Time for Rudd Government to act: Australian meat processing industry in crisis
as live export trade decimates Australian jobs
In 2009, Australian meat processors struggled to obtain cattle or sheep because of the prices
paid by overseas buyers in the live export trade. It’s been known for a long time these prices
are distorted by overseas governments paying subsidies¹
.
In the Sheep processing industry, over 500 jobs were lost in 2009 and 1500 Australian workers
are being affected by stand downs².
The red meat industry has fared little better. Several major processors have retrenched
hundreds of workers and stand downs are widespead in the industry.
The Australian meat processing industry is currently in crisis. However the Australian
government is allowing overseas buyers to take a significant amount of the commodity the
industry so desperately needs – sheep and cattle.
Speaking today on the situation, the Federal Secretary of the Meatworkers’ Union, Brian
Crawford said:
“The Meatworkers’ Union is calling on the Rudd government to ensure that our local industry
and local jobs are a paramount consideration before one live animal is placed on the ships of
cruelty and death.
It’s a “no-brainer” that processed meat adds more value to the Australian economy than the
live export trade. A recent report by the highly respected ACIL Tasman shows that the
domestic sheep meat processing industry is worth 20% more to the Australian economy than
live exports.
The Rudd Government and particularly Ministers Crean and Burke need to work harder to
advance Australian industry and ultimately, Australian jobs.
We’d like to see them lobbying to reduce the overseas subsidies applied to live sheep and
cattle or granting them to processed products too; removing the 5% tariff on frozen sheep
meat; and greater dedicated marketing to promote Australian processed meat products.
We also have to think seriously about limiting the amount of live exports when livestock is
extremely difficult for domestic value adding exporters to obtain.
The Australian meat processing industry doesn’t want protectionism or a “fortress Australia”
policy. It’s stood on its own two feet for over a century. All it wants is a level playing field
and a “fair go” from government.”
-ends-
For further comment please contact Brian Crawford on 0419 736 582 or 07 3217 3766
1
See for instance the most recent review, “Australian live sheep exports- Economic analysis of Australian live
sheep and sheep meat trade” ACIL Tasman. A full copy of the report can be downloaded at
2
See “Australia’s largest sheep exporters make savage cuts”, the Australian, 14 December 2009, pages 1-2
NEWS 
