Interviews
TFGA Chairman re-commits to mulesing phase-out
19 Mar '08
2 min read
The TFGA Wool Council re-affirms its commitment to the phasing out of mulesing by 31st December 2010. This also includes for alternatives to be available and communicated to woolgrowers by 2010.
The TFGA Wool Council recognise in the light of recent events there is a move by international retailers to source wool specifically that is non-mulesed to address concerns and attitudes of their customers.
We are currently organising Don Hamblin President WoolProducers of Australia to travel to Tasmania to brief wool growers on the current situation. Mr Hamblin is also the Chair of the Livestock Industry Taskforce that recently returned from Europe where they undertook extensive meetings with retailers.
At present around 11.5% of Australian wool is from sheep that are not mulesed. The TFGA Wool Council Chairman, Marcus McShane, said “as an industry we need information from those growers that currently don't mules and how they manage it. Additionally we will need a series of workshops that will give growers the options available and the tools they need to manage without mulesing”.
“The motion the Tasmanian Greens put forward in parliament last week to cease mulesing in six months is not practicable. The last thing Tasmania or the Tasmanian wool industry needs is for under prepared woolgrowers to find themselves with adverse animal welfare outcomes”.
“The focus needs to be on preparing growers to manage without mulesing.This also includes the further development of alternatives and their extension to growers”. Mr.McShane said.
Representatives from TFGA are meeting with Minister Llewellyn next week to discuss our position on mulesing and ways in which the Government may be able to assist industry.
The TFGA Wool Council recognise in the light of recent events there is a move by international retailers to source wool specifically that is non-mulesed to address concerns and attitudes of their customers.
We are currently organising Don Hamblin President WoolProducers of Australia to travel to Tasmania to brief wool growers on the current situation. Mr Hamblin is also the Chair of the Livestock Industry Taskforce that recently returned from Europe where they undertook extensive meetings with retailers.
At present around 11.5% of Australian wool is from sheep that are not mulesed. The TFGA Wool Council Chairman, Marcus McShane, said “as an industry we need information from those growers that currently don't mules and how they manage it. Additionally we will need a series of workshops that will give growers the options available and the tools they need to manage without mulesing”.
“The motion the Tasmanian Greens put forward in parliament last week to cease mulesing in six months is not practicable. The last thing Tasmania or the Tasmanian wool industry needs is for under prepared woolgrowers to find themselves with adverse animal welfare outcomes”.
“The focus needs to be on preparing growers to manage without mulesing.This also includes the further development of alternatives and their extension to growers”. Mr.McShane said.
Representatives from TFGA are meeting with Minister Llewellyn next week to discuss our position on mulesing and ways in which the Government may be able to assist industry.
Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association
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