PGA President Rob Gillam said a motion endorsed by his executive today supported continued efforts to find a suitable alternative to mulesing, but agreed that the 2010 deadline set in 2004 was imposing heavy adverse pressures on Australia’s sheep industry.

He said there was a pressing need for strong, realistic industry leadership on the mulesing issue to end woolgrower dissent and uncertainty.

“The industry must take control of this issue away from PETA and others now and not wait until 2010 in the hope of reaching a sensible outcome," he said.

“We are particularly keen to head off any State or Federal moves to legislate against mulesing beyond 2010.

“The AWI taskforce will continue its work with maximum PGA support but we cannot be pegged to a deadline that could prove disastrous for the industry.”

PGA Wool chairman Digby Stretch said recent moves by AWEX to formally identify mulesed and non-mulesed wool would assist the wool market to drive change on mulesing.

PGA would also continue to strongly support the use of pain relief for sheep.”

“However, if there are viable alternatives to mulesing other than the slow process of genetic selection, we have yet to confirm them,” Mr Stretch said.

“In the meantime, Australian sheep producers must have the right to protect their sheep against blowflies.”

Mr Stretch said PGA has always relied on market forces, rather than legislation or compulsory deadlines, to drive change.

He said the new AWEX declaration is an ideal foundation to underwrite the phase out of mulesing with some growers and wool buyers already responding to new market signals.