16 Mar 2013

Ban on live cattle exports costly - grazier

6:12 pm on 16 March 2013

The chairman of Australia's largest beef cattle company says the Australian Government does not understand the widespread damage still being experienced as a result of the 2011 suspension of live exports.

The Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) says it has lost more than $A50 million as a result of the Federal Government's snap decision to ban live exports to Indonesia two years ago, the ABC reports.

The temporary ban was introduced after footage was aired on the ABC's Four Corners program showing animal cruelty at Indonesian abattoirs.

AACo chairman Donald McGauchie says the long-term impact has been underestimated.

"It is a very significant amount of money and damage that will take a long time to fix," he said.

Mr McGauchie says Indonesia still does not see Australia as a reliable supplier and is looking for other trading partners.

He says he is especially worried about smaller family operations in the Northern Territory.