Beef farmers say compensation 'secondary'

(AAP) - A $3 million compensation package has failed to placate out-of-pocket beef farmers, who would rather the federal government focus on resuming live exports.
Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig on Monday announced the government would provide assistance to workers whose income was directly affected by the suspension of trade to Indonesia on June 7.
But farmers are dismissive of the package, which would give workers access to Centrelink payments for up to 13 weeks.
"I'm sure that the people who would be eligible for this would much rather be working than being on social security," Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association president Rohan Sullivan told AAP.
"The best thing that could be done for the industry is to get it going again.
"Things like compensation are secondary."
Mr Sullivan said an assistance package "wasn't discussed" when he was in Canberra last week to meet Senator Ludwig and other ministers about live exports.
He's also concerned the resumption could now take a lot longer than first thought - even though the technical aspects, audits and an installation of a tracking system could be in place within days.
"This has now become a diplomatic problem," Mr Sullivan said.
"There's a lot of resentment, there's a lot of offence been taken in Indonesia for this, so the ball in terms of timing is now firmly in the Indonesians' court."
Mr Sullivan said he'd like to see Prime Minister Julia Gillard get involved in talks to give Australia's concerns "a lot more weight".
But Trade Minister Craig Emerson, who has also met with the NT Cattlemens' Association, dismissed claims of bilateral tensions between the two countries.
"It's not only based on friendship, it's based on commercial realities," he told ABC Television.
"I don't think the commercial reality would just be thrown out of the window because of this."
Senator Ludwig still refuses to say exactly when trade will resume, although the initial suspension was put in place for up to six months.
"It's not going to be overnight," was all he would tell reporters in Canberra on Monday.
Publicly he's focused instead on assistance measures and threatened to force Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) into providing an extra $5 million in compensation.
It's a demand they've refused at least twice.
Senator Ludwig is continuing to talk to the industry body, but has warned he'll resort to a parliamentary direction which would force its hand if negotiations are unsuccessful.
"What I don't want to do is resort to a direction whilst we're still in discussions," he said.
"If necessary I'll consider the use of that power if negotiations drag on. At the moment they aren't dragging on. They're fruitful discussions."
The MLA has countered by asking the government to agree to a $9 million package that will ensure the resumption of the live export market as quickly as possible.
That includes the installation of stun guns, Australian officials in Indonesian slaughterhouses and upgrading of facilities and training standards.
A parliamentary direction would require the support of non-government MPs, and opposition agriculture spokesman John Cobb has been reluctant to reveal his hand.
Asked if he would support the measure should it come up, he told ABC Radio he had not been briefed on the details.