NATIONAL Farmers’ Federation president David Jochinke has labelled the Federal Authorities’s latest correspondence on the stay cattle class motion as an “appalling assault on victims”.
In a letter the Lawyer-Common Mark Dreyfus despatched to the NFF and offered to the Australian Monetary Overview final week, the Authorities has accused the category motion of attempting to line their pockets on the tax payers’ expense.
“That is outrageously deceptive and a disgraceful try and bluff the general public and play video games with individuals who’ve already misplaced a lot,” mentioned Mr Jochinke, who’s within the Northern Territory this week, talking with producers.
“We’re speaking a few wrongdoing from 2011, that’s nonetheless dragging on. Since that point individuals have died, companies have collapsed and households have cracked below the stress.
“But the federal government continues with this contemptuous behaviour, unaware of the devastation the illegal ban introduced upon individuals who proceed to undergo financially and emotionally.”
Loads has been mentioned in regards to the dealing with of the category motion this yr, with former NT Cattlemen’s Affiliation chief government officer Tracey Hayes calling out the conduct of the Authorities throughout a presentation at Beef 2024 in Rockhampton. Present NTCA additionally introduced it to the eye of a parliamentary committee listening to into the stay sheep section out.
The Commonwealth has supplied $215 million in settlement, which fell far wanting the $500 million, plus curiosity, in damages the category is in search of.
The Authorities has indicated the Commonwealth’s supply is above the lack of anticipated earnings for 2011-12.
Mr Jochinke mentioned this didn’t account for the numerous prices the victims suffered within the fallout from the ban.
“It’s extremely deceptive for the Authorities to say the loss occurred solely in a single yr, and was confined solely to anticipated earnings.
“Misplaced earnings are solely the tip of the iceberg. That doesn’t account for the market crash that adopted the ban. It fully ignores the cattle deaths the ban brought about, the losses exporters, veterinarians and different companies within the provide chain suffered, or the compelled property gross sales that ensued.
“The Authorities is supposed to be a mannequin litigant. As an alternative, it’s now briefing mischievous nonsense to journalists. The entire disregard for producers who simply need to transfer on is astonishing.”
Supply: NFF
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