AWI Calls for Shearers From Overseas

October 17, 2008 - Chair of the Australian Wool Innovation, Brian van Rooyen, says farmers must look overseas to solve the shearer shortage in Australia. As mulesing is phased out, more farmers require extra labor for additional crutching and shearing.

Van Rooyen says short term visas, aimed at skilled workers from poorer countries, will offer greater rates of pay and attract new labor to the Australian industry.

"Ten or 15 years ago the pressure on shearers, or the lack of shearers, was solved by a large influx of New Zealand shearers," he says. "And I think in the short term, the way we can resolve this problem is to look at other low-cost countries where they do produce wool and they do have trained shearers."
Reprinted from ABC Rural Australia

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