Rudd Government’s Mad Cow decision puts overseas producers ahead of Australia’s national interest

March 1, 2010

Federal MP Luke Hartsuyker today (March 1) met with local beef producers concerned over the Rudd Government’s decision to allow beef to be imported from countries which have been affected by BSE (Mad Cow disease).  From today (March 1) beef will be allowed in to Australia from BSE infected countries.

“There is a bad smell surrounding the handling of this matter with the Rudd Government decision shrouded in secrecy,” Mr Hartsuyker said. “The Minister for Agriculture Tony Burke refuses to order his Department to do an Import Risk Assessment and update the import protocols. The Rudd Government has also refused to release the import protocols before the ban is lifted today.  The nation’s clean, green disease free status is invaluable and quarantine is too important to be ignored. It is disgraceful the Minister for Agriculture is prepared to play Russian roulette with our beef industry. Our beef industry is worth billions of dollars, supports hundreds of towns and communities, and thousands of jobs would be at destroyed if there was a Mad Cow outbreak in Australia.”

Mr Hartsuyker said it was ludicrous that Australian beef producers would be subjected to more stringent quality control than overseas producers.

“Under the Rudd Government, Australian beef producers will have to produce beef to a higher standard than imported beef from countries which have had a BSE outbreak. Our industry legally requires a National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS) to sell beef to Australian consumers and it is ridiculous to suggest that we should lower the bar and allow beef in from countries which have lower food safety and quarantine standards than our own producers. There is genuine concern about the lack of consultation and the secrecy surrounding the Government’s decision.”

The Federal Coalition has instigated a Senate inquiry into the issue to force the Rudd Government to be up front with beef producers and consumers. The Coalition will also introduce a Private Members Bill to protect Australians and our beef industry from BSE.

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