Wool growers call on AWI chairman Wal Merriman to resign
WOOL growers are calling on Australian Wool Innovation chairman Wal Merriman to resign after he told a journalist questioning him on industry issues to “f--- off”.
WOOL growers are calling on Australian Wool Innovation chairman Wal Merriman to resign after he told a journalist questioning him on industry issues to “f--- off”.
The clash — which AWI described as “unfortunate” — occurred at a wool industry event in South Australia last week when an ABC reporter approached Mr Merriman with questions about him secretly watching a confidential industry focus group behind a one-way mirror in June.
The revelation that Mr Merriman had viewed the meeting — of stud breeders using the genetic appraisal MerinoSelect — without the knowledge of participants angered wool growers who labelled it “unethical”.
Meeting participants said they were assured anonymity and were not informed Mr Merriman — whose Merryville Merino stud in southern NSW does not use MerinoSelect — would be privy to the conversation.
When questioned on the matter last week, Mr Merriman called the ABC journalist a “useless prick” and told him to “f--- off — report that”.
Australian Wool Growers Association chairman Robert McBride said Mr Merriman’s comments and actions were an “absolute disgrace”. “We as a wool industry pride ourselves on integrity and clearly it has not been displayed by him,” Mr McBride said. “If he had any integrity left he should resign.”
Several other wool growers, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of repercussions, said it was time for Mr Merriman, who has been chairman for nine years, to stand down.
Wool Producers Australia president Richard Halliday declined to say whether or not Mr Merriman should resign, saying it was a decision for the AWI board.
“The board elects the chairman and it is their decision as to whether he should be stepping down,” Mr Halliday said.
Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce did not answer questions on whether Mr Merriman’s behaviour was appropriate for a chairman of a levy body that also relies on government funding, whether he stood behind Mr Merriman’s leadership given the conduct, or if Mr Merriman should resign.
“This is a matter for wool growers and stud breeders to raise with AWI,” a spokeswoman for Mr Joyce said.
“It is important that if woolgrowers are asked to provide confidential feedback to AWI to help guide research priorities, that the confidentiality is respected. The Minister understands the AWI chairman has said the man-behind-the-mirror will not happen again.”
Northern NSW wool grower Martin Oppenheimer said he questioned how the Government could “allow the chairman of a compulsory grower levy and taxpayer-funded company (to) behave so poorly”, while former NSW Farmers’ Association president Mal Peters said Mr Merriman’s comments did “not reflect well on the industry”.
AWI spokesman Marius Cuming dismissed the matter as “fake news” and “an attempt by the media to undermine AWI and Wal”.
He declined to answer questions on whether the AWI management and board supported Mr Merriman’s comments.
“It’s petty politics at a time when the industry is booming, which can be attributed to the work of the board and Wal,” Mr Cuming said.
In a statement issued today, AWI said “the language used by the AWI chairman towards the ABC last Thursday night was unfortunate”.
“The ABC reporter was invited to a private function with over 130 growers present, designed to celebrate the success of the International Woolmark Prize but his approach was disingenuous,” the statement said.
“After being told in person by both the chairman and the CEO that neither wild be making a statement, the reporter ambushed them both towards the end of night, did not declare he was recording at the time and deliberately sought to intimidate to seek a reaction.
“The issue of media intimidation of AWI and misleading coverage of the wool industry at a time of great optimism was raised at the Industry Consultative Committee which met earlier in the day.”
Veterinarian Michelle Humphries, of Livestock Breeding Services, at Jerilderie, defended Mr Merriman and said, “No wonder the wool industry’s in such good shape — led by a man who takes no nonsense from journalists, politicians and bureaucrats.”