Senator Matt Canavan has thrown his support behind moves to export live cattle from Port Alma at his first meeting of the Live Export Steering Committee in Rockhampton today.

“We don't make one industry stronger by making another weaker. Rockhampton is the beef capital of Australia, and as the capital it is big enough to house all parts of the beef supply chain,” said Senator Canavan.

“Beef producers are doing it tough because prices are low at the farm gate. If we want producers to restock, they have to have confidence that there will be a market with good prices at the other end. Having multiple supply outlets will build confidence and make for a stronger beef industry.

“Talk that it will cost jobs does not stack up. Townsville has both a strong live export market and a meatworks industry. A new port in Central Queensland will help producers cut transport costs by having a port closer by will be better for stock as well.

Around 80 cattle producers in the Central Queensland already send cattle to Townsville for live export.

“There are more than seven million hungry people in the world. There is more than enough demand for a strong cattle industry, a strong live export industry and a strong meat processing sector in Australia."

24 July 2014