Swan urged to buy starving cattle * by:Sue Neales, Rural reporter * From:The Australian * May 29, 201312:00AM
NORTH Queensland pastoralists will today appeal personally to Wayne Swan to authorise the purchase of 100,000 drought-stricken cattle to save the starving stock from being shot.
Cattleman Barry Hughes said that if Canberra spent $150 million buying cattle -- which it could fatten and slaughter as overseas aid -- it would save Queensland communities, graziers and their stock from a growing crisis.
It is estimated there are 500,000 cattle in north and western Queensland that are in too poor a condition to be sold or trucked to a meatworks or feedlot.
Mr Hughes, who is leading a delegation to Canberra, will also ask Environment Minister Tony Burke to approve the opening of more national parks to grazing.
The meetings with the Treasurer, Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig, Trade Minister Craig Emerson, Resources Minister Gary Gray and Tony Abbott coincide with a warning from live exporters and cattlemen that new trade concessions from Indonesia will make little difference.
Dr Emerson claimed yesterday that the lifting by Indonesia of all import quotas on premium processed beef from Australia until the end of the year, and the acceleration of its imports of live cattle, would benefit drought-hit farmers. The moves will allow an extra 17,000 cattle to be shipped live from ports such as Darwin, Karumba and Wyndham from next month.
Queensland Agriculture Minister John McVeigh said the decision was a "step in the eright direction". Mr McVeigh, who visited Jakarta two weeks, said he hoped to push Indonesia into allowing more imports over the next year.
Major exporters suggested the lifting of quotas on processed beef would only apply to the high top-end of the market, affecting small amounts of fresh chilled meat flown in to high-end restaurants and hotels.
Cattle Council of Australia board member and Queensland cattleman Bim Struss said while the extra quota was welcome, it would not solve the drought and debt crisis and the excess stock stranded on northern stations.
"It might mean a bit down the track, but these cattle are in trouble now and the meatworks are full for months," Mr Struss said. "We're going to lose a lot of cattle and a lot of good people from the north; the only thing that can really help now is rain."
David Farley, chief executive of Australia's largest cattle company AACo, said Indonesia's tendency to switch and change its red meat demands was hurting Australian producers. He also warned Indonesia that its right to Australian beef in the long term was at risk.
"It is inherent upon both governments to develop trading protocols that send correct signals for the development of an efficient red meat supply chain," said Mr Farley, whose company is building an abattoir in Darwin.
"If Indonesia doesn't get it together, they will disenfranchise themselves from the market, given the demonstrated high and growing demand from China for our beef."
Mr Hughes said he was hopeful that the federal government was in a mood to listen today to his pleas to break the crisis. "Given the doors that are being opened to us, I am hopeful," he said. * Consider the costs and benefits associated with proceeding with the request being made of Wayne Swan. Ensure that you consider different stakeholder perspectives. Stakeholder | COSTS | BENEFITS | Graziers (farmers) | Loss of income/ bankruptcy/ sustainability of the grazing industry in North Queensland. | $150 m in income sustain the viability of the cattle industry. | Federal and State Government (QLD) | $150 million taxpayers funds. Less electoral clout in states funding has been redirected from. | See call OS and recoup some of the $150 M. Support the industry to remain viable. Boost electoral clout in north QLD. | North Queensland local community. | Loss of income as deman contracts. | $150 M boost deman for local products and services. | Indonesian buyers/ marker/ consumers | Higher prices as supply contracts. | Lower prices as supply is maintained or increased/ subsidised from foreign aid strengthen relationship with indonesia. | Taxpayers | Higher taxes pay for $150 M in funds | More equitable- money spent in other areas rather than one dominant pay out. | Cattle Council of Australia (CCA) | Potential industry downfall | Industry viability | Other recipients of gov’t spending. | Money diverted from cattle industry to other areas i | | * The following are parts of sentences that you need to complete (in any order) and include (along with your other ideas) in order to construct a paragraph response to the following statement:

Considering the costs and benefits associated, Wayne Swan should move forward with the purchase of drought stricken cattle. ** Note – you do not need to agree with this statementOther perspectives that should be considered include…………………. These stakeholders will experience flow on effects including …………………… because…
Other perspectives that should be considered include…………………. These stakeholders will experience flow on effects including …………………… because…
Swan should…
Swan should…

Has anyone considered the cattle?
Has anyone considered the cattle?
Economists would therefore argue that …
Economists would therefore argue that …
The ……………….. of moving forward with this request far outweigh the ………………..
The ……………….. of moving forward with this request far outweigh the ………………..
… which is why money should not be the only consideration in this decision
… which is why money should not be the only consideration in this decision
… however, this is not always easy to measure but should be considered because
… however, this is not always easy to measure but should be considered because
….and these are important resources because…
….and these are important resources because…
There seems to be a range of options available including …
There seems to be a range of options available including …
The obvious stakeholders that will be impacted include...
The obvious stakeholders that will be impacted include... Alternatives | Opportunity Cost | Costs | Benefits | Let cattle die/ farmers go bust | Thriving cattle industry in north QLD. | Costs of disposal. Bankruptcies/ declining demand in local towns. Negative impact on local businesses. Less meat for export and local consumption. | Money used elsewhere for a variety of other purposes (equity) | Spend $150 m to buy cattle | Spending money elsewhere in the economy on a wider range of stakeholders. | $150 M / taxes may increase / exacerbate budget deficit / money diverted from other areas. | Save or boost Qld cattle industry in North QLD. $150M INCOME spent in local communities. More meat from export or domestic consumption. Indonesians cheaper priced meat. Boost income of abattoirs. | Spend $150 m elsewhere | | | | Drought relief fund / + $75 M from government | | | | Provide $150M to graziers to fatten cows. | | | |

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PARAGRAPH RESPONSE