to the Federal Government to immediately reopen the live cattle export trade to accredited abattoirs.

"Adopting a thorough process of inspection and accreditation will allow trade to resume and ensure no more Australian cattle are subject to cruelty in Indonesia," Hoskinson said.

"If we don't immediately reopen the trade to Indonesia we can unfortunately expect a flow-on effect in other agricultural export commodity markets, which could be devastating for Australian wheat exports," he said.