ID :
189066
Thu, 06/16/2011 - 14:37
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/189066
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Cattle suspension stands despite salvos
(AAP) - A bid to force the resumption of live cattle exports to Indonesia in just a few weeks has failed to win parliamentary support.
Rural independent Bob Katter formed an unlikely alliance with Andrew Wilkie on Thursday to try and force the federal government to resume exports.
The government last week suspended all live exports to Indonesia, setting aside a period of up to six months in which to improve animal slaughter processes.
But the duo said six months was too long a wait for beef farmers and others in the industry, whose futures have been cast into uncertainty by the suspension.
Using a joint motion, Mr Katter and Mr Wilkie tried to get the government moving on a number of safeguards, including the delivery of 60 stun guns, boxes and video cameras to Indonesia within a week.
Within two weeks they wanted 10 officials to be sent to Indonesia to train abattoir workers and get standards up to scratch.
"No-one has accepted responsibility, no-one has been punished except the cattlemen of the Northern Territory and the people in Indonesia," Mr Katter told reporters in Canberra.
"All the people responsible for this are getting off completely scot free."
Both politicians have accused Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) for the animal welfare failings in Indonesia.
The motion also calls for an inquiry into the operations of MLA and an explanation of what the organisation has done with the $5 levy it gets for every head of cattle sold.
"It has been gorging on that money for marketing and who knows what else whilst spending almost nothing on the welfare of these animals," Mr Wilkie said.
"The MLA (should) start doing their job."
But despite the pair's claims that the motion could save the government money in compensation, it failed to win enough support to even be heard in the lower house.
The Greens in the Senate had better luck by successfully calling for another inquiry into animal welfare standards, which will be run by the Rural Affairs and Transport Reference Committee.
That inquiry, and the government's inquiry into the issue, are both due to report back by the end of August.
The coalition, which voted with Mr Katter and Mr Wilkie, has criticised the government's handling of the issue, insisting trade should have been allowed to continue to appropriate abattoirs.
Rural NSW Liberal Mark Coulton called on Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd to talk with Indonesia to smooth things over and get trade up and running as quickly as possible.
Rural independent Bob Katter formed an unlikely alliance with Andrew Wilkie on Thursday to try and force the federal government to resume exports.
The government last week suspended all live exports to Indonesia, setting aside a period of up to six months in which to improve animal slaughter processes.
But the duo said six months was too long a wait for beef farmers and others in the industry, whose futures have been cast into uncertainty by the suspension.
Using a joint motion, Mr Katter and Mr Wilkie tried to get the government moving on a number of safeguards, including the delivery of 60 stun guns, boxes and video cameras to Indonesia within a week.
Within two weeks they wanted 10 officials to be sent to Indonesia to train abattoir workers and get standards up to scratch.
"No-one has accepted responsibility, no-one has been punished except the cattlemen of the Northern Territory and the people in Indonesia," Mr Katter told reporters in Canberra.
"All the people responsible for this are getting off completely scot free."
Both politicians have accused Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) for the animal welfare failings in Indonesia.
The motion also calls for an inquiry into the operations of MLA and an explanation of what the organisation has done with the $5 levy it gets for every head of cattle sold.
"It has been gorging on that money for marketing and who knows what else whilst spending almost nothing on the welfare of these animals," Mr Wilkie said.
"The MLA (should) start doing their job."
But despite the pair's claims that the motion could save the government money in compensation, it failed to win enough support to even be heard in the lower house.
The Greens in the Senate had better luck by successfully calling for another inquiry into animal welfare standards, which will be run by the Rural Affairs and Transport Reference Committee.
That inquiry, and the government's inquiry into the issue, are both due to report back by the end of August.
The coalition, which voted with Mr Katter and Mr Wilkie, has criticised the government's handling of the issue, insisting trade should have been allowed to continue to appropriate abattoirs.
Rural NSW Liberal Mark Coulton called on Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd to talk with Indonesia to smooth things over and get trade up and running as quickly as possible.
