Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has placed the ball in Indonesia’s court regarding live cattle quotas.
Rudd had recently discussed the issue with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during his visit to the country earlier in the month and said that Australian cattle producers will have to wait for Indonesia to make a decision, The Australian reports.
"I've made representations to the Indonesians about that . . . we'll wait to see what they have to say," Rudd told ABC radio in North Queensland.
Rudd emphasised the importance of Australian beef imports to Indonesia as the country is looking to expand its cattle own herd in the future.
Rudd believes that the expansion could represent a prime opportunity for the Australian beef industry long term with the inclusion of an animal genetic investment facility.
Relations between Australia and Indonesia were damaged by a temporary one-month ban on live exports in 2011 due animal cruelty allegations in Indonesian abattoirs. The claim deeply offended Indonesia and as such, the trading relationship between the two countries has remained scarred.
The Cattle Council of Australia has welcomed Prime Minister Rudd’s talks and has said that they represent the “first step in starting afresh” in regards to trading with Indonesia.