The importance of Port Alma for future live cattle exports has been acknowledged by the federal Senate this week.
The Senate passed a motion by Rockhampton-based Senator Matt Canavan noting the approval of Port Alma as a live cattle export facility and the benefit of providing new export options to producers and the cattle industry in central Queensland.
“The vote was 45 to 10 in favour,” Senator Canavan said. “Only the Greens voted against it.”
“Around a quarter of all the cattle exported from Townsville come from central Queensland and producers bear the costs of trucking them north. Port Alma gives them a much closer facility with much lower transport costs.”
Senator Canavan said Port Alma said the only thing holding back export at Port Alma were high cattle prices which was “great news” for producers.
“The facility at Port Alma was approved by the Department of Agriculture earlier this year and is currently registered to export live cattle.”
