NT spokesman Breeders Association, Luke Bowen, the ABC said, the plan is a good opportunity for ranchers. Purchase of farm land could help restore the flagging cattle industry following the ban on live cattle exports to Indonesia.
The Indonesian government said the planned purchase of a million hectares of land has been approved. According to the State Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan, breed cattle in Australia is much cheaper than importing it to Indonesia.
NT region still trying to recover their cattle industry because of previous Australian Government policy that prohibits the export of cattle to Indonesia on the grounds that cows should not be treated in slaughter houses in Indonesia.
Former Chairman of the NT Breeders Association, Rohan Sullivan, explains, some farms are not able to sell their animals to the Australian market, and maybe they want to sell to Indonesia.
Planned purchase of farm land area of one million hectares, or about four times larger than the capital city of Canberra was expected to produce five per cent of Australian livestock exports.
According to the farmers, it shows Indonesia's plan is not a threat to local farmers.
Previously, the Government of Indonesia approved the planned purchase of farm land in Australia to develop to meet the needs of beef cattle in Indonesia.
According to the State Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan, breed cattle in Australia is much cheaper than importing it to Indonesia.
Beef prices hit record highs in Indonesia over the past year because of local meat production fails to meet domestic needs.
Beef self-sufficiency policy of the government blamed for restricting imports from Australia and other countries.
To put more pressure on prices, eliminating a number of restrictions in Indonesia in 2013, but the government is acting with a more permanent solution. After finding a suitable soil, Indonesia had requested permission from the Australian Foreign Investment Appraisal Board to buy.
(http://internasional.kompas.com)
