Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. I refer the minister to statements attributed to Indonesian minister for agriculture, Suswono, in which he stated, following a meeting with Minister Ludwig on 20 June this year, that future supply of chilled beef and live cattle will be sourced from countries other than Australia. I ask the minister what economic and social impacts will the suspension of live cattle exports have on Australian beef producers and those who rely on the export trade for their income? I also ask the minister: what did he take into account prior to him making the decision to totally suspend the live export trade on 8 June, thus denying Northern cattle producers their livelihoods?