Mr BALDWIN - 1996-10-09
My electorate and the Top End generally have been the source of an enormous volume of cattle moving to Darwin for export. Is this massive volume of cattle heading for the wharf merely seasonal, or have previous export records been exceeded?
ANSWER
It is a good question, Mr Speaker. The live export trade has proved a story of success heaped upon success. There are no indications that that trade is likely to diminish in the future.
Page 1644
In fact, August was a record month with 43 692 head being exported through the port. We are looking this year at a total of about 400 000 head through the port. Of those 43 000 head exported in August, 28 000 were Northern Territory-bred cattle. That is an indication of the changing face of pastoralism in northern Australia.
Until the onset of this trade and the huge numbers that are now required to satisfy the demand, the cattle industry in the northern part of Australia was mainly focused on the United States grinding meat market. Older bullocks were being turned off through export abattoirs either in the Northern Territory or on the Queensland seaboard. Some cattle from the Barkly Tableland were finding their way into the Channel Country in Queensland and some from the southern parts were going to South Australia for slaughter. In the last few years, because these cattle are being turned off at between 18 and 22 months, the breeding herds have been allowed to build up without increasing herd numbers and without putting particular pressure on the pastures, keeping the numbers within safe carrying capacity. Breeder numbers have built up considerably and will continue to build up as aged steers are not being carried on those properties. This trade has been the saviour of the pastoral industry in northern Australia. Increasing numbers of Centralian pastoralists are looking at altering their herds to enable them to grow cattle that are suited for this trade, and pastoralists in the southern parts of western Queensland are changing their herd structures to allow them to satisfy the demand.
This year's estimate of 400 000 head through the Port of Darwin represents about 5% of the annual average Australian slaughter. We expect that, by the turn of the century, we will be putting 1 million head through the port - a substantial number of cattle. As I said, the trade is under no particular threat. Obviously, from time to time, there will be hiccups, but I am assured by both the Indonesian and Philippines governments that the principals in the trade are here to stay.
Page 1645
ANSWER
It is a good question, Mr Speaker. The live export trade has proved a story of success heaped upon success. There are no indications that that trade is likely to diminish in the future.
Page 1644
In fact, August was a record month with 43 692 head being exported through the port. We are looking this year at a total of about 400 000 head through the port. Of those 43 000 head exported in August, 28 000 were Northern Territory-bred cattle. That is an indication of the changing face of pastoralism in northern Australia.
Until the onset of this trade and the huge numbers that are now required to satisfy the demand, the cattle industry in the northern part of Australia was mainly focused on the United States grinding meat market. Older bullocks were being turned off through export abattoirs either in the Northern Territory or on the Queensland seaboard. Some cattle from the Barkly Tableland were finding their way into the Channel Country in Queensland and some from the southern parts were going to South Australia for slaughter. In the last few years, because these cattle are being turned off at between 18 and 22 months, the breeding herds have been allowed to build up without increasing herd numbers and without putting particular pressure on the pastures, keeping the numbers within safe carrying capacity. Breeder numbers have built up considerably and will continue to build up as aged steers are not being carried on those properties. This trade has been the saviour of the pastoral industry in northern Australia. Increasing numbers of Centralian pastoralists are looking at altering their herds to enable them to grow cattle that are suited for this trade, and pastoralists in the southern parts of western Queensland are changing their herd structures to allow them to satisfy the demand.
This year's estimate of 400 000 head through the Port of Darwin represents about 5% of the annual average Australian slaughter. We expect that, by the turn of the century, we will be putting 1 million head through the port - a substantial number of cattle. As I said, the trade is under no particular threat. Obviously, from time to time, there will be hiccups, but I am assured by both the Indonesian and Philippines governments that the principals in the trade are here to stay.
Page 1645
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016