People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) wants governments to make it mandatory for those who work in the wool industry have regular drug tests.
To help the push along, it's launched an ad campaign on Facebook, which features an image showing the gaunt face of a man beside the words "Dave has been up on ice for three days" and "Shearing and drugs don't mix". The ad has been seen by almost 25,000 people on the social platform specifically targeting farmers.
PETA Australia campaign coordinator, Claire Fryer, said: “"When workers shear sheep under the influence of drugs, human health is at risk and animals can be injured or even die."
"The Facebook ad links to a page that allows people to write directly to their local MP. PETA is letting farmers and lawmakers know what they can do to address the issue now: support the introduction of mandatory drug testing for shearers."
Liberal Party delegate and wool producer Robert Lawrence says that one shearer "[broke] 14 legs [of sheep] during two days' shearing" and that drug use is one of the "top three issues facing the wool industry". His fellow delegates agreed and called for mandatory drug testing.
