Posted by Rita Mu
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced a $30 million assistance package for farmers affected by the ban on live cattle exports to Indonesia.
The Australian reported today that the package would provide farmers with an initial $5000 payment and then up to an extra $20,000 in assistance through Centrelink.
The assistance package follows Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig’s announcement on Monday of a $3 million compensation package for affected industry workers.
Yesterday, The Board of the Cattle Disease Contingency Fund Trust, made up by Animal Health Australia, Cattle Council and the Australian Lot Feeders Association, announced an assistance package worth $5 million to help feed and water livestock affected by the ban.
The Federal Government put in place the six-month suspension on live cattle exports on 8 June after footage shown on ABC’s Four Corners program, revealing mistreatment of the animals in Indonesian abattoirs, sparked outrage by the public and animal activist groups.
Gillard said Labor MPs including Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd, Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig and Trade Minister Craig Emerson were all working with Indonesia to start live cattle exports up and running again.
Image: bigpondnews.com