An immediate ban on live exports to Indonesia was called for after inhumane treatment to Australian cattle in the country’s abattoirs was exposed through ABC’s Four Corners program aired on Monday.

In connection to this, Northwest Queensland beef producers say Australia should be responsible in the improvement of animal welfare in Indonesian slaughterhouses and should not stop its export to the neighboring nation.

ABC's Four Corners program on Monday night showed Australian cattle being subjected to inhumane treatment in Indonesian abattoirs and has prompted calls for an immediate ban on live exports to Indonesia.

However graziers believe that such move would only worsen animal welfare issues.

Normanton cattle producer Calvin Gallagher said, "The Indonesian people are going to buy cattle no matter what. If we're not selling them our cattle and educating them then the situation will never improve."

Gallagher added Indonesian importers would instead buy South American beasts and will do away with the safe guards Australia has been working to implement.
Trainers are sent to Indonesian slaughterhouses to provide workers with formal training, according to Meat and Livestock Australia.

Gallagher accounted that beef prices will dramatically go down for a long time as the ban on live exports would result in a flooding of the domestic market.

"If you put another 650,000 cattle into the domestic market it's going to be devastating for producers," he explained.

Brad Bellinger, Australian Beef Association chairman, said the closure of the live export market would cause a drop of 20 cents per kilogram in the price of domestic beef.