http://fw.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/livestock/cattle/money-behind-abc-footage/2197952.aspx

It will be interesting to see if there is anything behind this
story. Eventually the truth should come out.

...So what this yet unproven but believable new insight (via Yabby's link) exposes, is the possibility of the four corners documentary being fabricated. How UNsurprising! That information stacks-up with the report in the Weekend Australian newspaper of two weeks ago: That report also added to the contrary view, the four abattoirs filmed for the documentary were not actually slaughtering Australian beef at the time of filming.

...At the very least, Joe Ludwig should be sacked, and a Government inquiry into the whole affair should be initiated; at the end of which legal action should be initiated against offending parties, including ABC management: Until then, the immediate resumption of the live cattle trade is paramount...

A few more thoughts on this subject...

Indonesia is a country that doesn't take kindly to any snub such as depriving it of a desperately needed source of beef. The mistake made by the government may cost it dearly as Indonesia cannot afford to be deprived of its food source and will turn to other beef exporters from South America, to replace the trade with Australia. Having stopped the exports it may already be too late to negotiate a resumption with a Muslim country whose culture does not accept such an
affront.

We rely on Indonesia to maintain good relations as neighbours and it took decades to build up that relationship. This government decision may destroy this relationship and it would be to our detriment when
our government is looking towards regional co-operation and stability.

Lexi,
What you say about keeping the trade up to those abittoirs that slaughter the cattle to our standards and bypassing others that are below standard, was the obvious way to go.

This seems to me what was first done(if I am correct) then later a complete ban was imposed. One must question what happened to cause the later total ban. Was that due to further presure from the animal libbers and/or the Greens? Neither would surprise me as practicality is seemingly non existant in both groups.

Certainly implement the necessary measures as Yabby and Belly have suggested with the aim of continued trade. Once each abittoirs came to standard they could be added to the list of suitable abittoirs.

By all means hold an inquiry as to why the situation has not been remedied before and hold MLA to account as Katter and Rehctub have both said.

May I shift a bit from the thread?
To put a spotlight on just why we are in this trouble.
Yabby still reading your other thread, recent posts confirm my reasons for not posting.
But too HIGHLIGHT the very nature of this dispute.
We saw dreadful unneeded Cruel acts, EVEN IF, and a chance exists, believe me it does,it was acted and paid for, we MUST stop it.
But some hidden self interest groups,without doubt, by deceiving and miss using us all, [NOTE RELUCTANCE to find fixes that continue the trade]are pushing us and my country away from better out comes.
Now yes country folk often are anti ALP but look with me at this, a lot of current politics is using the very same tactic,and winning.
We are not well served by our leadership, we are in the middle of a childish school yard bully's fight.
Both sides are refusing to act in this country's self interest.
And who would have ever thought it? Tony Abbott and Gillard both are bending to the GREENS.
Know this,while 12 to 14% of Australians, support the greens true left.
86 TO 88 PERCENT, well dare not say LETS PRETEND Australians only distrust the greens.
Do not blind your selves ,Abbott too yesterday put his personal wishes in front of our country.
I look for the day both major party's walk around both house to vote together to end 12% the country's most unloved party, to rule against whole groups of us,to force hardship on these farmers.
Gillard and Abbott while I wait for your party's to get aback bone end this gutless bending to such.
Get the trade restarted TOGETHER.

Lexi, I'd say that the total ban was slapped on, for pure
political expediency. Animals Australia with Getup, had
already planned a major tv and radio campaign against Gillard
personally, to force her to shut down the live trade. The
total ban effectively pulled the rug from under their feet
and they could not go ahead with it.

All the rest would simply be seen as collateral damage.