As a bit of a lefty I do get annoyed when the PETA types go all over the top like this - gives us a bad name. BUT you have to understand their way of thinking.
There is no doubt it seems that the sheep are better off for the treatment and the lack of maggots eating their asses in Australia. But obviously this practice does not take place in all sheep countries, otherwise the protest would be about all sheep and not just ones from Australia. So, and sorry if this is a preposterous thing to say to some people, it comes down to the question - Is Australia a suitable sheep rearing country - given you have to hack their asses to bits. Certainly it is more pleasant for a sheep to live in north wales and not have to have its bum mutilated, than it is for it to live in outback Australia and have the said treatment.
So really what the protest is about is requesting the the USA stores buy their wool from countries where sheep do not have to be treated in such a manner. Australian sheep can be sold elsewhere, but we may lose some premium $$ because US market pays well for high quality wool I guess.
As for the live export of sheep, which I really think is THE main issue here, well you cannot say that the Middle East markets "demand" it this way, therefore that is what we do. Well if we and other places refused to do it then I'm sure they would compromise or do without lamb/mutton. Australia SHOULD have the guts to stand up and stop the export if they want to.
You can't in one breath slam PETA for demanding humane treatment of animals to have access to USA markets, but then support Middle Eastern countries who demand Halal live sheep. We have to weigh up the markets value and bit the bullet and go either way. Again I kinda repeat - while IN AUSTRALIA the practice is the most humane thing to do, well there are other countries that do not do it and PETA obv think that is more humane.
I have NO DOUBT that muelsing (sp?) will not be stopped in Australia, but the USA market and consumers have every right to demand their wool be purchased from countries that do not do it. It will cost them a bit more to buy the wool maybe but that is an economic decision for them to make.
We can whinge all we like, but bottom line is that American, or ANY, consumers can do what they want with their money and purchasing decisions, and there is nothing we can do about it. So we either have to face the facts that we will lose USA markets, or try and improve practices.
If it is worth so much $$$ have the Farmers Union or Govt thought of bringing out a delegation of PETA people to Australia, show them some farms, show them sheep with maggot infested arses, and helf a 1-day conference with "experts" i the field - including lefty types, explaining that mulseing (sp?) IS THE BEST THING TO DO IN AUSTRALIA.
Sheesh this is a multim million $$ export and we have not even got the proactivity to cut them off at the pass and get them out here to show them the truth????
We can;t just sit here and whinge and call them all the names under the sun.
The attitude that farmers know everything and us city folk stuff things up all the time is tired and boring. Time for some proactive action farmers!!