Latest news with #NT-based
West Australian
2 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Live cattle export ban class action claimants launch appeal against Federal Court's June ruling
Claimants in the long-running class action against the Federal Government's 2011 live cattle export ban have launched an appeal, challenging a recent Federal Court ruling that the ban had no long-term impact on export numbers. As reported by ABC's WA Country Hour on August 7, the appeal is focused on the Court's findings regarding the extent of damages suffered by the industry, and the level of compensation being offered by the government. The class action, led by NT-based Brett Cattle Company, is seeking $510 million in compensation plus costs and interest — but only $215 million was offered to claimants by the Federal Government under Anthony Albanese. Class action participant and former Hedland Export Depot owner Paul Brown told the Countryman in June the offered amount was 'gross', 'inadequate', 'paltry', and 'bordering on negligent'. The Federal Government, under former PM Julia Gillard, suspended Australia's live cattle trade to Indonesia for six months after footage was shown on ABC of cattle being mistreated and slaughtered without being stunned. The move left 88,000 cattle bound for international shores stranded, and ground the live cattle export industry to a halt. Australia's pastoral industry has been at war with the Federal Government in the years since, with a class action of 300 cattle producers launched in 2014 in an attempt to claim $510 million in compensation. But Mr Brown said the ban had a devastating effect on Australian pastoralists beyond financial circumstances — he said the amount failed to include any provision for compensation, loss of business, anguish, or stress. The Federal Court sided with the class action in 2020, saying the ban was unlawful, but lead complainant — NT-based Brett Cattle Company — is the only plaintiff to have received any compensation after the Federal Court's finding in 2020. In June, Federal Court Justice Tom Thawley that live cattle exports in 2012 and 2013 were not affected by ban in 2011 — a claim pastoralists have vehemently denied. Figures from Meat and Livestock Australia show Australia exported 521,000 head of live cattle to Indonesia in 2010, 413,000 in 2011, 278,000 in 2012, and 452,000 in 2013.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Aussie witnesses incredible moment in shallows at remote beach
A young Aussie was minding her own business on a remote beach when a massive shark was spotted swimming metres from shore in the shallows — and she managed to capture the whole thing on camera. Bonita was lounging under a sunshade at 80 Mile Beach in Western Australia last week when her partner Dylan shouted her over, telling her to come quick. As she dashed over, she caught sight of a fin peaking out of the water. "I saw it for a split second, and then it disappeared for a bit," Bonita told Yahoo News. "My partner [had been] fishing, and another man came along, they started chatting, and then out in front of them, they spotted the shark." Minutes later, the trio managed to spot the shark, thought to be a hammerhead, again, and Bonita ran down after it, explaining it was "so strange to see such a big shark" up close and personal. "I went running down to it and that's when I filmed... it stayed in the shallows for ages. It was there for a really long time, obviously just hunting for fish and stuff," she said. The fisherman Bonita and Dylan met at the beach explained it was likely a hammerhead they had spotted as he had caught and released one earlier in the day, further up the beach. "It was kind of hard to see in my video, we couldn't really see its head, because the like water so murky there," she said. Many hammerhead shark species live in the waters along the WA coastline and populations are in decline, with the sharks susceptible to getting caught in fishing nets due to the unique shape of their head. Shark scientist Dr Leonardo Guida previously told Yahoo News Australia often don't survive when released back into the water — unlike other sharks. There's often only a "90-second to two-minute" window before hammerheads have real difficulties returning to the water," NT-based shark wrangler Alexander Mulligan, previously told Yahoo. After that, their "muscles seize", preventing them from swimming, which often results in them sinking to the bottom and drowning. 👨 Fisherman's incredible catch set to 'feed whole family' for months 🎣 Fishermen catch fish 'rarely seen' in Aussie waters 🙋♀️ Incredible moment family spot relative lost at sea It's not the first time an Aussie has been stunned by a shark swimming in the shallows, with beachgoer Taylor being treated to not one but two sharks in the shallows last October along WA's north-west coast. The sharks appeared to be fighting one another but darted away after being startled by Taylor's intrigue. However, marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck previously told Yahoo News the sharks were likely engaging in a courting ritual. "Never seen that before," Taylor gushed. Last week, a group of holidaying Australians received the shock of their lives over the weekend when they arrived at a beach in the country's south for a swim, only to spot a "massive" four-metre great white shark cruising through the shallows. Despite many people imagining sharks only swimming in the open ocean, there are many instances of sharks swimming in the shallows for a number of reasons such as mating, hunting and even temperature regulation. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
