Mr Barrett employed more than 160 shearers and shed staff last financial year and they'll work for him again.

"There are plenty of people in the industry doing the right thing," he said.

Mr Barrett, a "gun" shearer and world champion, is principal of Help'Em Shearing, a company he formed in Wellington, his home town and shears 500,000 sheep a year plus crutches another 400,000.

He has reacted positively for the shearing industry saying "it has cleaned up its act" in the past decade or so.

"The industry has had a bad name but that is changing rapidly," he said.

The biggest difference he's seen is within the past five years is that shearers are looking after themselves these days, especially the young guys.

He said young shearers wanted a new car, "and they want a house".

"There's only one way to achieve this and that is by keeping a job. And the only way to keep a job is to do the right thing," Mr Barrett said.

Employees are requested to read and sign an employment guideline form which includes among the 16 items, no rough handling of stock.

"Abusing sheep in any form will not be tolerated", is also inserted.

As well, "all employees are to conduct themselves in a professional manner as per their job description".

Mr Barrett said the guy on the video said contractors had no control over shearers.

"Well, that's just not right. There is no shortage of good shearers, I employ plenty of them," he said adding that he had no trouble getting shearers.

He said he took a hard stand on behaviour and when he introduced a 10pm curfew two years ago at shearing quarters and camp outs, "Facebook lit up like a Christmas tree".

"There were comments no one would work for me," he said.

"But what I gained was good staff who wanted to come to work and do their job."

"The staff I have work extremely well for me throughout the year.

"They have good work ethics and take their role as members of the shearing industry seriously.

"I'm seeing more and more younger guys as well as older taking care of their money.

"They are taking a more positive role in work and leadership at a younger age."

Mr Barrett said new-comers to the industry were more professional these days.

"Now they don't run up to s shearing shed with one or two combs.

"They'll have 80 to 150 combs so they have the right type of combs for the right type of sheep."

He said back in the old days shearers would turn up with two combs and four cutters and a handpiece and expect to shear whatever sheep came at them.

"That's like having a butter knife when you need a steak knife," he said.

Mr Barrett said a lot of farmers had now installed overhead gear which drives the handpiece enabling the shearer to give a better wool cut.

You can see a number of stories on the issue in the Land newspaper or go online www.theland.com.au