Press Release

“The Gillard Government’s decision to spend $275million of tax payer’s monies to keep Holden in South Australia is a slap in the face to West Australian cattle producers who are forced to rebuild their industry with no financial support following last year’s knee jerk decision to suspend cattle exports to Indonesia,” PGA President Rob Gillam said.

“This morning in Canberra, Prime Minister Gillard said that Holden was an Australian icon and that without the Government contribution, Holden would have most likely closed its Australian manufacturing operations, placing at risk hundreds of jobs in the manufacturing industry.’’

“What about the thousands of jobs that are dependent upon the live export industry across Australia and the thousands of regional families whose livelihoods have been unfairly shattered by the Governments decision to impose a blanket ban of live cattle exports to Indonesia?”

“As a direct result of this decision the Indonesian Government has reduced its quota of beef imports from Australia and is continuing to look for alternatives for its beef supply, as Australia is no longer considered to be reliable.”

“And throughout this entire fiasco, the Government continues to ignore calls for compensation for those northern cattle producers who are now faced with being unable to find a market for their animals.”

“Yet the Government is more than happy to write checks to foreign owned car manufacturers in an attempt to appease the unions.”

“It may be a great day for Australian car making, but it is a dark one for the Australian livestock industry.”