Senator Andrew Bartlett
Friday, January 28, 2005
 
Some more news on mulesing and animal welfare
A few updates on things that have happened since my Australia Day posting on all things sheepish.

ABC rural news reports that some wool buyers are specifically seeking wool from sheep that have not been mulesed and some of this is reported to have attracted a higher price. Also, reports that Martina Navratilova has come out in support of the campaign against mulesing. A couple of bloggers who would probably classify themselves as being on the left of the spectrum, Northcote Knob and Red Interior, are very critical of the campaign against mulesing, suggesting it is preferable for sheep, compared to dying from flystrike (which is undoubtedly true).

This page on Animals Australia’s site makes it pretty clear there are already alternatives. I’m aware of some farmers who have already stopped mulesing (admittedly easier in some parts of Australia than others). My view is that, as with many animal welfare issues, it is cost and convenience which prevents reform, rather than there being no alternatives.

The comment at the end of this report in The Age by wool industry boss (and former Liberal Party Minister), Ian McLachlan, suggests it is an issue of cost for some farmers, rather than a lack of alternatives. If wool from unmulesed sheep fetches a higher price it will help encourage a shift. Research is being done into more alternatives (here is one example - pinched from Northcote Knob’s site). Consumer pressure will certainly give the research that extra impetus.

Also today, news that the Director-General of a WA Govt Dept will be required to show cause why she should not be compelled by a Court to instigate an investigation into complaints of animal cruelty and breaching of WA laws by a shipment of live sheep out of Fremantle. A lot of evidence showing a prima facie breach of the Act was presented to the Govt Dept over 7 months ago (after the local RSPCA didn’t want to act) but nothing seems to have happened.

It’s very frustrating when people have to go to Court just to try to make the Govt enforce their own laws – it’s happened a few times with the federal environment Act too. One thing I’ve learnt in the Senate – it’s hard enough making sure the laws are good, but it’s even harder sometimes getting the Govt to enforce them!

posted by Andrew Bartlett @ Friday, January 28, 2005 Permalink
|


<< Home