Australian Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister to Visit Indonesia

Australia’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Tony Burke, will visit Indonesia this week (20-22 August) to meet with counterpart ministers and key business representatives, reaffirming Australia’s strong ties with its near neighbour.

Mr Burke will be accompanied by representatives of Australian primary industries including Meat and Livestock Australia, the Cattle Council of Australia, Australian Livestock Exporters Council, Australian Citrus Growers and the fishing industry.

Mr Burke said his meetings with counterparts in Indonesia would provide an opportunity to discuss joint efforts to curb illegal fishing activity to Australia’s north and reduce illegal logging in Indonesia.

“I will also emphasise Australia’s interest in access to the Indonesian market and our interest in collaboration on capacity-building initiatives across the quarantine, agriculture, fishing and forestry sectors,” he said.

“Australia has a strong agricultural trade relationship with Indonesia and we expect that trade to grow,” Mr Burke said.

Australia is the major supplier of wheat to Indonesia, exporting around 1.5 million tonnes in 2007 and is also Indonesia's major supplier of live cattle, exporting over 520,000 head in 2007.

Mr Burke will undertake a field visit to a major cattle feedlot handling Australian Brahman and Brahman-cross cattle, a facility processing Australian wheat, as well as forestry and fisheries research projects.

Media Enquiries:
Jenny Dee, Counsellor (Public Affairs) tel. (021) 2550 5290 mob. 0811 187 3175