Australian politicians asked if they wear wool ahead of federal election

Australia Broadcast Center

02-05-2025

Questions about fashion choices might be more likely on a red carpet in Hollywood than on a federal election campaign.
But in the weeks leading up to today's poll, the ABC has asked sitting and aspiring politicians what they are wearing on the hustings.
The idea came from Victorian sheep farmer Rebecca Hamilton.
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Ms Hamilton, who runs 15,500 merino ewes at Maldon in central Victoria, said the wool industry was aching but the message was not getting through to city people.
So she called into ABC Local Radio in Melbourne early on in the campaign.
"You interviewed opposition leader] Peter Dutton this morning and you interviewed the prime minister [Anthony Albanese] this week too," Ms Hamilton said.
"
When you're interviewing politicians, can you please ask them what their suits are made out of?
"
ABC Rural took up the challenge, and emailed every sitting MP running for re-election, and all senators, to ask if they were wearing Australian wool on the campaign trail.
A total of 211 emails were sent by the ABC to which 31 sitting parliamentarians replied.
Rebecca Hamilton wants to know if politicians are wearing wool during the election.
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Supplied: Rebecca Hamilton
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So who's wearing wool?
About half of the politicians who replied were sitting MPs in the House of Representatives.
A majority said they proudly wore wool, including Liberals Henry Pike, Jason Wood and Dan Tehan as well as the Nationals' Sam Birrell.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins and her Labor colleagues Andrew Leigh, Steve Georganas and Matt Thistlewaite also said they were wearing wool suits.
"I try not to wear suits, but yes some are Australian wool, as is my jumper," Labor MP Rob Mitchell said.
Sam Birrell wears suits made of Australian merino wool.
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ABC Rural: Warwick Long
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Wool grower and former Nationals leader, Barnaby Joyce, said he wore superfine Australian merino wool suits, ties, socks and jumpers.
Former menswear store owner, independent candidate for Monash, Russell Broadbent, said a well-fitting, high-quality suit made from Australian natural fibres "gives me many reasons to smile".
The only MP to admit that wool was a rarity in their wardrobe was Liberal MP Keith Wolahan.
He said he hardly wore wool on the campaign trail in his suburban Melbourne seat of Menzies.
"I mostly wear a $20 polyester, cotton dark blue vest, with my name on it. Otherwise, I love wool," he said.
Steve Georganas just purchased a new Australian wool suit.
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Supplied: Steve Georganas
)
Queensland rural independent MP Bob Katter's office said "Mr Katter is famously referred to as the best-dressed man in parliament, and he attributes this to his dedication to Australian-made".
But they did not say if he wore Australian wool.
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Not as easy for women
Of the 76 senators in the Australian parliament, 16 responded to the ABC's questions about wool.
Almost all of them said they had worn wool during the campaign, including Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, the Nationals' Bridget McKenzie, and Jacqui Lambie.
SA Liberal senator Leah Blyth said clothing choices were limited for women in politics.
"Men's suits are predominantly wool or wool blend — women's are not," she said.
"
Women also can't get away with wearing one suit jacket on the campaign trail.
"
Production costs are rising for Australian wool producers.
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ABC Rural: Emma Brown
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Tasmanian independent senator Tammy Tyrrell said cost had a big impact on what people bought.
"I'm going to be completely honest: I definitely have polyester suits at home but I'm trying to be more conscious about what I buy," she said.
"In a cost of living crisis, it's tough for people to choose a good Aussie wool suit over one from Kmart.
"We need to find the balance between paying producers properly for their product and making items accessible to the everyday Aussie."
Australian suit maker Anthony Squires even has a style named The Prime Minister's Suit, having dressed PMs since 1949.
But the current crop of leaders, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, Nationals leader David Littleproud and Greens leader Adam Bandt, didn't get back to the ABC to say whether wool was in the mix for them.
Dan Tehan (right) says all his suits are Australian wool.
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Supplied: Dan Tehan
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Why does wool matter?
The wool industry was a mighty force in the 1950s when "Australia rode on the sheep's back".
But since then things have turned from bad to worse.
Australian wool production is in decline.
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ABC News: Floss Adams
)
Cheap fast fashion made from synthetics is being churned out across the globe, while production costs have increased for wool producers.
Data from the Australian Wool Production Forecasting Committee (AWPFC) shows that by mid-2025 the amount of wool being produced by Australian farmers will be the lowest in more than 100 years.
Only about
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton shake hands ahead of their second leaders debate aired on the ABC.
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ABC News: Matt Roberts
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Wool producer Rebecca Hamilton said she wanted to make enough money to stay in an industry she loved, but the numbers were not adding up.
"We sold 20,000 sheep last year and in 2022 we made $170 per head but in 2024 we made an average of $98 per head," she said.
"We still haven't sold last year's spring wool clip because wool prices are so low and we are still holding on but our accountant is starting to suggest that we need to sell something."
Ms Hamilton wants politicians to support the struggling sheep and wool industry.
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Supplied: Lauren Day
)
Hearing that several politicians were wearing wool was comforting to Ms Hamilton, but Wool Producers Australia president Steve Harrison said governments could do more.
He said lower taxes on farmers, cheaper labour and help to find new markets were where the government could turn the tide for wool.
"Government could help put woollen carpet in buildings like they do in New Zealand, that would help," he said.
"We need government's help to get the clean, green image of wool out to the world."
Superfine merino wool is spun into yarn.
(
ABC Landline: Kerry Staight
)
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