Over 11 years after a ruling, Australian farmers still await compensation for the 2011 cattle export ban, with delays causing lasting harm.

A decade after a court ruled Australia’s 2011 ban on live cattle exports to Indonesia unlawful, affected farmers and businesses still await compensation, with delays spanning over 11 years. Andrew Robb, a former trade minister and trustee of the Australian Farmers’ Fighting Fund, said the prolonged process has left irreversible harm, rendering any future payouts symbolic. He criticized the Albanese government’s plan to end live sheep exports by 2028 as short-sighted, warning it risks damaging Australia’s international relationships and agricultural reputation, especially in Asia and the Middle East. Robb attributed the lack of support to urban Australians’ disconnect from rural life and limited understanding of the trade’s economic and diplomatic value.