AUSTRALIA-TASMANIAN LIVESTOCK BEING KILLED ON MAINLAND.
The western suburbs look set for a jobs boost if an iconic breed of Tasmanian cattle are sent to a major Brooklyn abattoir for slaughter.
Brazil-based meat processing giant JBS Swift last week closed down its King Island abattoir for a 10-week review of its operations.
Australian company director John Berry told Star if the Tasmanian plant, which produces the famous King Island brand of beef, closed, Brooklyn ’s 20 hectare abattoir on Industry Park Drive would have a good chance of processing the famous premium cuts of meat.
A 10-week review of the Tasmanian abattoir will determine if it is financially viable to operate at the site. Mr Berry said if the King Island site was deemed not to be financially viable, the company would look at shipping King Island cattle to Brooklyn for slaughter.
"We would look at Brooklyn as an option due to its scale of operation and its location," Mr Berry said.
"It is strategically located to process both beef and smalls (lamb, mutton and veal) in Southern Australia .
"If indeed it doesn’t stack up (to keep processing in King Island ) we have options and one of those options is to go through the supply chain arrangement to process King Island beef at Brooklyn .
"Those cattle would be sent to Brooklyn which would be great for them. Brooklyn have the capacity. The previous owners had foresight so it’s certainly already got the capacity."
An increase in processing at the Brooklyn abattoirs would naturally see an increase in recruitment, Mr Berry said.
Brimbank City Council Harverster Ward councillor Tran Siu said he welcomed any moves that would create more jobs locally.
Brimbank was particularly struggling in the current economic climate making any job boosts encouraging, he said.
"New business and new jobs is always encouraged in Brimbank and I think this is definitely something worth exploring," Cr Siu said.
Mr Berry said he could not speculate on the company’s future in King Island but he said every effort would be made to retain the iconic brand name if it moved to Melbourne .
"We have made a decision to review the operation of our King Island plant and will be undertaking strategic assessment over an eight to 10 week period," he said.
"We have to get down to looking at the costs of operating in King Island . It’s very expensive in the sense of transport, power and other operational costs. It’s a very expensive location."
Mr Berry could not say how many jobs could be brought to Brooklyn if the King Island abattoir closed however it is believed that 100 employees would lose their jobs if the King Island plant does cease processing.
