Amid claims by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) that some animals are being punched, kicked, stomped on and beaten around the head with electric clippers, and even a hammer, Bathurst locals involved in the wool industry have hit back.

They said they were mortified to learn of PETA’s latest campaign, which includes a video showing shearers being cruel to sheep and the mistreatment of lambs through the controversial practice of mulesing.

Duramana-based Peter Healey spent more than 50 years as a shearing contractor and is still involved in the industry with TWG wool buyers on the Blayney Road.

He was seething at what he said was nothing but a sensational campaign which was way off the mark in terms of what life is really like in woolsheds across the nation.

“It’s a load of bunkum,” Mr Healey said. “I can guarantee you that if anyone saw that type of behaviour the offender would be out the door in an instant. They would be out of a job. Shearing contractors take real pride in the way they treat and handle the sheep.

“I was a shearer for about 50 years and know the animals were treated very well in the sheds. Locally, this isn’t even an issue.”

Long-time Rural Notebook columnist with the Western Advocate, John Seaman said yesterday agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce was on the money when he described the PETA campaign as a “pack of lies”.

Mr Joyce said that if practices of the nature alleged in the video were occurring, the shearers responsible would be sacked.

“I’ve worked with a hell of a lot of shearing contractors over the years and don’t know of anyone, both now and then, who would even think to act like this,” he said. 

“The PETA video clip was filmed in a Riverina woolshed two years ago but, in reality, if you acted like that you would be thrown out of the industry.”