The Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams says the debate over the importation of beef from BSE-affected countries is a wonderful chance for industry organisations to do their job and start listening to those they are supposed to represent.

Senator Williams said he knew beef producers the length and breadth of the nation were concerned with the risk to the Australian beef market by the Ministerial decision, but even he was surprised by the anger that was evident at the beef seminar in Armidale at the weekend.

"Despite their best endeavours to answer questions, representatives of the Cattle Council and Meat and Livestock Australia were left in no doubt that they have lost touch with and the confidence of their members.

It is evident beef producers are starting to wonder just what value they are getting for the levies they pay, and industry leaders blaming the tough seasons and the Australian dollar is just not good enough.

Producers should not be conned into believing there will not be much beef imported into Australia because that was what the pig industry was told when import bans were lifted, but last Christmas 75 percent of hams purchased were from overseas.

The Cattle Council, MLA and Red Meat Advisory Council leaders are out of touch with reality if they think their support for the importation of beef from countries that have had disease outbreaks is representative of grassroots producers views. I can assure them it is not.

I urge them to reconnect with their members, and then pressure the Rudd Government to support the Coalition's Private Members Bill Food Importation (Bovine Meat Standards) Bill 2010 which will be moved in the Senate next week.

This Bill is about ensuring that a proper risk analysis is carried out, that countries wishing to export beef to Australia MUST have a 'trace back-trace forward' identification scheme equivalent to Australia's NLIS, and that suitable labelling clearly identifies which country the beef has been imported from.

It is not too late to put this right", Senator Williams said.