China’s ban on Australian beef costing hundreds of millions and putting people out of work

China’s ban on beef imports from several Australian abattoirs has cost the industry hundreds of millions of dollars while eight meatworks wait to resume trade.

Last year, exports of red meat to China were valued at about $3 billion, making it Australia’s most lucrative agriculture export market but the Australian Meat Industry Council says sales have fallen by almost 30 per cent year-on-year.

Regardless, the council’s chief executive, Patrick Hutchinson, said Australian beef exports…