Barnaby Joyce urges Government not to appeal Federal Court live cattle export ruling

NATIONALS MP Barnaby Joyce has urged the Federal Government not to appeal last week’s landmark Federal Court decision that ruled a 2011 ban on live cattle exports was invalid

Cattle on board the livestock carrier, the Anna Marra Panama, at East Arm Wharf in 2018. Picture: Keri Megelus

NATIONALS MP Barnaby Joyce has urged the Federal Government not to appeal last week’s landmark Federal Court decision that ruled a 2011 ban on live cattle exports was invalid.

Federal Court judge Steven Rares found former Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig acted recklessly and committed “misfeasance in public office” when he announced a snap ban on the live export industry.

The decision has opened the door for cattlemen to be paid hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation.

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The issue was discussed at a Coalition joint party room meeting in Canberra yesterday with Attorney General Christian Porter indicating an appeal to the High Court was likely.

But Mr Joyce urged the Government to let the decision stand.

“I think it’s really important for the symbolism of it that we don’t have an appeal of the decision otherwise we start looking like we’re a party to the cause of banning the live cattle trade,” he said.

Former minister for Northern Australia Matt Canavan and Queensland MP George Christensen voiced their concerns about an appeal at the party room meeting.

But it’s understood Prime Minister Scott Morrison calmed tensions by saying the merit of the decision would be upheld, but the point of law would be contested.

Sources told the NT News this could mean the cattlemen would be offered compensation, even if an appeal is taken to the High Court.

But Mr Joyce said the cattlemen had suffered enough over the live export ban and urged the Government to drop any plans to appeal.

“(The Prime Minister) was quite clear that he said that they would be treated fairly and properly and one would presume that from that we would not be relitigating a case against them,” he said.

“I hope that’s where the issue rests because it’s very important as a symbolic understand on how northern Australian industry works.”

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The Federal Court’s decision could open the door for the cattlemen and other affected industries to be paid more than $600 million in compensation.

Mr Joyce said the ban had devastated the cattle industry right across the country.

“I hope that in recognition of that we show that we’re a Government that understands the huge problem that the Australian Labor Party caused and that we are on the side of fair treatment of these cattle producers,” he said.