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Bob Katter blasts government over over Indonesia’s cattle cut

Bob Katter says the Federal Government has gone out of its way to kick Indonesia and that’s why they have reduced imports of Australian cattle.

Mr Katter believes Indonesia took the decision in response to criticism directed their way over the execution of drug traffickers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

He also said Indonesia’s decision to reduce the quota to just 50,000 head of cattle in the next quarter would be disastrous for producers in his north Queensland electorate.

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“We expected this year to be sending about 500,000-600,000 head of cattle to Indonesia,” Mr Katter told ABC’s 7.30.

“I can hardly see a Prime Minister who’s gone out of his way to kick Indonesia at every single available opportunity having a good enough relationship to reopen the cattle market.

“The Prime Minister and the Foreign Affairs Minister…all I can say is their performance has been disgraceful and it has been no better, and probably worse, than Julia Gillard’s – if that’s humanly possible.

When asked what evidence he had that Indonesia was cutting the quota in retaliation, Katter responded:

“The minute that the Prime Minister and the Foreign Affairs Minister went on the attack of a neighbouring government and criticised their laws and said that an Australia should not be subject to their laws and defended two drug traffickers – people who are responsible for over 1,000 deaths a year in Australia – and insulted the people of that country…

“And to quote the retired head of ASIO for Australia, ‘Provoking, confronting and speaking in a most arrogant manner.’

“That’s how he described our behaviour towards Indonesia, or, at least, that is how the Indonesians see our behaviour.”

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