by Yvette Brand
The sentencing of a West Gippsland livestock agent to jail for cattle related fraud offences has sparked backlash among industry players concerned about the significant risk to Australia's livestock export industry.
Nathan Gibbon of Lardner was last week sentenced to six months in jail and an 18-month community corrections order. He pleaded guilty to two charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception after falsely declaring cattle being sold to China had been vendor bred.
The County Court heard his actions had the potential to undermine Australia's cattle export industry.
The risk of potentially destroying export trade alarmed local abattoir owner Robert Radford and Leongatha stock agent Simon Henderson.

Judge Justin Lewis said extensive regulations and protocols were in pl