❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the government's stance on mulesing, focusing on regulation, incentives for alternative practices, and a timeline for ending the procedure. The Minister outlines current regulations being drafted and ongoing research into flystrike management.
AnsweredQoN 816Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Mulesing
816. Hon Amanda Dorn to
the Minister for Agriculture and Food:
I refer to the ongoing practice of live cutting of
lambs without adequate pain relief, commonly known as mulesing, and to the
wool industry's unfulfilled commitment made over a decade ago to end this
procedure.
(1) Why has the WA government failed to regulate
or phase out live lamb cutting despite widespread public concern and clear evidence
of animal suffering?
(2) Given the high cost of flystrike to producers
and the proven availability of flystrike-resistant, plain-bodied sheep genetics,
why has the government not incentivised or mandated a transition away from mulesing?
(3) Will WA show leadership by setting its own
timeline to end mulesing?
816. Hon Amanda Dorn to
the Minister for Agriculture and Food:
I refer to the ongoing practice of live cutting of
lambs without adequate pain relief, commonly known as mulesing, and to the
wool industry's unfulfilled commitment made over a decade ago to end this
procedure.
(1) Why has the WA government failed to regulate
or phase out live lamb cutting despite widespread public concern and clear evidence
of animal suffering?
(2) Given the high cost of flystrike to producers
and the proven availability of flystrike-resistant, plain-bodied sheep genetics,
why has the government not incentivised or mandated a transition away from mulesing?
(3) Will WA show leadership by setting its own
timeline to end mulesing?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) The WA government is drafting regulations
under the Animal Welfare Act 2002 on sheep
welfare based on the standards in the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and
Guidelines for Sheep. These regulations will include requirements relating to
mulesing, including the provision of anaesthetic and analgesic in certain
circumstances.
(2)–(3) The WA government recognises the
significant impact flystrike has on the WA sheep industry and the importance of
reducing risk. In 2008, the then Department of Agriculture and Food WA was the
first research institute nationally to cease mulesing on its research and
commercial flocks. Since then, the Department of Primary Industries and
Regional Development has been actively involved in researching practical
methods such as tail docking, chemical application, time of crutching and
shearing, and genetics as well as extension activities to help producers manage
flystrike and non-mulesed sheep. DPIRD continues to strongly recommend that a
registered pain relief product be applied when mulesing. In 2022, 90% of merino
lambs that were mulesed received pain relief.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) The WA government is drafting regulations
under the Animal Welfare Act 2002 on sheep
welfare based on the standards in the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and
Guidelines for Sheep. These regulations will include requirements relating to
mulesing, including the provision of anaesthetic and analgesic in certain
circumstances.
(2)–(3) The WA government recognises the
significant impact flystrike has on the WA sheep industry and the importance of
reducing risk. In 2008, the then Department of Agriculture and Food WA was the
first research institute nationally to cease mulesing on its research and
commercial flocks. Since then, the Department of Primary Industries and
Regional Development has been actively involved in researching practical
methods such as tail docking, chemical application, time of crutching and
shearing, and genetics as well as extension activities to help producers manage
flystrike and non-mulesed sheep. DPIRD continues to strongly recommend that a
registered pain relief product be applied when mulesing. In 2022, 90% of merino
lambs that were mulesed received pain relief.
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