Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus says claims made by NTCA president are false

The federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said claims made by the Northern Territory Cattleman’s Association president Henry Burke that he criticised a judge of the Federal Court, for a decision in relation to the live cattle export ban of 2011 are false. Read why.

Solomon MP Luke Gosling and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus. The Albanese government has committed $3.6m to open an Administrative Review Tribunal registry in Darwin. Picture: Fia Walsh.

The federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said claims made by the Northern Territory Cattleman’s Association president Henry Burke that he criticised a judge of the Federal Court, for a decision in relation to the live cattle export ban of 2011 are false.

“I have never at any time criticised this decision, or the judge responsible for the decision,” Mr Dreyfus said in a statement to this Masthead.

“The Federal Court has made no decision as to what financial compensation the applicants are entitled to.

“As Australia’s first law officer I respect the separation of powers.

“Far from criticising a judge or a court, I take seriously my responsibility to defend the judiciary from attack.

“Within months of taking office, the Labor government made a very substantial settlement offer of $215 million.

“It is a matter of public record that the applicants were considering that offer for many months.

“The government has engaged in a good faith attempts to settle these claims, and will continue to do so.

“Ultimately, if the parties cannot settle, it will be a matter for the Federal Court to decide precisely how much the Commonwealth owes the applicants.

“It’s worth noting that even though the live cattle ruling was made in 2020, the former Coalition Government did not settle the case with the applicants, and left this to the incoming Labor Government to resolve.”

Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association (NTCA) President Henry Burke

Mr Burke made the claims in his speech to the NT Cattleman’s Association conference last Friday.

About 300 Territory cattle producers and other industry stakeholders are owed hundreds-of-millions of dollars after the federal court ruled the controversial live export ban was illegal.

In June 2011 the Julia Gillard-led federal Labor government banned live beef exports to Indonesia after allegations of animal cruelty in abattoirs were broadcast on Australian television.

Northern Territory Cattleman’s Association President Henry Burke (left) condemned the delays.

“When it comes to this case, this government is doing everything it can to drag this out. To keep it going in the hope it won’t have to be them, the people who caused this in the first place, to have to admit they did wrong,” he said.