Mr KNIGHT - 2005-10-19
What is the outlook for the export of Northern Territory buffalo and what new market opportunity exists?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Yesterday, I reported to parliament about my travel to Indonesia in the company of pastoral industry representatives to promote our livestock industry export ...
Members interjecting.
Dr Lim: What did you do in Indonesia?
Mr VATSKALIS: Yes, it is funny. It is really funny, member for Greatorex. It is one of the biggest industries in the Northern Territory and the member for Greatorex finds it very funny. I do not think the pastoral industry will find it very funny.
Madam Speaker, prior to my travel to Indonesia, the Northern Territory Buffalo Council approached me and expressed some problems they had with Indonesian authorities. These problems consist of their inability to use the live cattle exports to load buffalo for ports in Indonesia and South-East Asia because there was no protocol in place to control the loading and transport of buffalo together with cattle. I raised this issue with my counterpart in Indonesia and I am very pleased to announce, member for Greatorex, that we now have a protocol between the Northern Territory and Indonesia, and the industry now has the ability to load buffalo together with cattle for export to different ports in Indonesia and South-East Asia.
The industry has advised me that they believe that they will be exporting 5000 head of buffalo every year to Indonesia. These are buffalo feeders. They will be feed lotted and fattened in Indonesia before they are slaughtered, providing much-needed income to Indonesian people and feed lot managers in Indonesia.
I congratulate the Buffalo Industry Council, as I know they used their own contacts in Indonesia to promote the agreement, and also my own department for working very hard to reach this agreement. Our government is doing everything possible to promote the Territory as a supply base for live cattle and buffalo to Indonesia and other countries in South-East Asia. We also have an agreement with the government of Sabah in Malaysia to train cattle and buffalo farmers on how to manage their feed lots and their animals.
Members from the other side might find it very funny talking about buffalo; the reality is that each buffalo exported to Indonesia brings $700 to $800 to the pocket of Northern Territory producers. This money contributes to the growth and wealth of the Northern Territory.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Yesterday, I reported to parliament about my travel to Indonesia in the company of pastoral industry representatives to promote our livestock industry export ...
Members interjecting.
Dr Lim: What did you do in Indonesia?
Mr VATSKALIS: Yes, it is funny. It is really funny, member for Greatorex. It is one of the biggest industries in the Northern Territory and the member for Greatorex finds it very funny. I do not think the pastoral industry will find it very funny.
Madam Speaker, prior to my travel to Indonesia, the Northern Territory Buffalo Council approached me and expressed some problems they had with Indonesian authorities. These problems consist of their inability to use the live cattle exports to load buffalo for ports in Indonesia and South-East Asia because there was no protocol in place to control the loading and transport of buffalo together with cattle. I raised this issue with my counterpart in Indonesia and I am very pleased to announce, member for Greatorex, that we now have a protocol between the Northern Territory and Indonesia, and the industry now has the ability to load buffalo together with cattle for export to different ports in Indonesia and South-East Asia.
The industry has advised me that they believe that they will be exporting 5000 head of buffalo every year to Indonesia. These are buffalo feeders. They will be feed lotted and fattened in Indonesia before they are slaughtered, providing much-needed income to Indonesian people and feed lot managers in Indonesia.
I congratulate the Buffalo Industry Council, as I know they used their own contacts in Indonesia to promote the agreement, and also my own department for working very hard to reach this agreement. Our government is doing everything possible to promote the Territory as a supply base for live cattle and buffalo to Indonesia and other countries in South-East Asia. We also have an agreement with the government of Sabah in Malaysia to train cattle and buffalo farmers on how to manage their feed lots and their animals.
Members from the other side might find it very funny talking about buffalo; the reality is that each buffalo exported to Indonesia brings $700 to $800 to the pocket of Northern Territory producers. This money contributes to the growth and wealth of the Northern Territory.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016