Wingecarribee Council: Larry Whipper moves to ban fur and animal skin sales

A Southern Highlands councillor is calling for a ban on fur and animal skins sales, a move which could ‘hurt local businesses’ which help pump $49 million into the economy each year.

A Southern Highlands councillor is calling for a ban on the sale of fur and animal products on all council land in a move that has raised the ire of business leaders.

Councillor Larry Whipper will put forward a notice of motion for the Wingecarribee Council meeting to ban the sale of animal fur and skin on council land.

He said it was time for the council to follow in the footsteps of others including City of Sydney, Blue Mountains, and Canterbury Bankstown councils to stop the sales of animal skin products on public land.

“This is a motion to raise awareness of cruelty to animals, particularly fur products and skins,” he said.

“We just need to be more mindful of treating all forms of life with respect.”

Wingecarribee councillor Larry Whipper is calling for a ban on fur sales on council-owned land.

However, Chair of the Southern Highlands Chamber of Commerce, Steve Horton, said the notice of motion would be damaging for local businesses and gave the impression the council was closed to industry.

“We do not support any move put forward by any councillor that will damage current or future business in the area,” he said.

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The ban would run contrary to the council’s aim to promote agribusiness in the region, as outlined in the recent Southern Highlands Destination Strategy.

The plan highlights a need to support smaller agricultural businesses in the area which are ‘vulnerable’.

Moss Vale and Rural Chamber of Commerce president Brigid Kennedy said these were the businesses that would be hurt the most by the ban on animal skin product sales.

“A lot of the local markets and artisan producers will particularly be affected,” she said.

Ms Kennedy said any ban on animal skin and fur would be wasteful and disrespectful to the animals.

“It’s important when we are an agricultural society, that you honour the animal by using all of it,” she said.

Councillor Larry Whipper said leather goods would not be included in the ban. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

The notice of motion would also compel the council to write to state and federal governments to encourage a ban on these products, a move Ms Kennedy said would cause the council to overstep its boundaries by interfering in local business.

“It’s not for them to make judgements along the business line,” she said.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are 547 agricultural businesses in the Wingecarribee Shire with a total production value of $49.6 million.

Mr Horton said agriculture was the backbone of the region.

“You can’t put into an agricultural area and then put forward a motion that’s trying to wipe out agriculture,” he said.

The ban on animal skin sales in Wingecarribee could damage the agricultural industry in the region, the business chamber claims.

Cr Whipper said the issue was an important one for the community to consider.

“I’m hoping there will be some compassion shown by the councillors,” he said.

Rather than being put off by the criticism, Cr Whipper said he welcomed robust discussion around the issues of animal welfare and council involvement.

“There’s always pushback, and that’s healthy as well because it does put it on the agenda,” he said.

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