Australian cattle farmer number drops as industry inaction persist
The number of Australian cattle farmers has dropped 15 percent compared to the same time last year while industry associations charged with protecting their interests remain seemingly immobilized, according to the Australian Beef Association (ABA).
A recent survey of 8,000 cattle farmers by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, the Australian National University, and La Trobe University has indicated serious financial problems faced by Australia's cattle farmers.
Bellinger says that since then the problems have soared, as the all time record farm debt explodes.
Bellinger said the obscene supermarket mark-up on beef was forcing cattle breeders out of business, whilst adding to consumer woes through higher supermarket prices.
Noting that two of Australia's biggest supermarkets control more than 50 percent of local beef sales, the ABA has called for Anti Trust laws introduced as in USA and a full Judicial Inquiry into the meat industry.
Meanwhile, Bellinger has accused both Meat and Livestock Australia and Cattle Council of Australia of having gone "Missing in Action" after both organisations, which aimed to promote the interests of cattle producers, failed to make submissions to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) inquiry on the market situation.
Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and Cattle Council of Australia are apparently both happy with the unsustainable and currently record low prices, that the producers (who fund them) receive, Bellinger said, He added that their inaction proves that these organisations were of more use to supermarkets than cattle farmers.
Similarly, Australian beef sold in Japan are the same price they were in Australia, despite a 38-percent tax on imports.
Bellinger said he would be bringing the matter up to Tony Burke, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.