27 September 2024 – NSW MPs Emma Hurst, Animal Justice Party, and Abigail Boyd, Greens, have added their support to calls for state governments to ban live lamb cutting by 2030.  

Their statements come one week after The Australian Alliance for Animals, FOUR PAWS and Humane Society International Australia published a new report, The Broken Promise: The Australian wool industry’s failure to end live lamb cutting, and why government must step in. 

FOUR PAWS Australia is contacting State and Territory Agricultural Ministers about ‘The Broken Promise’ report, to discuss the government’s role in ending live lamb cutting in Australia.   

“We cannot rely on the wool industry to end this barbaric practice. All governments across Australia including NSW must step up and commit to phase-out live lamb cutting by 2030 with a clear transition plan backed by dedicated resources.” said Abigail Boyd, NSW Greens MP stated.

Louise Ward, Programs Lead at FOUR PAWS Australia has contacted all State and Territory Agricultural Ministers and will be presenting the report’s findings as evidence of the need for government action.  

“The wool industry’s response to our report has been disappointing, further proving their unwillingness to lead the transition to the proven alternative – breeding plain-bodied sheep. Thousands of wool growers have already embraced this solution with little to no support from the industry, yet the industry continues to turn its back on them and defend its inaction.” 

“With increasing international and Australian brands and consumers rejecting wool from lambs subjected to live lamb cutting, it’s time for governments to step in and protect both animals and wool growers by legislating an end to this cruel practice." 

Australians can help end live lamb cutting by contacting their state minister for agriculture via the FOUR PAWS Australia website, and contacting their local MP, as well as raising awareness with friends and family. 

Background  

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the wool industry's peak bodies committing to end live lamb cutting by 2010. In 2009, they broke this promise, largely due to vested interests and inaction, and failed to lead.  

Around 10 million lambs suffer live lamb cutting annually, and 140 million could have been spared the procedure, should the industry have met their commitment to end live lamb cutting in 2010.  

Three Olympic sized swimming pools could have been filled with the amount of skin and flesh cut since 2010. 

Better alternatives have now existed for years, with good farm management and a transition to flystrike-resistant sheep is already being practiced by thousands of wool growers. These animals are more resistant to flystrike, and render lamb cutting unnecessary. 

Approximately 75-80% of Australian sheep used for wool continue to suffer live lamb cutting, and the transition rate over the past 20 years has been under 2% most years. At this rate live lamb cutting won't end for at least 30 years.  

Over 300 brands now source at least a portion of their wool as certified live lamb cutting-free or have published a commitment to do so by 2030. Almost 90, have signed FOUR PAWS’ Brand Letter of Intent, calling on the Australian wool industry to support their live lamb-cut free wool supply needs. While a 2023 poll shows two thirds of Australians want the government phase out of live lamb cutting.