Need To Get Wool Off The Sheep’s Back
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur used a constituency question in Parliament to ask the Minister for Agriculture about the lack of shearers available for Western Victorian sheep farms.
Some are predicting that by 1 December 2020, 5 million sheep will be well overdue for shearing due to the lack of shearers from New Zealand, despite the Federal Government’s short-term visa offers.
The Shearing Contractors Association of Australia are reportedly aware of only four or five New Zealand shearers who have applied for the visas, compared to the normal 500 per year.
Mrs McArthur told the Parliament, “Wool is one of the biggest commodities produced in Victoria, totalling an annual gross value of more than $1.4 billion.”
“A significant proportion, if not most, of our wool production takes place in my electorate of Western Victoria.”
Mrs McArthur asked the Minister, “What is the Government doing to solve the lack of shearers on Western Victorian sheep farms?
27 October 2020
