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“Wool industry gets clipped”
Australian woolgrowers are in a fight for their lives as they try to combat
the boycott of Australian merino fibre by US fashion retailer Abercrombie
and Fitch because of perceived inhumane industry practices. If that boycott
is not enough bad news for woolgrowers, animal rights group People for
the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has just announced that it is
in negotiations with other major US clothing retailers to ban Australian
merino fibre. It would appear that hard times for Australian woolgrowers
may be here to stay unless there is immediate action to counter PETA.
Some even say that the billion dollar a year industry is about to be decimated
with dire consequences for the entire Australian economy.
PETA’s major point of contention is the practice of “mulesing” which woolgrowers have reluctantly engaged in for more than a century to counter flystrike by blowflies. Woolgrowers all agree that this necessary practice to ensure the sheep’s survival in the Australian bush is distressing for the animal but, without an alternative, it is something that they all reluctantly undertake.
The RSPCA has also weighed into the debate saying that research into
safe and humane alternatives is now the number one priority for the wool
industry. The majority of industry research is conducted by Australian
Wool Innovation (AWI) and it is to that body that woolgrowers are looking
for answers to what some are saying is the greatest threat ever faced
by the industry.
AWI is supported by Australian woolgrowers and taxpayers to the tune of
more than $60 million a year. $21 million is expended annually by AWI
just in the administration of the organisation and now woolgrowers are
keen to see some sort of a return on their sizeable investment –
specifically an alternative to mulesing. Research has been conducted for
many years already. AWI states that an answer may still be three years
or more away. This is too simply long. In three years time there may not
be a viable wool industry.
It is interesting to note that AWI is planning to invest many millions
dollars over the next five years on ways to improve the profitability
of wool growing practices. This of course assumes that there will be a
wool industry in existence in five years’ time. AWGA members believe
this money would be better spent addressing the very real and immediate
threat to our industry that has been posed by PETA’s actions and
the reaction so far of one American retailer.
AWGA has one simple question for AWI – what is their plan to combat the actions of PETA, American clothing retailers and consumers perceptions of our industry practices?
It is no secret that PETA’s next target is Europe where Australian
merino fibre has long been the number one choice of the top fashion houses
of Italy, France, Germany and England. One only has to look at the recent
disappearance of kangaroo meat from English supermarkets and restaurants
to understand what a formidable organisation PETA is.
If a “head in the sand” approach is taken by our industry
leaders in the hope that PETA will just go away, then they will be sadly
mistaken. PETA has carried out its initial threats highly effectively
and with potentially devastating consequences for the entire Australian
wool industry. Now is the time for real action and strong leadership.
Is this forthcoming from AWI and Woolmark?
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