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Aussie cattle farmers flag biosecurity risks in US beef imports

A central Queensland cattle farmer has hit out at the Prime Minister over the shock decision to permit US beef imports into Australia.

Frustration is building up among Aussie cattle farmers over Anthony Albanese’s shock decision to permit US beef imports into Australia.

“Everyone’s upset with old Albo because he has just gone and made this decision without consulting with industry,” central Queensland cattle farmer Clay Kenny told NewsWire on Friday.

“He just made the decision yesterday morning and it just happened. It didn’t come back to Cattle Council or anything.”

US beef has enjoyed access to the Australian market since 2019, but this week’s decision opens up cattle sourced from Mexico and Canada and then processed in America to enter Australia.

Mr Kenny, the managing director of LPC Agriculture, said there was “no market risk” from the change, but he warned the new import regime could degrade Australia’s strict biosecurity protocols.

“In Australia here, we have full lifetime traceability of every piece,” he said.

Cattle farmers in Australia pursue full lifetime traceability for every piece of meat, a key quality standard. Picture: Supplied
Cattle farmers in Australia pursue full lifetime traceability for every piece of meat, a key quality standard. Picture: Supplied

“If you ate a piece of meat somewhere, the whole story would be there: Where it came from, what it ate, how it was treated right through its life.

“But the US don’t have these systems. So the risk is, it’s lowering our standard of what our systems are in Australia already.”

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer praised the Prime Minister’s decision in a statement on Thursday and singled out US President Donald Trump’s “leadership” for the change.

“Yesterday’s decision by Australia marks a major milestone in lowering trade barriers and securing market access for US farmers and ranchers,” he said.

“President Trump is taking decisive action to confront unfair trading practices, and Australia’s decision to unlock market access for US beef is a direct result of his leadership.”

Mr Kenny, however, expressed confusion about the focus on exporting beef to Australia.

US President Donald Trump has often railed against restrictions on US beef imports into Australia. Picture: Jim Watson / AFP
US President Donald Trump has often railed against restrictions on US beef imports into Australia. Picture: Jim Watson / AFP

“The US is seriously short of beef so it’s got me stuffed why they would bother bringing any over here when we’re pumping them into them by the thousand of shipping container loads a day,” Mr Kenny said.

“It’s just all about the standards.”

Agriculture Minister Julie Collins confirmed on Thursday that Australia would remove the ban on American beef from cattle originating in Canada and Mexico after a decade-long review.

The Albanese government has denied the timing of the decision has anything to do with drawn-out tariff exemption talks with the US.

Former Liberal frontbencher Senator Jane Hume, speaking on Friday, warned there was “no second chance” to protect Australian livestock from biosecurity threats.

“If it’s 99.9 per cent safe that means that there is a one-in-1000 chance it isn’t safe,” she told Sunrise.

Liberal Party senator Jane Hume says a slim risk is still a threat. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer
Liberal Party senator Jane Hume says a slim risk is still a threat. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

“It’s not unreasonable to ask what it is that’s changed and to understand what the decision has been based upon, to see those documents.”

Senator Hume kept up the attack on the government over the timing of the concession.

“What is it that Australia is gaining out of this decision? Is it because we want to secure that tariff exemption with Donald Trump? If that’s the case, be explicit about it,” she said.

Appearing opposite Senator Hume, Health Minster Mark Butler said Australia’s biosecurity officials who assessed the US system were not making political decisions.

Health Minister Mark Butler says the biosecurity officials who greenlit the move are highly experienced. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman
Health Minister Mark Butler says the biosecurity officials who greenlit the move are highly experienced. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“I’m surprised that the same officials who have been serving governments of both political persuasions, very high-grade biosecurity officials, are being questioned by the National Party in this way,” he said.

The Nationals have called for a review of the decision.

“This was a biosecurity decision, made by the same officials who made the same decision in relation to US cattle under the former government,” Mr Butler said.

“It was not a trade decision … the American systems were assessed by our independent officials over the last several months and found to be up to scratch.”

Read related topics:Anthony AlbaneseBrisbane

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/no-second-chance-opposition-questions-safety-of-us-beef-imports/news-story/cf5eb0bf1e9b5d57b12e414f20d02627