West Australian Agriculture Minister Terry Redman has described as a "drop in the ocean" the federal government's $30 million assistance package for pastoralists hit by the live cattle export ban.
West Australian Agriculture Minister Terry Redman has described as a "drop in the ocean" the federal government's $30 million assistance package for pastoralists hit by the live cattle export ban.
The package of up to $25,000 per pastoralist was welcome but only represented the price of about 40 cattle, Mr Redman told reporters in Perth.
"It's absolutely a drop in the ocean," he said.
"In Western Australia we are going to have around about 150,000 head that will not have a home and the stock that they do find a home for will clearly have a vastly reduced price."
Farmers wanted a resumption in the trade, not compensation.
"They want to have ships going north with their stock. They don't want to have someone coming in with a cheque of money."
Mr Redman said Prime Minister Julia Gillard should phone her Indonesian counterpart to make it clear Australia was genuinely interested in resuming the trade.
The Pastoralists and Graziers Association dismissed Ms Gillard's announcement as a short term stunt.
"The WA livestock industry has made our position very clear to the Prime Minister and to Minister Ludwig- we want our industry back," PGA President Rob Gillam said.
"This $30 million would be better spent on assisting the Indonesian Government in upgrading their facilities and getting the cattle back on the boats, rather than providing short term compensation to families whose only source of income has been stripped by the Government's reckless actions.
"A $5,000 initial payment, and further $20,000 from Centrelink is no compensation for the loss of one's livelihood.
"This announcement was made without any consultation with West Australian Cattle producers, or the workers and families of regional WA who are the innocent victims of the Government's ban."
The federal government imposed a ban on live cattle exports to Indonesia in early June, following an ABC Four Corners documentary depicting brutal treatment of animals in Indonesian abattoirs.
Speaking to farmers in Mt Isa, Queensland, federal Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig said Australia needs a traceable supply chain to keep tabs on animals' welfare and he was in talks with a working group to set up a supply chain that ensures animal welfare safeguards.
"The department is working very quickly to put in place that supply chain," he said.
"It is important to put this industry on a footing that ensures animal welfare."
But the minister was unable to give producers a date and, at one point was laughed at by the audience after answering his third question in a row by saying the aim of the ban was to allow time for the industry to rebuild itself and become "sustainable".
During the question and answer session in a largely civil meeting, tensions at one point boiled over.
"Everyone in this room should be so f**king angry with you people, just bloody slaughter you," said Neil Byrne, a farm electrical worker, who said he had been put out of work because of the ban.
"I have $60,000 of equipment sitting in my shed.
"Where's my compo?"
