The Gingin abattoir, owned by pastoralist Jack Burton, has hit a hurdle before its planned opening.
Mr Burton received a bill from the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) for a carryover debt from the previous owner for $120,000.
Mr Burton had planned on opening the abattoir at the end of last month.
He said AQIS would not allow him to open the abattoir until the debt was paid.
The Gingin abattoir, which processes sheep and goats, has not been in operation since its previous owners, International Exports, went into receivership in 2010.
When Farm Weekly spoke to Mr Burton this week he said he was in the process of writing to AQIS and the Federal Minister for Agriculture Joe Ludwig to waive the debt.
He said the debt should be owed by the previous business and should not be tied to the land.
"The previous operators had acquired a $120,000 debt with AQIS and now AQIS is telling us that it won't allow us to start (processing) unless we pay the debt," Mr Burton said.
"A bit of land can't owe a debt."
An outraged Mr Burton said AQIS had obviously forgotten to put its hand up when the previous company went into receivership and were now trying to get the money from the next owner.
He said AQIS charged him $20,000 a month to run the abattoir and in AQIS's legislation, payments have to be made within 30 days otherwise AQIS can close the business.
"Yet, AQIS allowed International Exports to build up a debt over six months without paying anything or closing the business," Mr Burton said. "It's ridiculous.
"Where else in this world does a debt like that get forwarded on to the new owners?
"It is like if you bought a car off somebody but the previous bloke owed a mate some money.
"That debt has nothing to do with the car.
"It is just crazy."
Mr Burton said Mr Ludwig had the power to waive the bill and that's why he was included in the letter sent on Monday.
The Gingin abattoir has the potential to process up to 900 small stock a day.
Source: farmonline.com.au
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