11 June 2009
DAFF09/275B

Indigenous workers will play an important part in the growth of the Kimberley cattle industry into the expanding South East Asian market, the Rudd Government said today.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke officially opened the new Roebuck Export Depot, 30km east of Broome.

The $2 million depot was built by the Indigenous Land Corporation and handles up to 8,000 head of cattle at one time.

It is an important addition to the infrastructure underpinning the Kimberley pastoral industry, including the live cattle export sector.

The sector generates more than $900 million annually, with more than 90,000 head of cattle exported from Broome to South East Asian markets in 2007 alone.

The live export industry supports more than 10,000 jobs in rural and regional Australia, including more than 1,000 jobs in northern Western Australia.

Roebuck Export Depot will help many pastoral properties in the region to bring cattle to the market, including Indigenous-owned properties.

“Aboriginal men and women have a long history of working in the Australian pastoral industry and their experience on the land is a huge asset,” Mr Burke said.

“I want to see more Indigenous Australians involved in our primary industries and this cattle depot is an important step forward.

“As today’s unemployment figures show, supporting jobs remains a key challenge for the future – including in our rural industries.

“The Kimberley is right on Asia’s doorstep and it will continue to serve as an economic bridge linking Australia to lucrative trade markets.

“I commend the Indigenous Land Corporation for its vision in establishing this depot which is particularly important as the global recession continues to impact on Australia.”

Mr Burke visited another Kimberley cattle property, ‘Kilto Station’, in July last year where he observed an innovative irrigation system used to produce fodder.

Much of the fodder produced at ‘Kilto Station’ is transported to feed cattle at the new Roebuck Export Depot.

He also previously visited the Indigenous-run cattle property ‘Lamboo Station’ and had the opportunity to meet some trainees from that property for the second time today.