‘SHEEP’ TO DESCEND ON PARLIAMENT HOUSE TO CALL FOR DRUG TESTING FOR WOOL WORKERS

New PETA Campaign Will Call for Lawmakers to Tackle Drug Use in the Wool Industry

What:             PETA supporters are set to converge outside Melbourne’s Parliament House on Thursday with a call for lawmakers to take heed of the risks to animal welfare and human health when drug use by wool industry workers goes unchecked. The demonstrators will be led by a costumed “sheep” holding PETA’s new ad, which reads, “Shearing and Drugs Don’t Mix”.

“Human health is at risk, and animals can be injured or even die when workers shear them under the influence of drugs”, says PETA Australia Director of Campaigns Jason Baker. “PETA is letting lawmakers know what they can do to address the issue now – and that’s to support the introduction of mandatory testing for shearers.”

Liberal Party delegate and wool producer Robert Lawrence has stated that drug use is one of the “top three issues facing the wool industry”, and states that one shearer “[broke] 14 legs [of sheep] during two days’ shearing”. His fellow delegates agreed and called for mandatory drug testing. PETA US – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to wear” – revealed in an international exposé of the wool industry that workers beat sheep and jabbed them in the face with electric clippers and a hammer.

Where:           Parliament House, Spring Street, East Melbourne
When:             Thursday, August 20, 12 pm

Your coverage is invited.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.au.

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