Labor candidate for Herbert Tony Mooney expressed his concern about job losses at the launch of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union’s (AMIEU) “live export exports jobs” campaign in Townsville this week.
This year alone, 960 full-time Australian meat workers’ jobs have been lost nation-wide. In response to the large number of jobs already lost, Mr Mooney announced that he supported the AMIEU’s campaign to end live export by 2015.“Last week I experienced a day in the life of a meat worker – it’s backbreaking work, so I appreciate what these workers do and their contribution to the community and economy.
“Nearly 300 jobs have been lost in Townsville, that’s just plain dumb – so I am supporting this campaign to end live export and if elected to the seat of Herbert look forward to working with the Union and broader industry to address the issue,” said Mooney.
“My father was a butcher so I’ve been a long-time supporter of the meat industry and meat processing,” he said.
The AMIEU press conference was set on the headland in front of the seaport which is frequented by live export vessels. Local meat workers peppered the headland as they came out in solidarity to fight for their jobs, two of whom were dressed as seven ft. trays of packaged meat.
Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh raised her concerns in Parliament last week saying that it is not in the long term interest of livestock producers for the industry to decline.“Top of the list will be the impact of live cattle exports,” said Bligh.
“I have met with the Meat Processing Industry and I know they are very concerned about the number of live cattle being sent overseas, instead of processed here...abattoirs and the jobs of meat workers, are not viable without a consistent supply of stock,” she said.
AMIEU Federal Secretary, Brian Crawford said that, “Every shipload of animals exported and processed overseas means less jobs right here in Queensland.
Local meat worker, Tiffany Kerle spoke about the huge impact that live export is having on Australian workers, their families and local communities.
“The loss of jobs and scaling-back of shifts is particularly hard on working mothers who have to be there for their family and for students who are trying to pay for their education.” Said Kerle.
“This year, for 267 people who no longer had employment it was just another hit, we all struggled to make payments on rent, mortgages, cars and to put food on the table due to live export,” she said.
The AMIEU is calling for the Government to phase out live exports, promote the existing chilled meat trade and in doing so, recognise the huge benefits that keeping Australian meat processing jobs in Australia will have on the economy and rural and regional communities.
Reuben Brand
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I have taken the time to write to my Local Member Mr Craig Thompson and I feel we all should take a few minutes of our time to express our disgust for the existing business practices where export of ourt sheep are concerned we want action we have been partitioning expressing our concerns for some year a direct letter to our local members is the best solution.
Thank you for taking the time to write your MP! And please let us know if you get a response back.
The US sheep and lamb flock continues to shrink, with numbers as at 1 July 2010 down 2% on the previous year, at 6.9 million head. US Department of Agriculture flock expansion prospects remain limited, with breeding numbers falling 3%, to 3.37 million head - the fifth consecutive annual decline. The tightening US lamb supply will only add to demand for lamb imports. In 2011, US mutton and lamb imports are forecast to increase 10%, with Australia and New Zealand the major suppliers.
BAHRAIN is to increase sheep imports by almost 60 per cent during Ramadan to meet food supply demands.
More than 95pc of the approximately 70,000 sheep imported to Bahrain in an average month is shipped live from Australia. Additional meat for the holy month will be transported chilled from a number of sources.
Bahrain Livestock chairman Ibrahim Zainal said a limited stock of live animals in Australia had forced the decision to import chilled meat.
“Australia is the best place from which to import livestock, but there is not enough to cope with the demand in Bahrain over Ramadan,” he said.
“We don’t really have an alternative but to import chilled meat.
“We would be importing only livestock if we could but it is not possible.
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