Businesses and producers affected by the Federal Government’s live cattle ban on exports to Indonesia are moving into litigation territory following more than a month of losses.

Lawyers in Queensland and the Northern Territory have reported an increasing desire from clients to recoup some of the losses through compensation from the government. Brisbane-based McCullough Robertson senior associate in the litigation & dispute resolution team, Trent Thorne, told ALB a number of clients had begun seeking information on the topic of compensation. “It’s fair to say that there are some people in the industry really hurting because of the ban,” he said.  

According to Thorne, a compensation claim through litigation is a realistic outcome for businesses directly affected by the ban. “I think compensation is inevitable, how can you take away peoples’ livelihoods without providing compensation,” he added. Several Northern Territory business owners damaged by the ban met with lawyers from Minter Ellison in Darwin on Thursday afternoon to discuss the possibility of a class action.

Despite the ban being lifted earlier this month, there is still no sign of when export and import permits will be granted by the Australian or Indonesian governments. “We are fast approaching a point where an entire season of cattle will pass its ability to be exported and will flood the local market, forcing the local price of meat down even further,” said Thorne. “We would certainly be interested in assisting clients that could show to us that they have suffered damages from the ban, and I doubt that will be difficult.”

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