The New South Wales Animal Justice Party has lodged an inquiry to ban the practice of mulesing sheep. The matter will be heard by the NSW Upper House throughout September, with calls for the ban to implemented as soon as Jan 1, 2021.
Mulesing is a procedure of removing a piece of skin from the breach of a very young lamb so a scar of stretched skin grows back. The practice prevents the risk of sheep getting flystrike which is a deadly disease caused by the Lucilia cuprina blowfly. This specific type of blowfly lay maggots on wet wool and open wounds, by removing this piece of wool sheep are much less likely to get the disease.
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment Bill aims to ban mulesing and mandate pain relief for all invasive surgery on farm animals in NSW. The bill was introduced in the State Parliament towards the end of 2019 and will go before the Upper House.
Mark Pearson Animal Justice Party MLC has been lobbying for the ban on mulesing for over 15 years after witnessing the procedure. In recent months he has seen a shift in opinion and has seen widespread acceptance and support for the ban to be brought in, he said.
The sheep industry has been tasked with the issue for over 40 years, with many wool growers finding less invasive preventions for flystrike for their animals.
Mr Pearson has articulated that the mutilation of animals is outdated and should not be a consequence on animals who cannot adapt to the Australian environment. He went on to question the viability of the wool industry in Australia if they weren’t willing to change their practices.
It has also been reported that some high-end international retailers refuse to sell Australian merino products as customers do not want to purchase products that are connected to such gruesome wounds.
Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall has taken a hardline approach to the inquiry and says that the NSW Government would not be supporting the ban.
The Minister expressed that the State Government would not “treat farmers like children.” The practice of mulesing is a decision for the agricultural industries and farmers to decide at their own discretion, he said.
The NSW Farmers Association has rejected the premise of the inquiry and are concerned about the decision that the Upper House will bring. Farmers conduct the procedure with due pain relief and compassion, Mr Marshall said.
Farmers are concerned as the ban is predicted to see a detrimental impact on the wool industry, which brings millions on dollars into the Australian economy on a yearly basis.
New legislation brought in, in July has mandated farmers to use pain relief during mulesing in the state of Victoria. Minister Marshall has said he would not support similar legislation in New South Wales and wants the decision making left to farmers.
The inquiry will be heard in September in the Upper House Committee.
