Mr BALDWIN - 1995-05-17
Is the minister aware of media reports indicating that the Animal Liberation Movement is threatening to institute pickets on the live cattle export trade? Do these people pose any threat to the Territory's multimillion dollar live export trade, and does it have any valid concerns in that area?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this issue first raised its head some months ago following the unholy alliance formed between the animal liberationists in Queensland and the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union which came about as a result of the closure of the Smorgon's Meatworks in Townsville. So-called animal liberationist, Mr Tony Clunies-Ross, threatened to picket the live export trade at Darwin. In part, Mr Clunies-Ross told the 7 30 Report that the cattle suffer `a very stressful and a painful journey and you would quite normally see many injured animals coming off at the end of the journey'.
I say now to Mr Clunies-Ross and his ilk: do not bother coming to the Northern Territory, do not bother trying to interrupt this major multimillion dollar export industry and do not bother spreading mistruths about the industry. Given the value of the industry to the Northern Territory and to individual pastoralists - and cattle exported to the Philippines would have, at the station gate, a value in excess of $450 per head while cattle exported to Indonesia would have, at the station gate, a value in excess of $700 per head - it is arrant nonsense to
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suggest that the exporters or the importers would do anything other than treat those beasts with the utmost care. The current mortality rates in relation to the live shipping of cattle by boat is about 1 or 2 head per 10 000. I suggest that, in terms of passengers per kilometre, that would compare favourably with the mortality rate on cruise ships. To the end of April this year, 65 000 head were exported across the Port of Darwin. That is up 30% or 50 000 head on the comparable period last year. The value has increased from $20m to $30m. That follows a 25% increase on last year's figures.
In relation to the concerns raised by the processing industry, the live cattle trade out of Australia last year accounted for about 250 000 head. In excess of 8 million head were slaughtered in Australia. Thus, the live trade represents a mere 3% of total turn off. That is not to say that the industry will not continue to grow and develop. Indeed, at the live cattle export seminar in Katherine on Friday, we heard predictions of up to 2.5 million head by the turn of the century. In relation to the processing industry, the live cattle trade through the Port of Darwin will result in vastly increased breeder numbers in the northern part of Australia. That will be brought about as a result of pastoralists being able to turn off their cattle at a much younger age. They are able to turn off steers at 18 months when, in the past, they held them on the property as bullocks for 5 years. That increase in the breeder herd will lead to increased numbers of cold cows and bulls which, in turn, will support a viable northern beef slaughter and processing industry still directed at the traditional United States grinding market.
The outlook for the industry is extremely bright and, with that in mind, I intend early next month to visit both Indonesia and the Philippines to talk with government officials and the importers as well as to look at the various feedlots and processing facilities in an effort to further enhance the good relationships we have with those people. I look forward to advising members of the Assembly of the results of that trip.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, this issue first raised its head some months ago following the unholy alliance formed between the animal liberationists in Queensland and the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union which came about as a result of the closure of the Smorgon's Meatworks in Townsville. So-called animal liberationist, Mr Tony Clunies-Ross, threatened to picket the live export trade at Darwin. In part, Mr Clunies-Ross told the 7 30 Report that the cattle suffer `a very stressful and a painful journey and you would quite normally see many injured animals coming off at the end of the journey'.
I say now to Mr Clunies-Ross and his ilk: do not bother coming to the Northern Territory, do not bother trying to interrupt this major multimillion dollar export industry and do not bother spreading mistruths about the industry. Given the value of the industry to the Northern Territory and to individual pastoralists - and cattle exported to the Philippines would have, at the station gate, a value in excess of $450 per head while cattle exported to Indonesia would have, at the station gate, a value in excess of $700 per head - it is arrant nonsense to
Page 536
suggest that the exporters or the importers would do anything other than treat those beasts with the utmost care. The current mortality rates in relation to the live shipping of cattle by boat is about 1 or 2 head per 10 000. I suggest that, in terms of passengers per kilometre, that would compare favourably with the mortality rate on cruise ships. To the end of April this year, 65 000 head were exported across the Port of Darwin. That is up 30% or 50 000 head on the comparable period last year. The value has increased from $20m to $30m. That follows a 25% increase on last year's figures.
In relation to the concerns raised by the processing industry, the live cattle trade out of Australia last year accounted for about 250 000 head. In excess of 8 million head were slaughtered in Australia. Thus, the live trade represents a mere 3% of total turn off. That is not to say that the industry will not continue to grow and develop. Indeed, at the live cattle export seminar in Katherine on Friday, we heard predictions of up to 2.5 million head by the turn of the century. In relation to the processing industry, the live cattle trade through the Port of Darwin will result in vastly increased breeder numbers in the northern part of Australia. That will be brought about as a result of pastoralists being able to turn off their cattle at a much younger age. They are able to turn off steers at 18 months when, in the past, they held them on the property as bullocks for 5 years. That increase in the breeder herd will lead to increased numbers of cold cows and bulls which, in turn, will support a viable northern beef slaughter and processing industry still directed at the traditional United States grinding market.
The outlook for the industry is extremely bright and, with that in mind, I intend early next month to visit both Indonesia and the Philippines to talk with government officials and the importers as well as to look at the various feedlots and processing facilities in an effort to further enhance the good relationships we have with those people. I look forward to advising members of the Assembly of the results of that trip.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016