Video surveillance could soon be in shearing sheds

Video surveillance could be in Australian shearing sheds by the end of the year as the industry tackles its animal welfare reputation.

Shearing sheds could have video surveillance monitoring shearers by the end of the year as the industry pushes to prove its animal welfare credentials.

The move comes after alleged shearer cruelty was indentified in New Zealand earlier this year, in sheds on properties accredited under programs that promoted high animal welfare wool production standards.

Shearing Contractors Association of Australia chief executive Jason Letchford told The Weekly Times said video surveillance was raised at the industry’s annual conference in Christchurch, NZ, earlier this month.

He said while the shearing industry was not in favour of mandatory cameras in sheds, the organisation had no problem with them being used on a voluntary basis, with the idea that contractors would take the surveillance equipment from shed to shed.
“It will be up to the bigger players (contractors and growers) to make the call themselves about whether they install cameras,” Mr Letchford said.

“It would highlight any issues with animal welfare, but it could also be used as a training tool to help those who may inadvertently be doing the wrong thing and can be corrected.”

Mr Letchford said video surveillance could also help with human resource management, so that “staff feel safe”.

“Any issues with bullying and harassment would be able to be monitored with video surveillance,” he said.

“Those shearers or shed staff who don’t like the idea could choose to work in sheds that don’t have it, if it is an issue for them.

“We have no plans to try to push for it to be mandatory – it is much better if it is voluntary.

‘What we are pushing is for the 6000 people that work in the shearing industry in Australia to complete animal welfare training, so they can be reminded of standards.”

Mr Letchford said video surveillance would be in some sheds by the end of the year.

Wool Producers Australia chief executive Jo Hall said the organisation had not discussed the issue but the decision to have cameras in shearing sheds would have to be by agreement between both the grower and wool harvesting teams.

“I’m sure a lot of growers would think this step would be an overreach,” Ms Hall said.

“If the decision to install cameras is being done to satisfy quality assurance systems, there would have to be some type of return or benefit to make this worthwhile, which individual growers need to weigh up as appropriate for their individual enterprise.”

Ms Hall said discussion of monitoring animal welfare had stemmed from recent incidents covertly filmed in New Zealand by animal rights groups.

“If this move is based on the presumption of industry having to prove its ‘innocence’ by having the mandatory requirement for cameras in sheds, this will be the first step on a very slippery slope,” she said.

”If this requirement was being seriously considered there would need to be far more industry wide discussions between both growers and shearers to weigh up the pros and cons of going down this path.”