PrintLabor's Plan for Working Australians - out of work and onto welfare
The Gillard Labor government have now added insult to injury with their offer of welfare in place of jobs in the cattle industry, Senator Scullion said today.
“The tens of thousands of people employed up until 3 weeks ago in the vibrant cattle industry must now be thinking to themselves just how many more kicks in the teeth they must endure from the Gillard Labor government, said Senator Scullion.
“No one accepts the treatment of cattle as shown on the ABC program but it is well known even by the Labor government that what was shown on TV was not in any way an accurate portrayal of the entire industry.
“In a panicked response to that television program the Gillard government halted all trade without any warning to the Indonesian government.
“Our cattle industry now faces the very real prospect that trade will not resume for some months if at all, said Senator Scullion.
“It is up to the Indonesian government to issue permits for our cattle to be sent to Indonesia and they may only do so if they can be sure that we will honour our deal to supply them.
“A knee jerk reaction by the Labor government to a TV program shows that there is zero security in a supply of Australian cattle to meet the food needs of Indonesians.
“The ramifications of this rushed decision run deep, said Senator Scullion.
“Aside from the diplomatic mess created, jobs in remote Australia are destroyed.
“In remote Aboriginal communities where opportunities are the most scarce, Labor have trashed a vital industry that provides not only jobs but jobs in an industry that is cherished by Aboriginal people, said Senator Scullion.
The Prime Minister must immediately go to Indonesia with Tony Abbott to demonstrate in a bipartisan way that Australia wants to continue to trade with our northern neighbour.
A viable cattle industry and not welfare is what Australians both want and deserve and it is up to the Prime Minister to now fix the mess her government has created, said Senator Scullion.
