Australia suspends live cattle trade to Indonesia

[Misery]

I have supported Labour government due to dislike of Tony Abbot but I can not continue to do so especially when it comes to these decisions which are only made so greens don't pull their support of minority government.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110607/...animal_welfare

What is opinion of other Australians on this forum, is this something you support or oppose?


Personally I do not think that it is our right to be telling other nations how to treat animals that they have purchased. Stopping all the trade will just direct Indonesians to buy the cattle from alternative place and we will loose any leverage we had of improving conditions for animals there.
What this is going to do is harm Australian top end and farmers there, those hippies in Melbourne will see prices drop and can feel good when they go to bed tonight, makes me sick how crazy this country is becoming when it comes to animal rights.



There is a push to fine and imprison people that don't regularly walk their pets...http://jaideedogwalking.com.au/index...id=34:articles)



Nobody is thinking how this is also impact Indonesian poor and children who are almost certain to see meat prices rise and quality drop.

[Exarch]

idiotic knee jerk reactions for political reasons, especially since labor is looking at getting a drubbing next elections;

this is what happens when the greens are given too much power

[Erwin Rommel]

Oh?

But look at the recent happy Yahoo News comments from below the article, happy of the Australian action.

[Exarch]

most australians are fairly apolitical, especially when it comes to international affairs; so long as there's affordable food and petrol to be had, we don't much care about the rest of the globe;

some may agree in principle, but others may not. that's only because the ramifications have yet to bite us on the arse just yet

[hellheaven1987]

I have a feeling that Australian government simply tries to find some excuse to restrict foreign import of farm products in order to protect their own farmers (which is not uncommon political decisions; both Korea and Taiwan also use bunch of excuse to ban American beef import).

[Exarch]

I have a feeling that Australian government simply tries to find some excuse to restrict foreign import of farm products in order to protect their own farmers (which is not uncommon political decisions; both Korea and Taiwan also use bunch of excuse to ban American beef import).

absolutely yes;

even in a free trade globalised world, some countries still try to enforce their own protectionist policies
eg look at the swine flu epidemic for instance

[hellheaven1987]

even in a free trade globalised world, some countries still try to enforce their own protectionist policies
eg look at the swine flu epidemic for instance

Not some but pretty much everyone is doing it; a few months ago some TWC members are complaining how France and UK are playing protectionism despite those countries "promote" globalism at the early 2000s. The thing is, a decade later governments realize that free trade is, like the name suggests, free and brutal; only the strongest survive, and that generally means big nations such as US, yet those governments cannot take back their promise (which is what WTO for) and hence has to use all sore of excuse to pretend they are not opposing free trade. In the end, weaks would just lost the match like China in 19th Century (as Western goods, after be forced-imported into China by gunboat policy, crushed the Chinese producers in the end).

Funny enough everytime when Korean government tries to lift the ban of American beef Korean farmers would go to street and burn themselves.

[Misery]

I have a feeling that Australian government simply tries to find some excuse to restrict foreign import of farm products in order to protect their own farmers (which is not uncommon political decisions; both Korea and Taiwan also use bunch of excuse to ban American beef import).

Hardly, Australia only restricted cattle and other farm animals imports from countries with BSE and other diseases.

In fact we have removed barriers for American beef that we had in place due to mad cow disease.
http://www.agrow.com.au/assets/pdf/T...ort%20Laws.pdf

I don't see why we would have to import much of it considering that we can produce it, make it affordable and still have best quality cattle (and beef) in the world.

Plus this is nothing to do with imports but exports, we export over 50% of the cattle (10% of that is live export)

[Steve Holt]

Well there was a lot of pressure from the media as well after that 4 corners report to ban live exports. To me it seems silly as someone said Indonesia will get their cattle from somewhere else.

[jankren]

As an Indonesian Im ashamed that Indonesia still has to import something as basic as beef. I mean a large number of Indonesians are farmers ...

Anyway, I think people who eat animal meats and talk about animal rights are dumb. In my opinion only vegetarians have the credibility to promote animal welfare.

[Dr Zoidberg]

The more disturbing point about this whole thing is that there has been more outrage at sending cows to Indonesia, than there has been for sending refugees (especially unaccompanied minors) to Malaysia.

Furthermore, banning the export of live cattle is not going to stop the animal abuse. If they can't source the cattle from us, these specific abattoirs will source them from somewhere else. It is smarter policy to continue to invest in these abattoirs and assist them in improving their practices and facilities. We can't do that if we withdraw from a trade relationship with them.

[Oddsworm]

I presume the logic is that, where else is Indonesia going to import their cattle from? Europe?

[Dr Zoidberg]

I presume the logic is that, where else is Indonesia going to import their cattle from? Europe?

I'm not sure. The US I would wager, they've a substantial beef industry. But I'm fairly certain they would expect similar levels of animal welfare to what Australia expects.

[Oddsworm]

I'm not sure. The US I would wager, they've a substantial beef industry. But I'm fairly certain they would expect similar levels of animal welfare to what Australia expects.

Shipping costs from USA or Europe would be exhorbitant. Especially of live cattle. At least relative to Australian-Indonesian transport costs.

We'll probably revert back to normal trade relations in about one month or so. Once Australians have forgotten about this issue, shouldnt take too long, we're extremely self-absorbed people as Exarch pointed out.

[Dr Zoidberg]

...we're extremely self-absorbed people as Exarch pointed out.

No disagreement from me on that one. This country can be so small minded at times, it's staggering.

[Misery]

Shipping costs from USA or Europe would be exhorbitant. Especially of live cattle. At least relative to Australian-Indonesian transport costs.

We'll probably revert back to normal trade relations in about one month or so. Once Australians have forgotten about this issue, shouldnt take too long, we're extremely self-absorbed people as Exarch pointed out.

Actually shipping costs will not be deal breaker, being in the industry, costs of shipping are never a deal breaker.

I don't think USA will care too much about animal welfare issues due to pressures to get export industry up, also Brazil will be more then happy to accommodate Indonesia even if they are going to stone cattle to death.

Once they sign new contracts there will be no room for Australian cattle and we will be worse off due to greens and their supporters... From now on please send you protest vote to anybody but GREEEEEEEEEEEENS

[jankren]

First world people are funny. They want us to take good care of our animals when we dont even take good care of our fellow human beings.

Its a case of "Let them eat cake." They are out of touch with the reality of life in poorer countries.

[hellheaven1987]

First world people are funny. They want us to take good care of our animals when we dont even take good care of our fellow human beings.

Its a case of "Let them eat cake." They are out of touch with the reality of life in poorer countries.

Well, lets not forget Australian government does like to bossing other nations how to best doing animal right; remember the whale war between Australia and Japan? You got it.

[jankren]

Well, lets not forget Australian government does like to bossing other nations how to best doing animal right; remember the whale war between Australia and Japan? You got it.

I agree with animal welfare but I still think people need to be understanding of other cultures.

I mean I remember when I told my family how Americans treat their dogs like their own children and they thought Americans were crazy.

[Dr Zoidberg]

Well, lets not forget Australian government does like to bossing other nations how to best doing animal right; remember the whale war between Australia and Japan? You got it.

What whale war? You mean a bunch of fringe lunies in soy-powered boats? Hardly a war.