Hansard debates

Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:29): My constituency question is for the Minister for Agriculture. Some are predicting that by 1 December 5 million sheep will be well overdue for shearing due to the lack of shearers from New Zealand, despite the federal government’s short-term visa offers. The Shearing Contractors Association of Australia are reportedly aware of only four or five New Zealand shearers who have applied for the visas, compared to a normal 500 in one year. Wool is one of the biggest commodities produced in Victoria, totalling an annual gross value of more than $1.4 billion. A significant proportion, if not most, of our wool production takes place in my electorate of Western Victoria, so I ask the minister: what is the government doing to solve the lack of shearers on western Victorian sheep farms?