Australian government to pay ‘substantial damages’ over live cattle trade
The Australian government has been ordered to pay “substantial damages” to cattle farmers following a decision to shut down the trade of live cattle to Indonesia in 2011.
An ABC programme on May 30, 2011 featured animal welfare abuses in some Indonesian abattoirs processing Australian cattle and in June, acting on behalf of the Federal Government, former Agriculture Minister Senator Joe Ludwig banned the live cattle trade to Indonesia.
In the Federal Court, Justice Steven Rares said the former senator had committed the offence of ‘misfeasance in public office’ in his decision making.
The Australian Farmers’ Fighting Fund, Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association, Brett Cattle Company & National Farmers’ Federation said the ruling “sets a pathway that will serve to ensure a higher standard of government decision making into the future”.
It added: “Most importantly it brings closure to a very challenging chapter for the Brett Cattle Company and the many other northern Australian farmers and businesses whose lives and livelihoods were thrown into chaos as a result of the shutdown.”
