Australia’s peak Muslim body wants a new taxpayer-funded halal training centre to prepare refugees for jobs slaughtering animals in rural areas.
The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils says the new centre would help solve the live-animal export dilemma while boosting jobs and maintaining the meat and livestock industry.
AFIC president Ikebal Patel will write to Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig within days to seek financial backing.
More Australian meat-processing plants could be opened as a result of training, he argues, with halal meat shipped offshore to places such as Indonesia after ritual killings.
Mr Patel says for a “couple of million dollars” taxpayers would get more country jobs, more refugees out of big-city “enclaves” and into work, and a stronger home-grown meat and livestock industry.
“We think the Australian Muslim community can help both the Government and the meat and livestock industry,” Mr Patel said.
He said boosting refugee employment was important to ensure people didn’t get trapped on benefits or pensions.
Last month, in a submission to an inquiry into multiculturalism, AFIC called for the Government to “invest in expanding services like halal and kosher meat”.
The call was rejected by the state and federal governments.