Australia suspends all live cattle exports to Indonesia

The Australian government on Tuesday night suspended all live cattle exports to Indonesia, in a move that could cost the industry hundreds of millions of dollars.


The suspension came following ABC1's Four Corners last Monday released footage, which showed Australian cattle being tortured in Indonesian slaughterhouses.


The video has earlier led to a federal government temporarily suspension on exports to 11 Indonesian facilities.


Federal Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig intensified the government's action on Tuesday night, ordering a all live cattle exports ban to Indonesia, and said trade to Indonesia would resume when appropriate animal welfare safeguards were in place.


Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Australians were shocked at the video footage of the extreme cruelty to the cattle as they were being slaughtered.


"In light of the evidence presented to us, we have resolved to put a total suspension in place," Gillard told Fairfax on Wednesday.


Gillard, who has met with cattle industry officials in Darwin of Northern Territory on Tuesday night to explain the ban, said the suspension will remain until cattle from Australia are treated properly at every step of the supply chain.


"We will be working closely with Indonesia, and with the industry, to make sure we can bring about major change to the way cattle are handled in these slaughter houses," she said.


Indonesia is the biggest buyer of Australian live cattle, accounting for about 60 percent of the market.
(Source:http://news.xinhuanet.com)