National Farmers Federation calls on public to launch email blitz on PM Scott Morrison over cattle export ban ruling

Australia’s peak farm advocacy group has called on the public to support northern cattle producers and directly pressure Prime Minister Scott Morrison to accept a court ruling that found the 2011 decision to ban live cattle exports was illegal. Federal Court Justice Steven Rares recently ruled that then-Labor agriculture minister Joe Ludwig had acted recklessly and committed misfeasance in public office when he banned farmers from exporting live cattle to Indonesia for six months. The ban followed a Four Corners program that exposed cruelty to Australian cattle. The Government was ordered to pay almost $3 million in damages to the Northern Territory’s Brett Cattle Company. The company was lead plaintiff in a class action with about 300 members, with compensation yet to be determined. The Government has until Monday to appeal. The National Farmers Federation said it needed help to support farming families, including a call for the public to email Mr Morrison. NFF president Fiona Simson said appealing the court ruling would show contempt and a disregard for regional Australia, particularly to those who had already been hurt by the ban. “The 2011 decision to shut down Australia’s live cattle exports caused catastrophic damage which is still being felt to this day,” she said. “Hundreds of cattle-producing families, as well as the thousands of people employed across the industry had their livelihoods decimated with the stroke of a pen.” Ms Simson said the court agreed that cattle producers should be compensated, and the decision should stand as a warning to governments. “An appeal would be a slap in the face for hundreds of top end families who have waited nearly a decade for justice,” she said. “We’re calling on the Morrison Government to let this decision lie, and give these families the closure they deserve.” Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said told the ABC on Tuesday an announcement on the appeal would be made “very, very soon”.