Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Ludwig. Is the government aware of reports that the Moola Bulla Station in Western Australia must comply with a destocking order and dispose of over 3,000 head of cattle, and that many other stations in Northern Australia will shortly have to do the same?

Given that there is no export market for these cattle and they are essentially worthless to sell, the owner will start shooting cattle at the rate of 200 a day, starting tomorrow. The only viable solution other than shooting cattle is to sell them into the live export marketplace. Given this, and that the government are aware of abattoirs and supply chains in Indonesia that meet their desired standards, when will the government fix the looming disaster that they have created and reopen the live export trade with Indonesia?