Queensland living up to its reputation as a police state

Banking Royal Commission must start now

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Warwick Yates principal of Ferrier Hodgson invasion team leader

The corrupt legal system and Netherlands-based Rabobank have skinned another scalp, this time a farming family living near Prarie, 400 klm west of Townsville.

Seven carloads of armed police and two carloads of receivers arrived at the Bradshaw cattle property Laurelvale near Prarie on February 1 at the behest of dodgy receivers Ferrier Hodgson who then took possession of the property allegedly due to non-payment of a loan.

Accompanying the intimidating police armada was a locksmith from Thuringowa Locksmiths and Locksmiths Services near Townsville, Will Caldwell and Warwick Yates (pictured) from receivers Ferrier Hodgson Brisbane and Gadens Lawyers solicitor Scott Couper of Brisbane.

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Neil Bradshaw marched off by the enforcers

Neil Bradshaw, 29, the son of Lloyd and Noeline Bradshaw was arrested at Laurelvale Station and dragged off by two burly police officers then taken 200 klm to Charters Towers police station.

He was charged with obstructing police and assault. Neil says he did not at any time intentionally assault police.

Bail conditions set by the attending sergeant prevent Neil from going back to his home on the property.

He said the police told him they were there to protect the bailiff and arrived in such force because like every rural property the Bradshaws had firearms in their possession.

As can be found on most family run properties, Neil owns cattle running on the station and machinery which he believes will be stolen by the receivers.

“My cattle are not mortgaged and nor is the machinery, but I won’t get them back from this lot. I have been told they are mustering my cattle right now,” Mr Bradshaw said.

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Seven police vehicle armada and and army of enforcers arriving

“Both properties are in drought declared shires although we have had good rain it will take us years to recover from the worst drought in history.

“We produce hay but instead of selling it we kept our own cattle alive for three years and if we didn’t do this Rabobank would have had no stock to sell at all.

“We were offered $700,000 for Laurelvale in the middle of a drought but its real value is $2.2 million and our debt is supposed to be $5 million because Rabobank has pushed it up with all their charges with the receivers.

“If we sold Laurelvale with 850 head we could pay them out but they wouldn’t accept our offer and they said they don’t want it because they can’t get the true value.”

In similar circumstances to scores of other fire sales the banks and receivers enforce unreasonable demands to make debt reductions and generally forbid moving stock to other properties with good feed.

In one case at Charters Towers in 2015 receivers Korda Mentha allowed at least 500 head of cattle to perish because the owners were not allowed to shift the cattle to agistment and the receivers had provided no money to feed them.

In this case Mr Bradshaw said Rabobank demanded the family pay the entire debt “straight away.”

“They are trying to get their hands on Ballabay Station(Pentland) too, so my parents have worked for a lifetime for nothing,” he said.

Member for Dalrymnple Shane Knuth of Katters Australia Party has been following the case and is critical of the legal system that allows such travesties to occur.

“These people have committed no crime and contributed so much to their community over many years,” Mr Knuth said.

“They have been heavily involved in Landcare and supporting the beef industry. It is not their fault they copped five years of drought and a government enforced live cattle export ban.

“It will take them up to five years to recover from this drought.

“This episode demonstrates a clear demand for a Royal Commission into banking.

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Enforcers at the gate

CATTLE BRANDS NOT MORTGAGED

Cattle producers and agents are warned not to buy or deal with cattle with the following brands, which are not mortgaged to Rabobank and belong to Neil Bradshaw:

9G2 (script)   UE9  (script)

Described as Brahman cross cows and calves; greys and reds; heifers and steers greys and reds some with Bazadais cross.

These cattle are listed on Personal Property Securities Register and legally cannot be sold without the owner’s permission.  Neil Bradshaw has a registered interest and has a superior claim to that of the receivers, according to legal advice.