If PTBI believes the way animals were slaughtered and treated on the program was humane there is not much merit in continuing the debate. You can't argue with someone who won't acknowledge the conditions or thinks that it is perfectly okay.

There are many people who don't believe animals deserve to be treated humanely - that somehow animals don't feel pain. That attitude also exists in Australia which keeps groups like the RSPCA busy. While the suspension is welcomed on live exports to Indonesia there is more work to be done in Australia while continuing to ignore the conditions of battery hens and some of the worst offenders in the pig industry. However in those areas small positive changes are being made - like all change it evolves slowly. Thankfully most farmers are concerned about their animals.

Nothing but a ban on live exports will ensure animal welfare concerns are met but it won't happen mores the pity, there are too many pressures on governments and frankly both Labor and the Coalition are too weak to go against business. Environmental protection is in the same camp as animal welfare while we watch even as the few remaining old growth forests are continually eroded. Mining interests will nearly always win over environmental protection. Short term policy making is the norm with little attention to long term consequences.

@Proud to be Indonesian - "And no, we can get undiseased beef easily from many parts of the world" Well name them! I listen to the ABC radio all day every day, until 7pm. This includes listening to The Country Hour. I've not heard anyone name the countries who could export to Indonesia WITH pure history re foot and mouth disease, or some other.

You didn't address the vital aspect of cost? Did you listen to or read the interview on The Country Hour in respect of what Indonesians eat the most, including those who can afford meat? The fact is that Australian beef is bigger and people like the taste, also, Indonesia wants to build up their stocks. If they have to slaughter more of their own cattle it will include females. They need cows to build up stocks.

If you want to disagree with me or anyone else, you need to put forward other arguments and where you get your figures from etc. Just saying that there are other countries that will provide cattle isn't good enough without stating what those countries are. Name some!

I suggest that you go to the Country Hour website, AM and PM also, and read some of the interviews there. There's lots of people more capable of listening to etc than me. Indonesia needs to watch their costs; cattle from Sth America etc would add huge costs. I don't think they have a 'pure' history either. That's why Australian beef is such a good product. Also, we don't want our products being contaminated by diseased stock from other countries. So, it's in everyones's best interest to abide by the humane Laws that are already in place in both countries - they just need to be adhered to!

Perhaps the suffering and killing of animals is a necessary lens through which to assess humankind altogether.

http://www.fearnomorezoo.org/literature/observe_learn.php

http://www.dabase.org/p9rightness.htm

Dont forget that the 4 Corners story was promoted by and filmed by an animal rights organisation, and (as any organisation trying to promote a point is want to do) they exaggerated both the extent of the problem and Australia's involvement in it. Please, if you really care about this issue, please read this link. The letter is written by an intelligent and knowledgable worker in the industry who is able to articulate the real situation in Indonesia, the investment made by Australian and Indonesian business in recent years to improve the slaughter methods and the impacts that this ban will have obth on Australian producers, those that have poured money into improvements and on the local indonesians.

http://sl.farmonline.com.au/blogs/farmonline-opinion/a-letter-to-four-corners-from-wellard-rural-exports/2193028.aspx

Country Gal:

...The situation speaks for itself! The ineptitude of this Government on all fronts is staggering. I would suggest you cease your search for logic on this one too! Cheers...

Dan...

The life export industry has put lots of money into making this business less cruel for the cattle? I wonder how bad it was before if the present level of cruelty is unacceptable to the Australian public. We live in a democracy and the majority do not want life export. We have no control over the fate of these animals once they leave our shores. Those boats loaded just before the ban are not being brought back to Australia. Is there any reason to think the fate of these cattle will not be the same as the previous ones?

Simply tax meat to keep the price the same and use the tax money collected to retrain those farmers that cannot function without life export into a new industry. Why would anybody want to remain in an industry that the majority of the population find repulsive and cruel. From a country boy and cattle owner.