MINISTER FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES JOINT PRESS RELEASE: BEEF INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLE 26 June 2013 The Agriculture and Primary Industry Ministers from across northern Australia have met with industry and representative groups to discuss the future of the cattle industry. Northern Australia Ministers attending the roundtable: Willem Westra van Holthe, Northern Territory Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries John McVeigh, Queensland Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Ken Baston, West Australian Minister for Agriculture and Food Mr Westra van Holthe said a strong message that has come out of today’s meeting is that Australia needs to improve its relations with Indonesia. “The Commonwealth Government is still yet to apologise to the Indonesian Government for the damage the live export ban caused,” Mr Westra van Holthe said. “The Prime Minister is travelling to Indonesia soon and we want her to pack an apology in her luggage. Once the Commonwealth acknowledges the harm it has caused we will be in a much better position to rebuild and move on.” Mr McVeigh said he and Minister Westra van Holte visited Indonesia last month and discussed Australia’s trade relations with Indonesian Ministers. “We’re working hard to re-build trade connections with Indonesia that were severely damaged by the Gillard Government’s knee-jerk suspension of the live trade in May 2011,” Mr McVeigh said. “Indonesia is a vital market for producers in northern Australia who’ve suffered due to the thoughtless actions of the Gillard Government. We need that corrected as soon as possible. “In today’s roundtable meeting we have discussed the practical details of a number of matters with industry including: costs of production, facilitation of trade, promotion of the benefits of live and boxed beef trade; and the need to work cooperatively on the supply chain for the best interests of both Australia and Indonesia.” “The live export ban has cost Kimberley pastoralists tens of millions of dollars and has threatened the viability of their operations,’” Mr Baston said. “I expect it’ll be up to the Federal Opposition – in conjunction with the northern Agriculture Ministers - to rebuild relations after the election.” “This roundtable has provided us with the opportunity to look at the cattle industry from a holistic viewpoint, northern Australia as one cohesive area,” Mr Westra van Holthe said. “The cattle industry has taken a battering over the past few years. We want to grow our cattle industry. We acknowledge it’s going to take a combined effort from all Governments.” Media Contacts: Minister Westra van Holthe - Jack Cranwell 0428 574 943 Minister McVeigh – Louise Gillis 0408 709 160 Minister Ken Baston – Sonia Voigt 0413 076 205
Posted on: Wed, 26 Jun 2013 06:43:43 +0000
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