TIME TO PLAY FAIR TO END CATTLE CLASS ACTION PAIN

Australia’s peak farming body is calling on the Federal Government to have a long hard look at the way it’s handling the compensation process for producers in the live cattle export class action.

Senate Estimates in Canberra last week revealed the Government had offered $215 million, a mere fraction of that being sought in compensation and interest.

National Farmers’ Federation President

Fiona Simson said it was an insult to those producers whose livelihoods were shattered in 2011, when the ban was imposed, to be fnally offered compensation that didn’t even come close.

“These cattle families have been put through the wringer time and time again. First with the ban, then through the legal process to fght it and now the government has fnally come out with a fgure so lowball it’s hurtful.

“Rubbing more salt in the wound was the deadline the Government gave producers to accept or reject the offer. Giving producers less than one month to respond when the government has taken more than a decade to provide an offer feels like bullying.”

Earlier this year the NFF called out the Government on not acting as a model litigant in determining the damages, for demanding more information from producers after the case wheat track prices are expected to trade, on average nationally, between AUD 340 and AUD 380 over the same period. How strong local prices remain will also be determined by whether drier conditions persist or not, Mr McGeoch said. The fate of barley prices will partly hinge on the outcome of negotiations to lift Chinese tariffs, the report says. Pending this, for now, the bank forecasts Australian feed barley to continue trading at a heavierthan-average discount to wheat over the next 12 months, on average nationally between AUD 230 and AUD 270 track prices. The high premiums seen last year for malt barley should not be expected in the current season, the report says.

Rabobank forecasts Australian national non-GM (geneticallymodifed) canola prices to trade, on average, between AUD 560 and

AUD 670 over the coming year, with GM canola trading at an AUD 20 to AUD 50 per tonne discount.

Crop inputs

On average, Australian farmers will increase fertiliser application this season, according to the bank’s research. This is the result of a decline in farm input prices after recent spikes, making fertiliser more affordable, Mr McGeoch said, as well as expectations of good returns from farming. “Urea prices are expected to track around current levels, or with a minor increase, in the coming months,” he said. Application of urea is projected to be up four per cent on last year, potash up three per cent and phosphate two per cent.

However, this would still be below the long-term average use of these fertilisers by Australian growers, Mr McGeoch said.

was determined, and for deliberately protracting and politicising the case.

“There’s only so much people can take. We want these producers to know, we stand with them and to hang in there,” Ms Simson said.

“If the Government is deliberately drawing out compensation negotiations to wear down producers to accept a lesser amount, they need to think again.

“This is not a game, this is people’s livelihoods.

We have ministers in Cabinet now, who were also in Cabinet at the time of the ban 12 years ago. You would think they would want to right this wrong.

“We want to close this unfortunate chapter in agriculture’s book and see that these producers are treated fairly and paid fairly.”