Port key to cattle exports growing

THE North Queensland cattle trade will continue to gather momentum in Townsville, according to speakers at an AgForce live export forum yesterday.

AgForce cattle board president Anthony Struss said Townsville played a very important role in the live export trade.

“The majority of our Queensland cattle we do try and put through the Townsville port,” he said at yesterday’s forum at Rydges Hotel in Townsville titled Managing Risk: Securing the Future.

“It’s an incredible market, the live cattle trade, it is very important to Australia and particularly to this Townsville catchment.”

In the last financial year, 200,000 head of cattle were exported from Townsville.

And a planned $ 1.64 billion expansion to the Port of Townsville will further increase export capacity.

However, Australian Meat Industry Employees Union secretary Matthew Journeaux said the live export trade was counter- productive for employment in regional areas and meatworkers were suffering, as there were not enough cattle to supply both industries.

“Meat processing workers at JBS ( Australia) meatworks in Townsville have endured eight months of unemployment over the last two years due to seasonal shutdowns,” Mr Journeaux said.

“Meanwhile ship after ship left the port loaded with live cattle.

“We believe that the animals should be processed in Australia.”

Mr Journeaux said the government should reduce the regulatory burden of processing animals.

“Live exporters don’t have to compete in that arena and pay those costs,” Mr Journeaux said.

“That would be one way to try to level the playing field.”